Banbridge team J McC Roofing Racing have signed Jeremy McWilliams for the 2025 Ulster Superbike Championship alongside former champion Carl Phillips and Andy Reid.
McWilliams, who is 60, will complete a full season in the domestic Championship after racing in the USA in recent years.
The Glengormley man has Superbike, Supersport and Supertwin machinery at his disposal provided by Jason McCaw’s team.
McWilliams rode for the team last year at selected events, including the North West 200.
The former 250cc Grand Prix race winner made his NW200 debut in 2012 and has won three times in the Supertwin class.
“I’ve decided to come back to my grassroots. I dipped my toe in at the end of 2024 and really enjoyed it running with Jason (McCaw, J McC Racing team owner) and the team,” McWilliams told BBC Sport NI.
“To be part of a professional set-up like that, which is even bigger this year, bringing new guys on board and new machinery, it gave me that spark to get back racing here in the Ulster Superbike Championship.”
A deal for the North West 200 in May has yet to be finalised but McWilliams has become a big supporter of Northern Ireland’s biggest road race, where he has claimed 13 podium finishes in total.
Lisburn’s Phillips won the Ulster Superbike title in 2019 and previously rode for McCaw’s team.
He is set to make his comeback after a few years away at the opening USBK round at Bishopscourt in April.
Former British Superstock and Supersport race winner Andy Reid returned to racing in 2024 with the J McC Racing Team after a five-year hiatus.
The Jordanstown man endured a difficult start to the season but began to make headway in the second part of the season, taking a race win at Bishopscourt in September.
“I don’t think there will be any stopping Andy now after he’s had a year back to bed himself in again,” said team boss McCaw.
“We had a few wee issues last year at the start with teething problems, clutches went, different things. Then we had to get the tyres changed because the wrong profile of tyre was going on them and it wasn’t set for the suspension.
“But I would say Andy will be the one to watch and I think we’ve put together one of the strongest teams ever in this Championship.
“It’s a big commitment and a lot of machinery but that’s what we’ve decided for 2025 and I would think we’ll be one-two-three on the podium a few times this year.”
The Ulster Superbike Championship will be held over nine rounds, commencing with the Temple Club’s event at Bishopscourt in Co Down on April 5 and ending at the Sunflower Trophy meeting at the same venue in October.