Amor ruled out of inaugural MotoSix Nations Championship

Amor-some…Keith in action.

Falkirk flyer Keith Amor has been ruled out of this weekends inaugural MotoSix Nations Championship at Donington Park.
The event sees solo and sidecar teams from Scotland, N. Ireland, Eire, the Isle of Man, Wales and England race at the Leicestershire circuit to see which nation is quickest.
Amor had been hoping to spearhead Scotland’s team and regain some lost pride after our dismal result in this year’s Rugby Six Nations.
But the roads supremo suffered a huge 100+ mph crash in Spain at the start of the month and another crash in Ireland just last weekend at the Mondello Masters event.
Amor said: “I came together with another racer in Spain and ended up high-siding the bike at over 100mph. I came down head-first but luckily I was going so fast and was so high I missed the track and landed in the gravel trap.
“I came down on my head and right shoulder and eventually stopped when I hit the tyre wall.
“I’m really gutted about being ruled out of the MotoSix Nations but I’ll have to do what the doctors say.
Amor will be back in action in a couple of weeks time when the Road Racing calendar kicks off on 24th and 25th April for the Cookstown 100 Road Races.

Amor flies to victory at Faugheen

For the second weekend in a row, Keith Amor was at the top of the Irish road racing tree as the Falkirk rider was awarded the Man of the Meeting award at Sunday’s Faugheen 50 road races. The Wilson Craig Honda rider took both of the Open races and backed this up with a brace of third place finishes to also ensure he comfortably won the Best Newcomer trophy as well.

Making his debut at the 2.2-mile circuit in Southern Ireland, Amor soon got to grips with the technical, narrow course and in the first Open race he again battled hard with Ryan Farquhar. Just as at Kells, there was little between the pair and they traded places on a number occasions. With the fastest lap of the race, 105.538mph, Keith’s pressure eventually told and Farquhar slid off on the final lap, allowing Keith to take an excellent win. He followed this up with a solid third place in the 600cc Championship race.

Third was also the result in the Non-Championship 600cc race although on this occasion he was only 0.657seconds adrift of race winner Farquhar. In the Grand Final, Keith led from the start but by half race distance, Farquhar was on his rear wheel and it again looked looked like it would go to a final lap shoot-out. However, on the 7th of 10 laps, Farquhar slid off as he attempted to overtake Keith and although he got delayed, Keith was able to successfully see off a closing Michael Dunlop and hold on for another win.

Talking about his successful day, Keith said:

‘In the big bike races, there was nothing between me and Ryan once more but I managed to put him under enough pressure to make him make a mistake and I sneaked through to take the first race win. Mind you, it was a bit hairy when he slid off as he was nearly under my front wheel! It was a similar story in the Grand Final and I knew he wasn’t going to make the corner as I was struggling myself. I ran wide trying to avoid him and had to do a u-turn to get back on track. I also stalled the bike, giving Michael a sniff but I got my head down and got my second win of the day.’

‘We fitted a new engine in to the 600cc but we simply had no time to get it set up and it was running a bit ‘tight’ at the top end – it was on a par with the other boys coming out of the corners but we were struggling for top end speed. Wilson’s bikes have again been excellent this weekend though and I can’t thank him enough for his support. Hats off to Dunlop once more as well as both Ryan and I were able to break lap records again and you could see how evenly matched we were by looking at our fastest laps – there was only 5/1000ths between us!’

‘It’s been another good day for me and the fans down here have been mega once more – they’re so friendly and to get that level of support from all of the locals is brilliant.’

Keith now has a three week break before the Ulster Grand Prix, which gets underway on Wednesday August 13th.

Amor gets back to winning ways at Kells

Keith Amor had another fantastic weekend’s racing in Southern Ireland with two wins and a second, see presser below for more information.

Keith Amor enjoyed an excellent debut at the Kells road races on Sunday and the Falkirk ace was able to claim both of the Supersport 600cc races after hard fought battles with Ryan Farquhar. He also took second place in the two Open races and he left the Crossakiel circuit with a whole clutch of silverware that included the Man of the Meeting and Best Newcomer accolades.

Having been forced to miss the previous weekend’s Walderstown meeting due to a virus, Keith was keen to make amends and he did so immediately, just pipping Farquhar to the line in the 600cc Championship race on the Wilson Craig Honda. In the following Open race, there was again only fractions between the pair and, on this occasion, it was Keith who had to settle for second, just 0.8seconds adrift.

