Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams believes he is “in the mix” and “definitely” a top three rider in the Supertwin class at the 2025 N𓆉orth West 200.

The 61-year-old is a multiple winner at the North West 200 and remains an acti𒁏ve races in various disc🔯iplines around the world.

Returning for another crack at the North West 200 this year 🔯with JMCC Racing in the Supersport and Supe🌃rtwin class, McWilliams is confident of being a podium contender in the latter.

Running an Aprilia for the first time, which he says is all-new🥃, he has battled numerous teething issues with it during practice but is “pretty pleased” with the bike.

“Just a brand-new bike,” he told BBC Sport.

“Just trying to ge🎀t my head around what works better.

“We 🌟definitely weren’t in the right window at the start of t🍷he session but started getting there at the end.

“All the laps were on my🤡 own, so it’s not really a true reflection I think of what the💝 bike is capable of.

“We’ll make a gearing change, played about with the suspension. We’ve realised that we kind of need a big geome𒈔try change.

“So it’s just bac🍸k to the drawing board, but it was new out of the box at Kirkistown.

“We had a bit of an overheating proble♔m that repeated itself yesterd💟ay, so I’m kind of glad it didn’t go yesterday.

“We’re somewhere in the mix with new machi👍nery. First time I’m riding an Aprilia. So, I’m pretty pleased with it. It needs some t﷽weaks.

“I think we’re defin🉐itely going to be 💎in the top three or I wouldn’t be here.

“And t♒he bike is definitely capable of that. I just have to make sure I’m up to it.

“But I feel pretty comfortable out there. I’m not able to brake where I want to, which is why we want to make the ༺geometry change.

“If we can improve the🐼 braking ඣzones, then we are right in the mix.”

McWilliams was fifth fastest in qualifying on Thursday morning on his Supertwin bike, which was ru꧟n over an hour after the Wednesday session was cancelled due to numerous red flag delays.