Farquhar and Amor team up for sensational TT comebacks!

In a sensational turn of events Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor are set to make their racing comebacks at the 2014 Isle of Man TT races - as team-mates at KMR Kawasaki! Backed by SGS International, the former rivals will race on identical 650cc ER6 Kawasaki’s in the 3-lap Lightweight race and the news is sure to generate maximum publicity for the team both now and on the Island next June.

The return of two of the sport’s leading riders is a terrific coup for both the event and the Lightweight race and will no doubt see them both challenging for honours once more on Farquhar’s immaculately prepared machines. The Dungannon rider, of course, won the first ever TT race for Supertwin machines back in 2012 to make it three TT wins and 13 podiums in total whilst Amor took five podiums between 2008 and 2011.

Farquhar called time on his illustrious career during the 2012 Manx Grand Prix after a tragic accident claimed the life of his uncle Trevor Ferguson, his last race being the 500cc Classic race during the same week, which he won to claim his tenth Manx GP victory. Having made his TT debut in 2002, his last TT came in 2012 and included the aforementioned Lightweight win as well as a close third in the Superstock race.

Amor, meanwhile, last rode in 2011, his final race coming at the Ulster Grand Prix as part of the Honda TT Legends team. Shoulder injuries, sustained in a spill during practice at Quarter Bridge for that year’s TT, ultimately led to his retirement from racing but he still scored some impressive results in that final season, finishing in the top five in all five of the TT races he started, his best result being second in the first Supersport race.

The pairing enjoyed some terrific battles in the Irish Road Racing Championship between 2007 and 2011, and whilst it will be Amor’s first time on a Lightweight machine, the duo lining up in identical colours for the first time is set to be a tremendous sight around the Mountain Course.

Speaking about the move Farquhar commented: “When I decided to retire, one of the main reasons was to spend more time with my family but running the team last year, that didn’t happen as I was still away as many weekends as when I was racing. I always said to Jamie (Hamilton) that I wouldn’t stand in his way if he got a better offer and when that happened, I kept my word. It allowed me to look at the alternatives and I definitely wanted to stay within the sport so, having spoken to my family, I had the idea of running Keith and myself at the TT. I sent Keith a couple of messages and he said he was up for it straightaway and it didn’t take long for everything else to fall into place.”

“It may shock a few people but it’s something we both want to do 100%. This isn’t a full-scale comeback for either of us though and the plan is just for the TT where I’ll also be running Joe Faragher. I always said the Supertwin bike was my favourite and Keith was my biggest and most respected rival so what better way to return than with us all together??!! It’s really exciting for all of us and its put KMR Kawasaki in one of its strongest positions. I’ve been able to put some excellent deals in place and I’m delighted to welcome Brian McGrath and SGS International on board whilst it’s great to have retained many of my loyal sponsors including Manx Gas, Andy Faragher of A&J Groundworks, Winfield Gears and BA Components.”

Amor added: “Ryan and I being team-mates is one of those things that I thought would never happen but as soon as he put the idea to me a couple of weeks ago I was sold. It’s simply too good an opportunity to turn down. It’s fair to say we were fierce rivals when we were racing and traded paint week in week but we always had the utmost respect for each other and always had a bit of banter over a glass of wine at the end of the day so I’m really excited about being his team-mate, particularly at the TT, and part of KMR Kawasaki.”

“I’d never even sat on a twin until I went over to Ryan’s last week and it was nice to spend time with him and the family and the one thing he stressed is that he just wants us both to have fun and enjoy ourselves; there’s no pressure on either of us. He’s more than very good at what he does and I know, having seen it at close hand, what a perfectionist he is. No-one puts together a better bike than Ryan and I consider myself lucky to be riding a KMR Kawasaki. It’s a unique opportunity and we’re both really looking forward to having some fun.”



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Former GP ace Webb to make TT debut with KMR Kawasaki

Danny Webb, one of the UK’s former leading 125cc Grand Prix and Moto 3 contenders is set to make his debut at the 2014 Isle of Man TT races riding for KMR Kawasaki. Riding in identical SGS International livery to team manager Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor, the Kent youngster will contest the Superbike, Senior, Superstock and Lightweight TT races and is sure to benefit from the expert knowledge and support of three-time TT winner Farquhar.

The 22-year old has long been considered one of the countries brightest prospects, a claim more than supported by his seven years of competing at Grand Prix level where he took a mightily impressive twenty top-ten finishes in the 125cc and Moto 3 divisions, arguably, one of the most competitive classes around. Webb achieved a best finish of fifth at the 2008 Portuguese GP, with his best Championship standing coming in the 2010 season when he took 10th overall with 93 points. Having led races on a number of occasions, Webb was also chosen to spearhead the Indian manufacturer Mahindra’s first ever assault on the GP trail in 2011. Indeed, he gave them first ever pole position at Valencian GP.

Midway through the 2013 season, Webb turned his attention to the Supersport 600cc division, competing in a number of World Championship races for PTR Racing, who not only played an instrumental part in the success of Michael Dunlop at the 2013 TT races but also took Eugene Laverty and Sam Lowes to numerous wins and podiums on the World stage. Webb soon proved his talent on the 600cc machine too, scoring a best position of 11th at the final round in Spain, which was just his fourth outing on the machine.

