More success for Farquhar at Tandragee Ryan Farquhar’s superb start to the 2009 road race season showed no signs of slowing down on Saturday when he took two more wins and four podiums at the Tandragee 100. The KMR Kawasaki rider claimed victory in the Open and Supertwins races whilst he backed this up with a close second in the feature Superbike race and third in the Supersport 600cc encounter. With good, dry conditions all around the 5.34-mile circuit, Ryan opened his account for the day with a dominant victory in the Supertwins race, finishing a staggering one minute clear of his nearest rival whilst he also smashed the lap record with a lap of 94.974mph. He immediately followed this up with his second win of the day in the Open race. Having shadowed Keith Amor for the majority of the race, Ryan made his move on the final lap when backmarkers came into play and he ran out victor by 2.75seconds. In the Supersport 600cc race, Ryan was embroiled in a titanic dice with Amor again, and also Michael Dunlop, with the lead exchanging hands on numerous occasions. Leading the trio on the final lap, Ryan then ran in to a technical problem and he was powerless to respond and had to settle for third at the chequered flag, just over 5 seconds behind the race winner Dunlop. He bounced back strongly in the feature Superbike race where he again went head to head with Amor. There was little to choose between the dicing duo but at the end of the eight laps, Ryan just missed out on the win in the dash to the line by the tiny margin of 0.275seconds! Speaking afterwards, Ryan said: “I’m well pleased with how I was riding today and it’s been another great day. We had the ER6 Supertwin on the dyno and found another 4bhp so it made the wee bike so much sharper and the race went faultlessly. In the first Open race I had a terrific ding-dong with Keith and sat behind him for most of the race but when we came across some backmarkers along the jumps onthe final lap, he hesitated a wee bit and I was able to get through and hold on for a good win.” “We had the new engine for the Supersport race and although we still have a little bit of work to do, I was extremely impressed with it. I led right up until the last lap but I think there was an electrical problem and the bike wouldn’t rev above 14,000rpm so the other boys came by me like I was standing still! I rode hard though and I can’t take anything away from the other two boys, they rode very well.” “In the big race, it was again a great battle with Keith and we were both giving it 100%. It was a good clean race and there was nothing between us anywhere so nothing was handed to anyone. Fair play to him, he just got the better of me but I couldn’t have asked for any more. The Kawasaki was working brilliantly and the Dunlop tyres were awesome so I’m feeling extremely confident and encouraged as we head in to the International races. We’ve got a strong package so a big thank you to all my sponsors and I’m looking forward to giving them some good results at both the North West 200 and the TT.” Ryan’s next outing will be the International North West 200 with practice getting underway on Tuesday May 12th. The races take place on Saturday May 16th. More, from a press release issued by Keith Amor’s publicist: Tandragee delight for Amor Fresh from his podium places at the Cookstown 100, Keith Amor was the toast of Tandragee on Saturday as he swept to victory in the feature race at the Tandragee 100 road races. The Wilson Craig Honda rider ensured it was another day to remember as he also added a brace of seconds to his collection in the Open and Supersport 600cc races. Using the new CBR1000RR Honda Superbike for the first time this season, Keith got his day underway in the Open, race leading the pack away from the line. The Falkirk ace was under constant pressure from regular nemesis Ryan Farquhar but looked like he’d open his account with a win until he encountered backmarkers on the final lap. Easing off slightly, Farquhar found his way through and with no time left to make a move, Keith reluctantly had to settle for second. The Supersport 600cc race saw Keith have his first ride on the ’09 Supersport machine and he again battled with Farquhar whilst Michael Dunlop was also in the equation and it was he who took the chequered flag after another hard fought race, Keith again securing second at the chequered flag. With two seconds to his name, Keith was keen to go one better in the final race of the day, the feature Tandragee 100 Open race, and this he duly did. Once more, it was another titanic battle with Farquhar but Keith put in a superb 8 laps to hold off his rival by just 0.275seconds! Talking later, Keith commented: “It was great to get a run out on the new bikes for the first time this year and I’m really happy with how the day has gone. I thought I’d done enough to get the win in the Open race but I got held up by the backmarkers and as I slowed up, Ryan found a way by so I was a little disappointed to have finished second. Michael was riding well in the 600cc race and I just had too much deficit to make up on the final lap so I settled for a good second but the new bike felt really strong so I know there’s plenty more to come there.” “In the final big bike race I was determined to get the win and me and Ryan had another great battle but, on this occasion, I was able to hold him off for a good win. It’s been a great shakedown for the North West 200 and I’m feeling really good about everything heading in to the meeting. Wilson and all my sponsors have given me terrific support and a great package for 2009 so I’m feeling really confident that I can reward them with some good results at the International races.” Keith’s next outing will be at the International North West 200, which takes place on the 8.9-mile circuit linking the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush between May 12-16. More, from a press release issued by The Way To Happiness Racing Team: May 3rd Palm Beach International Raceway, Jupiter, FL The Way to Happiness Racing Team finished in the top ten in the four races it entered with a fifth, two sevenths and a ninth. Greg Gorman, riding a 2008 Kawasaki ZX-10R prepared by Corsa Motorworks and sponsored by The Waterin’ Trough Dance and Saloon and Dunlop Race Tire Services improved on his best times at the track by one second. The races started on Saturday night GTO race. Greg, starting from row 3, was running in 6th place when he was passed with two laps to go by Marco Martinez. On Sunday the racing for the team started off with Unlimited SuperSport. Due to a minor issue with the bike, Greg did not get out in time to make his warm up lap and had to start from pit road. Because this was a combined race of amateurs and experts he had to wait for all of the regularly gridded experts and amateurs to get through turn 1 before he could start. Greg semi-cautiously passed his way through most of the amateurs and did catch some experts to finish 9th. “I started out upset, it was a very minor tire issue that should have been checked prior to me going out. Then, when I started passing the amateurs, I realized what a great video this is going to make. I’ve since watched the video and it is awesome. Since we didn’t have time to fully fix the problem I rode the bike as it was and we discovered a fix for the tire wear problems we’ve been having.” Greg also finished 5th and 7th in Unlimited Superbike and Unlimited GP respectively. “Superbike and GP were both good races and even though the results aren’t better, my laptimes were better by over a second. In the Superbike I almost managed to get 4th at the line but just missed it. In the GP race I was able to keep the leaders in sight so I’m definitely closing the gap.” The team will race again at Palm Beach International Raceway, May 24th and 25th.