Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams returned to the premier championship arena last weekend at the Red Bull Indianapolis GP to race in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200® series.
The qualifying session on Friday 26 August saw McWilliams – reigning champion of the UK’s Harley-Davidson XR1200 Trophy one-make race series for Warr’s Harley-Davidson of London – narrowly miss the front row of the grid, grabbing 4th spot.
In race 1, a first lap crash knocked several bikes out of the race, leaving frontrunners O’Hara, Rapp, DiSalvo, Fillmore and McWilliams, aboard the Harley-Davidson of Bloomington-Indiana machine, to break away in a five rider pack.
The leading group diced for the lead until the final lap, when McWilliams tangled with Rapp and Fillmore in a clash that left the championship leader Fillmore on the ground and out of the race and points. This melee caused McWilliams to run off line and go down at the next turn. O’Hara held on for a 0.048-second win over Rapp. McWilliams remounted to finish a brave 10th at the chequered flag.
In race 2, McWilliams fought for a stronger result, running for much of the 10-lap race in 4th spot, but eventually losing out to Barnes on the final lap to finishing a credible 5th.
Meanwhile, Fillmore rebounded from Saturday’s disappointment to take his fourth XR1200 series win of the season, leading Rapp across the Speedway’s yard of bricks start/finish line by 0.169 seconds, with O’Hara in third 1.083 seconds behind.
Jeff Stevens, owner of Harley-Davidson Bloomington said: “Racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the Vance & Hines XR1200 series was an incredible experience and I could not be more proud of our team’s efforts. In a very short period of time, crew chief Richard Hankins and Joe Stines did an incredible job of building and tuning an XR1200 capable of running up front, and Jeremy did just that. It was truly an honour to have Jeremy ride for H-D of Bloomington and I sincerely hope we have another opportunity to work with him in the future.”
Jeremy McWilliams said: “I am privileged to have been invited to race at Indianapolis with a great team. Harley-Davidson of Bloomington put together a competitive bike and we were able to push the leading group. It would’ve been the icing on the cake had we made it onto the rostrum, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. However the atmosphere and experience was incredible, so thanks to Jeff, his team and sponsors for making it all possible.”
Harley-Davidson of Bloomington, Indiana would like to thank its partners, Biker’s Choice, Rider Insurance, Vance & Hines, Warr’s Racing, Roadracing World.com , Alpinestars, Mobil 1, Dunlop, Rizoma, K-Tech Suspension, Muc-Off, SBS Scandinavian Brake System, Shark Helmets, Steel Horse TV, Johnny’s Signs, Hoosier Hills HOG, and French Lick Harley-Davidson.
