Derek McGee on Wilson Craig's Honda Superstock machine at the Isle of Man TT

As revealed by the News Letter on Wednesday, McGee will focus on running his own bikes at this weekend’s Skerries 100 meeting after leaving Craig’s team.

A statement issued on behalf of McGee on Wednesday evening by Noel Williamson, team manager of Derek McGee Racing, said:

“I wish to advise you that Derek McGee and Wilson Craig Racing have parted company with immediate effect and Derek will be racing at Skerries on his own bikes.

“This is an amicable arrangement and I would like to thank all our sponsors and fans for their support. We look forward to the rest of the season.”

McGee joined Wilson Craig Racing for 2015 and impressed on his debut at the Isle of Man TT in June, lapping at 122.175mph in the second Supersport race on his way to 19th place.

He clocked his fastest lap of the Mountain Course from a standing start in the Senior TT on the WCR Honda Superstock machine at 124.5mph before the race was red-flagged due to Ballyclare rider Jamie Hamilton’s serious accident on the run to the 11th Milestone at Burnside.

McGee, who also made his debut at the North West 200 this year, clinched his best result at the TT of 11th place in the Lightweight race on the Wogan Performance Kawasaki.

Regarded as one of the leading emerging prospects in Irish road racing, the 28-year-old HGV mechanic won the Irish Supersport Championship in 2014.

He twice finished as the runner-up in the Open and Grand Final Superbike races at the Kells Road Races in Co Meath on his return from the TT and is among the favourites for this weekend’s Skerries 100 meeting Dublin.

McGee is working on the Supersport Yamaha and Kawasaki ZX-10R machines he used in 2014 in an effort to have them ready for practice on Friday along with his 650cc Kawasaki Supertwin.

Leading Ulster team Mar-Train Racing is set to run a second rider at the Armoy Road Races later this month in the Supersport class and perhaps McGee would be the ideal candidate for a coveted ride on the Yamaha R6 alongside Dean Harrison.

The ‘Mullingar Missile’ replaced Jamie Hamilton in Craig’s Honda team after Hamilton departed after one season to link up with John Burrows’ Cookstown/BE Racing outfit.

Wilson Craig has worked with some of the sport’s top riders in the past, including Keith Amor, Guy Martin, Cameron Donald and William Dunlop since forming his team in 2008.

Kyle White