The non-Championship 600cc saw the two rivals again go head to head but it was Keith who came out on top at the end of the 8 laps for his second win of the day but such was the closeness of the race, there was only 0.097seconds between the dicing duo at the chequered flag. In the Grand Final, Keith, again on board the Phoenix Motorcycles Superstock Honda, took his second runner-up spot but he did have the consolation of setting the fastest lap of the day at 111.736mph.

After picking up his Man of the Meeting award, a delighted Keith said:

‘Without doubt, this has been one of the most enjoyable day’s racing I’ve ever had. The atmosphere was electric and the fans were unbelieveable, I’ve never seen anything like it – simply superb. The organisers put on a great meeting and couldn’t do enough for me, so it’s been a pleasure to be here.’

‘Having missed the racing at Walderstown, I concentrated on getting fit for this one and the racing’s been some of the toughest ever. There was nothing between Ryan and myself in any of the races and sometimes we were practically touching over the jumps – at 150mph! It was close but good, clean racing and you know Ryan will never do anything untoward so the pair of us gave it our all on every single lap!’

‘We had a good bit of banter between the races and, like I say, it’s been a terrific meeting and although I would have liked to have got the big bike wins, I can’t be too greedy! The Dunlop boys were over again so it was great to repay them with some top class results and the Phoenix Honda again proved itself out on the roads so thanks to everyone for their support once more.’

Keith will now make his way to the Faugheen road races, with race day taking place on Sunday July 27th.

Keith Amor takes another podium finish on his debut at the Skerries 100 road races

Keith Amor added more silverware to his already impressive 2008 collection when he scored a fine second place at Saturday’s Skerries 100 races. Riding the Wilson Craig Honda Superbike, Keith got the runner’s up spot in the opening Superbike race and backed this up with 4th in the Supersport 600cc event, an overheating engine denying him of further podium success.

It was another new circuit for the Falkirk ace to learn but he soon got to grips with the 2.92-mile course and was able to place 3rd and 4th in the Superbike and 600cc practice sessions respectively, well in contention for race day honours. Saturday dawned extremely damp but the organisers made a wise move to delay proceedings and racing got underway at lunch time, the rain having given way to sunny, but breezy, conditions.

In the 8-lap Superbike race, Keith got a great start and slotted into second place, tucked right in behind the pace setting Ryan Farquhar. Keith hung on to him in the first few laps but the experienced Farquhar slowly edged away and Keith, also feeling slightly under the weather, settled for a safe, but excellent, second place.

In the Supersport 600cc race, again held over 8 laps, Keith was in trouble from the start with an overheating engine and the lack of power severely damaged his chances. Nevertheless, he still brought the Honda home in a solid 4th place and hopes were high going in to the feature Grand Final race. Everything was looking good for Keith as he grabbed an early lead but, on the second lap, the red flags came out for an incident on the circuit and with a substantial delay the race was eventually cancelled.

Talking about his Skerries debut, Keith commented:

“It’s been a good day on the whole even if the weather and the red flags did their best to upset everything. I got a good start in the first Superbike race and followed Ryan for a few laps and it was good to pick up a few lines from him around the course. As the race wore on though he began to edge away and I had to settle for second place. It’s my first time on the Superbike since the TT and it’s had a few updates so it was good to get back out on it and it felt good.”

“The 600 was overheating from the start and it was running 14 degrees higher than what it normally does so it just wouldn’t pull and the lack of speed did me but I still picked up a strong finish. As for the Grand Final, I got the start I wanted and was feeling good at the front but the red flag came out and safety is paramount so the organisers made the right call. They did an excellent job throughout the day in what was quite tricky circumstances.”

“The circuit itself is very technical and the Superbikes are possibly too powerful for it but it’s great fun to ride and I’ve enjoyed myself very much again. Dunlop were over in force and they had some new tyres for me to try and they were, yet again, the best things out there whilst everyone one in the team – especially Wilson Craig and Phoenix Motorcycles – did a terrific job once more.”

Keith’s next outing will be at the Walderstown road races on Sunday July 13th, where he will also be making his circuit debut.

Terrific treble for Keith Amor at Knockhill

My Keith Amor posts are kinda arse about tit at the mo but normal service will be resumed ASAP.

Presser below.

