McWilliams Prepares For Daytona 200 By Honda Irish Rider Shakes Down Buell At Daytona International Speedway DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (March 2, 2006) — Jeremy McWilliams took his first laps around the historic Daytona International Speedway 2.95-mile road course on Thursday during the Team Hammer riding school as the Irishman prepares for next week’s Daytona 200 By Honda motorcycle classic. McWilliams, a three-time Irish Champion and 250 GP and Moto GP veteran, participated in the riding school as he learns the ins and outs of the “World Center of Racing” as well as shaking down the new Buell XBRR. “It’s my first time ever on a banking so it’s quite daunting,” said McWilliams, who along with Pascal Picotte, Mike Ciccotto and Steve Crevier will race in the 65th Daytona 200 By Honda on Saturday, March 11 aboard Buells. “It’s quite different than what I’m use to.” The 41-year-old McWilliams, who’ll compete for Warr’s London Harley-Davidson/Buell of London, is one of the biggest international riders to compete at Daytona in a number of years and interest is high among American racing fans to watch such a highly respected rider race against many of the leading AMA stars. McWilliams’s participation in Thursday’s Team Hammer day at DIS is two-fold as he tries to learn both the track and the bike. “It’s just trying to get to know the track,” said McWilliams, who was joined by Picotte during Thursday’s Team Hammer day. “That’s one big thing to overcome. You’re coming to race at Daytona, it’s a plus if you know where you’re going. Because I’ve never ridden banking, getting use to hitting the banking as hard as I need to hit it. “This bike is also very different than what I’m use to. The maximum RPM is about 8,500. So I’ve got to change my style quite a bit. Jumping on this bike from what I know is quite a big step all around. The guys are working as hard as they can to make the changes that I need to make it easier for me.” Running in the prestigious Daytona 200 By Honda is something that McWilliams has always wanted to attempt. He has watched the prestigious race plenty of times on television hoping one day he would get the opportunity to compete at DIS. “It’s one of those races that you can’t really ignore,” said McWilliams, a native of Carmoney, Northern Ireland. “You see it all around the world and it is one thing I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to take part in the 200. “(The track) actually looks a little bit different on TV than it does when you’re out on the motorcycle. It’s a little tight and twisty in the infield. I believe they’ve changed it a little bit from what I remember. The surface is in good condition. It’s just quite tricky. I’m sure it’s going to make for interesting racing during a long race like Daytona because there’s a lot of track to get by. The fast sections are awesome. I really enjoy the fast sections.” As far as expectations for the four Buell dealer teams entered in next Saturday’s Daytona 200 By Honda, McWilliams says it’s too early to tell how strong the motorcycle will be. “The first thing is we would like to go 200 miles. Secondly, I’d like to be up there somewhere,” McWilliams said. One of the major issues McWilliams will have to overcome is all the travel in the next few days. He’ll fly back to Italy on Friday as he is developing a different motorcycle and then plans to return to Daytona by Monday. “Trying to avoid the jet lag is the difficultly,” McWilliams said. Tickets for the 65th Daytona 200 By Honda are available at www.racetickets.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Editorial Notes: McWilliams, along with over one hundred other licensed racers, particpated in practice sessions organized by the Team Hammer Advanced Riding Schools & Track Rides. Practice session took place in between regularly-scheduled school sessions. McWilliams did not take part in the Team Hammer Advanced Riding School, as implied by the press release above. Further, McWilliams’s first laps of Daytona International Speedway did not happen Thursday, as reported above. McWilliams tested a Buell XB-RR at Daytona in early-December. Also contrary to the press release above, Pascal Picotte did not ride a Buell Thursday and will not race a Buell XB-RR in the Daytona 200. Picotte’s team, Picotte Performance, is supporting Deeley Harley-Davidson/Buell Canada of Vancouver’s rider Steve Crevier in the Daytona 200. In addition to McWilliams, Crevier and Ciccotto, Rico Penzkofer will race a XB-RR Firebolt in the Daytona 200 for Buell Hannover of Hannover, Germany.