McWilliams dethroned in Phillip Island Classic

Former MotoGP rider Jeremy McWilliams had to give second best to Shawn Giles at the Phillip Island Classic in Melbourne at the weekend.

McWilliams finished as the runner-up in three races and won the final outing, but it wasn't enough for the veteran Northern Ireland rider to retain his crown from 2012, with Giles taking three wins and a second place to secure the Ken Wootton International Trophy.

Australia won the team challenge overall, defeating the British line-up of McWilliams, Steve Brogan and Ryan Farquhar, who were riding Suzuki XR69s.

Isle of Man TT racer Cameron Donald finished third overall, while Brogan and Farquhar were hampered by mechanical trouble at the annual event.

Farquhar announced his retirement from road racing in 2012 following the death of his uncle at the Manx Grand Prix, but still intends to run his KMR Kawasaki team in 2013.