Keith Amor set the Scottish Championship races alight at the weekend when he scored a terrific treble of race wins at the Knockhill circuit. The Falkirk ace took both Supersport 600cc races as well as the Superstock race, and a new lap record, on Saturday before opting out of Sunday’s races due to the inclement weather.

Having easily set the pole position time on the Phoenix Motorcycles Honda, Keith blitzed the field in the Superstock race taking the victory by almost 8 seconds and he also set a new class lap record. His time of 50.604seconds was comfortably inside the previous best time set at last year’s British Championship meeting.

He then took the Wilson Craig 600cc Honda to a brace of victories in the Supersport races and both wins were equally comfortable. Again starting from pole position, he led the first race from start to finish to win by an unprecedented 18 seconds and then eased his pace slightly in the second encounter to come home almost nine seconds clear of his nearest rival. With a severe weather warning issued for Sunday, Keith and the team decided not to take part in Sunday’s race in order to save themselves for the busy period ahead.

Speaking later, Keith commented:

“It’s nice to come back to Knockhill and put on a bit of a show for my local sponsors – the plan was to reward them and have some fun and that’s exactly what we did. The races couldn’t have worked out any better and I’m delighted for everyone connected with the team.”

“We spoke to the boys at K-Tech and got some new suspension settings for the Superstock bike and they definitely worked as the Phoenix Motorcycles Honda was on rails. Dunlop also gave me some new tyres and they were absolutely mega and this could be seen in the new lap record. I was under no pressure and wasn’t pushing too hard so I could have lapped a few tenths quicker.”

“The 600 was also a dream to ride and it’s been nice to have a bit of a play at my local circuit and in front of my local crowd. The idea was to have some fun so when the forecast for Sunday said heavy rain and 70mph winds that didn’t sound like much fun to me so we decided to put the bikes away and look ahead to the next few races. It’s a busy time of the year with five meetings in a row but we’ve got the bikes fully dialled in and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the Irish roads.”

Keith heads to Southern Ireland next where he will be making his debut at the Athea road races held this weekend, 28th and 29th June.

More success in Ireland for Amor

I met Keith Amor at the TT this year and I reckon he’s destined to be a big name in the road racing world over the next couple of years. He got his first podium result at the IoM this year and should have had at least one more but I reckon next year he’ll go very well.

Presser below.

Keith Amor enjoyed another successful trip across the Irish Sea at the weekend when he made his debut at the Athea road races in Southern Ireland. Taking in the 3.3-mile circuit for the first time, the Falkirk ace took a dominant victory in the Supersport 600cc race and added a pair of second places in the two Superbike races to make it a a thoroughly enjoyable day’s racing.

Saturday practice wasn’t as smooth though and he could only manage 7th on the grid in the Open class as he failed to get a clear lap on the Phoenix Motorcycles Honda. Meanwhile, he also ran into problems with the 600cc Wilson Craig Honda as it kept jumping out of gear but he did manage to post the second fastest time for a front row start.

With conditions good on race day, Keith’s day got off to the perfect start when he took a comfortable win in the 600cc race, the aforementioned problems having been rectified overnight, whilst he also set a new class lap record. In the Open race, it looked like the result would go right down to the wire as Keith battled it out for the lead with Ryan Farquhar. However, as they lapped the backmarkers, Keith was forced to take the outside line and he had no option but to take the slip road. He quickly turned the bike around and was still able to take 2nd at the chequered flag.

In the Grand Final, a slightly sluggish start saw Keith down in 8th at the end of the first lap and by the time he had worked his way through to 2nd, Farquhar had disappeared. However, it was another runner up spot to make it three podiums from three starts.

Commenting afterwards, Keith said:

“I’ve really enjoyed myself this weekend and it’s been another solid haul of results. It’s not the most technically demanding circuit I’ve ridden on but it’s very narrow in places and it’s very difficult to overtake so my grid position in the Open class meant it was very hard to make up ground.”

“Nevertheless, both of the bikes were flying on race day and I never had one moment at all so that speaks volumes of both the Honda machines and the Dunlop tyres. It’s been good craic and I was very impressed by the club – they put a lot of work and effort in and ran a very well organised and professional meeting. As always a big thank you to all my sponsors, especially Wilson Craig, Phoenix Motorcycles and Dunlop tyres, for making it all happen.”

Keith will remain in Southern Ireland for his next meeting, with the Skerries 100 road races taking place on Saturday July 5th.