The Tunbridge Wells rider hails from a racing family with father Jimmy having enjoyed a successful career as a sidecar passenger whilst his elder brother James was a front runner in both the Virgin Mobile R6 Cup and British Supersport Championships, competing as team-mate to 20-times TT winner John McGuinness at Padgetts Racing in the latter.

Speaking about his TT debut, Danny commented: “I’m a big TT fan. I've already been to the event and I have always said that I wanted to do it one day. It’s something that has been going through my mind more and more of late, and the opportunity came along to work with Ryan Farquhar who puts out some of the best bikes on the grid, so I simply couldn’t say no. It’s going to be a big change for me after years in the Grand Prix paddock, but it is something I am really looking forward to. I don’t see this being a one off thing either and I know it will take me many years to really learn my way around but for now I just can’t wait to get out there and make my debut.”

Team owner Farquhar added; “I first met Danny at a charity function at the Valencian GP in 2011 and he said then that he always wanted to race at the TT. I told him that if there was anything I could do to help him to give me a call and once Paul Phillips mentioned Danny’s name, I made a few phone calls and soon put everything into place. He’s an extremely talented rider, someone who I have a lot of time for, and he’s got a wise head on his shoulders. He knows all about the TT and wants to do it for all the right reasons so we’ll do everything we can at KMR Kawasaki to help him serve his apprenticeship and establish himself as a top flight road racer.”



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ILR Kawasaki 2014 Team Announcement

ILR Kawasaki are pleased to announce that the team has secured the services of Danny Eslick for the early part of the 2014 season.

The talented American will ride for the team in the opening round of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend.

27 year old Eslick from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma turned professional in 2003 and came up through the Flat Track ranks at AMA Superstock and Formula Xtreme level.

Accomplishments.......

2009: 1st - AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship with 3 wins and 4 podiums.
2010: 2nd - AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship with 3 wins and 7 podiums.
2010: 1st - AMA Harley Davidson XR1200 Championship, winning the 3 races he competed in.
2011: 1st - AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship, 3 wins and one pole.
2012: 8th - AMA Superbike Championship with 3 podiums, best finish 2nd at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2013: 5th - AMA Superbike Championship.
ILR Team Manager Ian Lougher:

"We welcome Danny to the ILR Kawasaki team and are excited by what we can achieve together. He is young and exceptionally talented, and this is a great opportunity for him to show what he can achieve on the ZX-10R Ninja, in what is probably the closest and fiercely fought championship within the BSB paddock.

I am personally very much looking forward to working with Danny at two planned pre-season tests, before moving on to Brands for the first round.''

Danny Eslick

"Excited...that's about the only way I can describe how I feel about going to race in BSB. With our series having a big break between races it creates the opportunity for me to go slide with some of the best riders on the planet! It will be a huge challenge learning a new bike and team in a very short period of time. I have great confidence in the ILR program and look forward to a great experience."



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Trayler joins Morello Racing for Superstock 1000 campaign

THE Morello Racing Kawasaki team is delighted to announce the signing of Essex rider Jesse Trayler who will contest the 2014 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship.

The 22-year-old from Great Dunmow joins the team which will also run Peter Baker in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship for the forthcoming season.

Trayler will return to Kawasaki power on board a ZX-10R after making his debut for Steve Buckenham’s squad at the end of 2013, qualifying an impressive sixth and finishing 11th in a one-off appearance in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race at Donington Park in September.

After an up and down season in 2013, Trayler is thrilled to have secured a competitive ride for 2014, and is determined he can become a frontrunner from the moment the season gets underway at Brands Hatch in April.

Following a four-day test at Almeria in Spain earlier this year, he is feeling quietly confident about the season ahead.

“I’m really happy to be signed up ready for the start of the 2014 season with the Morello Racing Kawasaki team,” he said. “I’d like to thank Steve Buckenham for giving me this opportunity and I’m delighted to be back on a competitive bike which will give me a real shot at the championship.

“We had a four day test in Spain in January which was really good and we’ve made a few more changes and preparations as a result of what we learnt at the test so I’m looking forward to the season ahead.

“We want to be up at the sharp end this year and I believe we can be. I’m fully aware of how competitive the Superstock 1000 championship is, but I am quietly confident that we can run at the front and chase for podiums.”

Steve Buckenham added: “When I first met Jesse I was impressed by his talent and his attitude and I’m thrilled to have him on board with the team for 2014.

“In the run-up to the start of the season we have taken him everywhere with the Superbike team to give him the best start we can, and I am confident he can deliver. I think Jesse is a talented young rider and I’m looking forward to helping him get back up to the front where he deserves to be.”

The Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship gets underway over the Easter weekend, April 18-21, 2014 and runs as part of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

Jesse Trayler quick bio:

Jesse is a 22-year-old motorcycle racer from Great Dunmow in Essex. He works as a motorcycle sprayer during the week and when he isn’t racing or messing about with bikes he enjoys fitness, cycling and cars. He began riding at the age of seven on the MX scene before switching to short circuit road racing at 13.

