BSB podium winner, multiple SSTK, BSS champ Keith Farmer to retire

Keith Farmer has revealed he is making the immediate decision to retire from racing in the wake of a bruising return to British Superbike Championship (BSB) action at Silverstone.

The Ulsterman carved a reputation as one of the BSB package’s most successful racers over the past decade, clinching titles in three of the feeder categories - Superstock 600, Superstock 1000 (twice) and British Supersport - amid numerous BSB showings.

Making his debut in the Superbike class on the championship-leading Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki alongside Shane Byrne, though injury-riddled Farmer’s tenure in BSB didn’t quite live up to the high expectations forged from his success in other categories, he did collect a podium finish.

That rostrum came in 2014 with PR Racing, whom he linked up again with this weekend at Silverstone - replacing Joe Francis - with a view to completing the season. 

However, an accident during the race weekend has necessitated a change of plan for Farmer, who - after a broken leg ruined a promising season with Tyco BMW in 2019 was followed by another sidelining accident almost immediately on his return in 2020 with Buildbase Suzuki - has decided the time has come to hang up his helmet.

“It’s never easy to just pack up and walk away, but at the end of this year I was always planning on retirement from racing,” he said. “I have had a tough year, but that’s just racing. I stepped in to finish the year with PR Racing, but after two relatively big crashes, I have realised that it is time to walk away. 

“I’ve had ten good years of racing in the BSB paddock, riding for some of the best teams with great opportunities and some worked and some didn’t. I count myself extremely lucky to have been given these opportunities and with these I have won four titles - 2011 National Superstock 600, 2012 and 2018 National Superstock 1000 and 2017 British Supersport. 

“I want to thank every single person that has ever supported myself in anyway shape or form. Be it from teams, team personnel, teammates, sponsors, team sponsors, the orange army, medics, physios, photographers, officials, all the riders who I have battled with, fell out with, made friends with and last but not least, my family who have been behind me every step of the way through the good and the bad. I could not have done this without any of you guys! 

“I will still be watching and keeping an eye on everything, and maybe next year I could start something new.”