Two former arch-rivals will make a sensational return to the Isle of Man TT in 2014, with both Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor set to make their racing comebacks.
The duo will return to the Mountain Course as team-mates, riding a pair of 650cc ER6 machines for Farquhar’s KMR Kawasaki team in the Lightweight TT Race. Both Farquhar and Amor are expected to be challenging for the top spot yet again, with the former winning the first race for Supertwins in 2012 to take his tally to three TT wins. Amor has also scored five podium results between 2008 and 2011.
Farquhar brought the curtain down on his illustrious career during the 2012 Manx Grand Prix after losing his uncle Trevor Fergurson to a tragic accident. The Dungannon rider went on to win his final race, the 500cc Classic, to take his Manx GP victory tally up to ten. He made his TT debut in 2002 and has gone on to be the 14th fastest rider in TT history, having lapped the course at 129.883mph. His final year saw victory in the Lightweight race as well as a podium in the Superstock race.
“My heart is still very much in the TT and I want to be part of what happens on the track again,” said Farquhar. “I also want to develop the KMR ER6 Kawasaki package further and the best way to do that is to ride the bike myself so I can fully evaluate the changes I’m making. But the deciding factor for me was to have the opportunity to team up with Keith Amor. Keith was the hardest rider I have ever ridden against and I have always had the utmost respect for him as a rider and a person. I am delighted to be welcoming him to KMR Kawasaki.”
Keith Amor last rode in 2011, ending his racing career at the Ulster Grand Prix with the Honda TT Legends team. A shoulder injury sustained in a crash at Quarter Bridge in practice for the Isle of Man TT eventually caused Amor to call it a day, but he was still competitive throughout 2011, scoring top five results in all the Isle of Man TT races he entered, including a second place in the Supersport Race. He is the twelfth fastest rider in TT history, lapping the Mountain Course at 130.177mph.
“When Ryan called me with this opportunity it didn’t take long to say yes,” offered Amor. “Ryan and I have always had a lot of mutual respect from our days racing together in Ireland and I know better than most how good a bike he can build. I’ve never ridden a Supertwin machine but I guess if you are ever going to ride one, they don’t come much better than a KMR machine. I’m looking forward to getting back out on the TT Course with no pressure and just concentrating on having lots of fun.”
The pair enjoyed some of the best battles of the Irish Road Racing Championship between 2007 and 2011, with Farquhar publicly stating that he regarded Amor as his greatest rival of his career.
The Lightweight race will be the first time that Amor has ridden a Supertwin, but, perhaps even more exciting, will be seeing the duo line up in identical colours for the first time.