Hillier excited to be making NW glory bid with new team
JAMES Hillier, the Man of the Meeting at this year’s fonaCAB & Nicholl Oils North West 200, will return to Portrush next May 10 to 16 with a new team and machinery after joining the O MG Racing team.
The 34-year-old, who has raced for the Quattro Plant Kawasaki squad for a decade, will spearhead the BSB squad’s roads debut around the famous 8.9 mile Triangle circuit aboard S1000RR BMWs in the Superbike and Superstock classes and a Yamaha R6 in the Supersport division.
“OMG Racing are putting together a strong package around me,” Hillier said. “I’ve had an affinity with Kawasaki for 14 years now and switching machines throws up its own challenges, but I’m really excited by it all.
“I’m really looking forward to a new chapter in my career for 2020 with OMG Racing and riding the new BMW S1000RR and Yamaha R6.
“I’ll be working with a crew chief I know very closely and with the team to develop the bike.
“It’s definitely the right time for me to make this move and I can’t wait to get started.”
Hillier will partner Australian David Johnson in the squad and will have his sights set on repeating his 2019 success at Portrush when he claimed his first big bike roads win in the CP Hire Superstock race.
The Roundwood rider impressively held off Kawasaki teammate Glenn Irwin to take the victory after finishing second to the Carrick rider in the Anchor Bar Superbike race.
A third rostrum finish in the Tides Restaurant 600cc race made the 2019 NW200 the most successful of Hillier’s career to date.
Hillier made his first appearance on a North West podium in 2012.
Event Director Mervyn Whyte said: “That wealth of experience paid off for him in 2019 with victory in the Superstock race and the Man of the Meeting award.
“Like James, the North West 200 is very grateful for all the support we have received from Pete Extance and his Quattro Plant Kawasaki team down the years.
“We are now looking forward to seeing James back on the NW200 grid aboard new machinery and he will be an important asset to the OMG team as they take on the challenge of road racing,” he added.