BSB: Keith Farmer Retires From Short Circuit Racing After A Turbulent 2021 Season.
By Dawn Hammersley
Keith Farmer Calls It A Day After A Disappointing Round At Silverstone.
Northern Irish rider Keith Farmer has made the decision to hang-up his leathers for good after a frustrating weekend at Silverstone. Keith stepped in to ride with The Iforce Lloyd & Jones BMW Racing Team for Round Eight of the Bennetts British Superbikes, unfortunately Keith crashed during Race One and then high sided during Sunday Morning warm up, subsequently Keith was declared unfit to continue in the racing action for races Two and Three.
Keith originally signed for Platform Hire Racing at the start of the 2021 season, riding in the Superstock 1000 Championship, but he made the decision to move to The Morello Racing Team, until the team folded after Round Five. Keith was without a ride until he was offered the chance to replace Joe Francis at Iforce Lloyd & Jones.
Keith got his first motorbike at the age of two but it wasn’t until 1996 that he began his racing career. This was in schoolboy motorcross where he had top 5 finishes in the Ulster Championship four times. When Keith was invited to ride in the P&O Winter Supermoto Series in 2003 his star talents really began to shine and it was then that he moved to Supermoto permanently.
The Clogher rider first entered the British Superbike Paddock in 2011 riding in the National Superstock 600 Championship, a year later he was in the National Superstock 1000 Class, of which he won the Title and beat the likes of a young Jason O’Halloran. In 2013 he made the step-up to the British Superbike Class, riding for Rapid Solicitors PBM Kawasaki Team. He was consistently inside the top ten, with a best place finish of fourth.
Keith has been crowned Champion four times throughout his career, and has raced in various classes, he won the 2017 Supersport Championship after replacing Luke Jones. A year later he switched back to the Superstock 1000 Championship riding for Tyco BMW and he won the 2018 Championship Title. For the past couple of seasons Keith has been hampered with injuries, his best place finish of the 2021 season was a fourth place at Brands Hatch during Race One.
We wish Keith all the best for his retirement, I’m sure he won’t be a stranger to the British Superbike Paddock.
Featured Images: Keith Farmer Racing.