Twelve months to the day after they took an unprecedented 1-2-3 in the North West 200 Supertwins race, KMR Kawasaki with Vauxhall were at it again with Jeremy McWilliams taking a superb victory in Thursday evening's 4-lap race and team-mate Jamie Hamilton adding to the joy in third.
 
With tricky, damp conditions all the way around the 8.9-mile circuit, former 250cc Grand Prix winner McWilliams had to call on all his experience to get the better of firstly William Davison and then James Hillier and Hamilton, in a thrilling race that saw the lead change hands on numerous occasions. In only his second appearance at the North West 200, Glengormley's McWilliams went head to head with Davison in the first three laps before the youngster slid off at Black Hill, fortunately without injury, as he attempted to take the lead.
 
However, there was little chance for Jeremy to relax with Hillier and Hamilton breathing down his neck but he was able to successfully keep them at bay on the final lap and hold on for a famous victory, the first Grand Prix winner to have won at the North West 200 since Tom Herron achieved the feat in 1978. His eventual winning margin over Hillier was just 0.8s whilst Hamilton was a similar distance back in third for his first ever NW200 podium.
 
Further back, Michael Rutter took a solid sixth, one place ahead of fourth team member and circuit newcomer James Cowton, thus ensuring KMR Kawasaki took four of the top seven places.
 
Hamilton had been forced to retire from the earlier Supersport race but he took an excellent tenth in the 6-lap Superstock race with Brian McCormack taking 14th.
 
Jeremy McWilliams: "I never dreamt in a million years that I'd be standing here today as a North West 200 race winner and it's an amazing feeling to be able to say I've done that. It's as good as anything I've ever achieved in my career but it was an incredibly tough race right from the very word go. Conditions were tricky as it was hard to work out where it was damp and where it was wet whilst William was pushing me really hard. It's a shame he slid off as the battle would have gone all the way to the end but I managed to hold on for the win. It's great for Ryan, Vauxhall and the whole team as without them it wouldn't have been possible for me to win. It's such a great team to ride for, one with a real family atmosphere and I'm over the moon with the victory."
 
Ryan Farquhar; "It's been another good day for KMR Kawasaki and Vauxhall and when I retired I wasn't sure if we'd still be having days like this. We've put in so much effort and so many hours to get the bikes ready and sometimes you wonder why you do it but today makes it all worthwhile. Four bikes in the top seven is pretty special and I also built Lee Johnston's bike who took fifth and had a hand in James Hillier's, so I'll take a bit of credit there as well!"
 
"Conditions made the race tough for everyone and I do feel sorry for Willy Davison as he was riding brilliantly but thankfully he's ok. For Jeremy to ride for me and the team in the first place was special and so the win today makes it even sweeter. Jamie rode excellently too for his first NW200 podium whilst Michael and James did a great job also so it's a big thank you to everyone connected with the team especially Kawasaki UK, Vauxhall and all the boys who've put the hours in. Last year's 1-2-3 was probably the best day ever for KMR but today is right up there."
 
The team will be back out in force in Saturday's races, which include two Superbike, two Supersport and another Supertwins event.
 
Picture by Pacemaker Press International.