It's no joke for Farmer!
By TMX Archives on 9th Nov 07
KEITH Farmer has now won five of the six races counting for the P&O Irish Sea Winter Supermoto championship - but he's not the series leader. That is an honour that goes to Englishman Carl Shield who has yet to win a race! Currently second is Davy McKee. You can't blame the wild-card Joker double-points system for this anomaly!
Both Shield and McKee have played their Joker' while Farmer, the defending champion, has yet to do so.
The championship is now at the halfway stage andFarmer, following his treble on Saturday at a sun-lit Bishopscourt, islooking good for a second crown.
''I had the advantage of a new Aprilia,'' said20-year-old Farmer from Clogher, Co Tyrone. ''This is the 550 modelwhich Sam Warren rode in the British Championship series.''
''The bigger machine certainly made a differencein holding off Carl (Shield) who gave the impression in qualifying thathe would be the man to beat.''
For his part, Shield, a former speedway rider fromDurham, said: ''There was just no comparison between my Husaberg andKeith's bike which is near enough a works model.''
''Still, to come away with three second places onthe day that I played my Joker wasn't too bad,'' declared Shield. ''Atthe same time I'm at the top of the table andI haven't won a race! Hopefully, I'll get a win or two before the series finishes.''
In the opening race, it was Shield who got thebest possible start, followed by Farmer and a rejuvenated Adam Lyonswho soon came under pressure from McKee.
Shield gave the impression that this was his racebut, just after the halfway stage, Farmer began to make his move whichsoon paid off.
At the flag, Farmer won by almost three secondsfrom Shield who said: ''I think I gave that one away. When Keith gotpast me I was a bit unsettled.''
P&O WINTER SUPERMOTO CHAMPS
Rd 2 - Kirkiston (Killinchy MCC)
Prestige - Race One: 1 K Farmer, 2 C Shield, 3 W Garrett, 4 A Lyons, 5 D Farmer, 6 D McKee.
Race Two: 1 K Farmer, 2 Shield, 3 McKee, 4 Garrett, 5 D Farmer, 6 Lyons.
Race Three: 1 K Farmer, 2 Shield, 3 McKee, 4 Garrett, 5 D Farmer, 6 Lyons.
Series Standings: 1 Shield 251 points, 2 McKee 232, 3 K Farmer 181.
Experts - Race One: 1 M Dunleavy, 2 B Laman, 3 G Irwin, 4 C Lewers, 5 J Crawford, 6 D McFaul.
Race Two: 1 Irwin, 2 Laman, 3 R Bird, 4 Dunleavy, 5 A McCullough, 6 Crawford.
Race Three: 1 Irwin, 2 J Bonara, 3 McCullough, 4 Crawford, 5 McFaul, 6 Laman.
Clubman - Race One: 1 M Spratt, 2 C Laverty, 3 M Brooks, 4 D Calnan, 5 M Hamilton, 6 J Wright.
Race Two: 1 Brooks, 2 J Wright, 3 R McKeating, 4 Calnan, 5 K Clarke, 6 Laverty.
Race Three: 1 Spratt, 2 Laverty, 3 Brooks, 4 McKeating, 5 Clarke, 6 C Thompson.
Quad Expert - Race One: 1 M Donnelly, 2 C McCartan, 3 N McDermott, 4 M Troughton, 5 B Kerr, 6 T Mackin.
Race Two: 1 J Reid, 2 Donnelly, 3 McCartan, 4 McDermott, 5 Troughton, 6 C Vennard.
Race Three: 1 Reid, 2 Donnelly, 3 McCartan, 4 Troughton, 5 McDermott, 6 R Anderson.
Series Standings: 1 Reid 254 points, 2 Donnelly 166, 3 N McDermott 137.
Quad Clubman - Race One: 1 D McDermott, 2 D Leckey, 3 C Reavy, 4 R O'Doherty, 5 P Kane, 6 N O'Hanlon.
Race Two: 1 McDermott, 2 O'Doherty, 3 Kane, 4 J Lyons, 5 S Loughery, 6 O'Hanlon.
Race Three: 1 McDermott, 2 O'Hanlon, 3 Kane, 4 Lyons, 5 Loughery, 6 D McArdle.
See T+MX News, Friday, November 9, 2007 for full report and pictures.