2006: MRO Superteens, taking numerous race wins and podiums
2007: British 125GP
2008: Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship
2009: Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship, 6th overall and winner of David Jefferies under-18s memorial prize
2010: Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship
2011: Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship
2012: Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
2013: Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship (two rounds)

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KMR Kawasaki dominate at Bishopscourt

The KMR Kawasaki/SGS International race team got their 2014 season underway in fine style at Bishopscourt last weekend with riders Jeremy McWilliams, Ryan Farquhar and Keith Amor scoring a 1-2-3 in both of the Irish Championship Supertwin races.

All three riders were using the meeting primarily as preparation for the International road race season, which gets underway in May with the North West 200, whilst team boss Farquhar and Amor were also looking to blow away the cobwebs after time away from the sport.

Weather conditions were anything but ideal with constant rain in the morning but the first race saw the three riders make a break on the rest of the field and although Farquhar took the lead on the third lap, a missed gear allowed McWilliams to get back to the front. The former GP rider was able to successfully keep Farquhar at bay and crossed the line at the end of the 8-lap race, 0.846s clear with Scots ace Amor in third.

The rain had eased for the second race with track conditions damp and the trio again led the way, Farquhar this time opening up a small gap over McWilliams and Amor. However, on the sixth and final lap he touched a white line and lost the front end, saving the bike but taking to the grass as a result. It allowed McWilliams to take his second win of the day with Amor going on to take second with Ryan in third, just 2.8s covering the trio at the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, fourth team member, Connor Behan, who was having his first ever outing at the Northern Ireland venue, also had a profitable day with seventh taken in the first race before improving to fifth later in the day thus making it four KMR Kawasaki machines in the top five.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Farquhar said: “We talked a while ago about entering the meeting so once we put the entries in it was all a bit of a rush to get the four bikes ready but, all in all, it was the perfect start to the season. On a personal level, it felt like I’d never been away from racing so it was very pleasing in that aspect and with Jeremy again being the benchmark for us all, we were all riding well and putting in some strong performances. To put it into perspective, the fastest lap of the race would have qualified pole in the Supersport class!”

“Connor was having his first ever rides at Bishopscourt and with only 15 minutes practice, he did a great job too improving his times all weekend and ending up with a top five finish. To get a 1-2-3-5 in the second race was brilliant and all the riders are happy with the bikes so I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season.”



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Robbin Harms joins ILR Kawasaki for 2014 Superstock 1000 challenge

ILR Kawasaki are delighted to have acquired the services of talented Danish rider Robbin Harms for the 2014 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship season.

Coming from a country where there is no tradition or culture for road racing, Harms describes himself as a 'self-made man' - he believes in making his own success. By his own admission he has had no-one inside road racing at his level to really guide or advise him in the past, relying instead on the support of his family. All that is about to change as he comes under the guidance of team manager Ian Lougher at ILR Kawasaki.

The 32 year old comes with a race proven pedigree having honed his skills at MotoGP, Danish, German, Spanish, Italian, European and World Championship level and has even ran his own top privateer team.

Racing from the age of 4 in motocross, in the mid-late 90's Harms had the distinction of being the youngest ever rider (at that time) to compete in the European Championships. He spent seven years competing successfully in the World Supersport Championship, notching up top five finishes in every season and also finishing on the podium on a number of occasions, two of which were in the UK.

In 2012 he joined the Bimota Moto2 project and presented the Italian manufacturer with their first victory in twelve years when he won the second round of the Italian Moto2 Championship in atrocious conditions at Imola.

Harms is also no stranger to UK race circuits. In the latter part of the 2012 season he raced for the Tom Tunstall/Doodson Motorsport team in the British Superbike Championship, securing the first points for the team in the Donington Park round and registering points finishes in the remaining three rounds at Assen, Silverstone and Brands Hatch respectively, including a ninth place finish on what was a 2010 bike. Last year Robbin again joined forces with Doodson Motorsport in British Superbikes but, despite a fine seventh place finish at Snetterton, a combination of uncompetitive equipment and bad luck plaqued his season which was brought to a premature conclusion when he was involved in a crash caused by another rider, which resulted in a multiple wrist fracture.

Thanks to intense training and professional treatment, Robbin's wrist is now back to full strength and he returns to the BSB paddock determined to leave his mark. He will get every opportunity and support to do so with ILR Kawasaki.

Robbin Harms: ''I am pleased to join ILR Kawasaki in Superstock 1000 just a few weeks before the season starts. Last season was tough to sit out with a wrist injury so I am really looking forward to racing in the UK again. Ian Lougher has a strong team and knowledge which is something that can improve my chances to join BSB again.''

ILR Kawasaki team manager Ian Lougher: ''I am delighted to obtain the services of Danish rider Robbin Harms for a full campaign in the BSB Superstock 1000 Championship. Robbin has a lot of experience on both two and four stroke machines, having started in 125cc Grand Prix before moving on to the World Supersport Championships, Moto 2 and BSB Superbikes. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge, professional attitude and sheer speed. He knows all the UK tracks now, so I think he could surprise a lot of people in this Championship in 2014.''



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