Keith Farmer: Northern Ireland's four-time British motorcycling champion dies aged 35

Farmer won the past of his British titles successful 2018

Keith Farmer, 1 of Northern Ireland's astir palmy motorcyclists, has died aged 35.

He retired from racing successful September 2021, having primitively planned to discontinue astatine the extremity of past year.

Farmer won the National Superstock 600 rubric successful 2011 and National Superstock 1000cc successes followed successful 2012 and 2018, portion helium besides won the British Supersport rubric successful 2017.

During his career, the Northern Ireland rider competed for immoderate of the astir salient teams successful the BSB paddock, including the Paul Bird Motorsport team, Buildbase Suzuki and TAS Racing.

As good arsenic participating successful the BSB enactment championships, Farmer besides raced regularly successful the diagnostic British Superbike series.

When helium announced his retirement, helium had had been competing successful the National Superstock Championship and had been offered a thrust successful the Superbike people by iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW during 2021.

He said that helium decided to discontinue earlier than planned due to the fact that of what helium described arsenic "two comparatively large crashes".

Speaking astatine the clip of his retirement, helium said: "I person had a pugnacious twelvemonth but that's conscionable racing. I person realised that it is clip to locomotion away.

"I've had 10 bully years of racing successful the BSB paddock, riding for immoderate of the champion teams.

"I number myself highly fortunate to person been fixed these opportunities and with these I person won 4 British titles."

The British Superbike Championship said it was saddened to perceive of the passing of a "respected and profoundly fashionable rider".

"Keith volition beryllium terribly missed by each that had the pleasance of gathering him passim his career," BSB said.

"He was a superb and palmy rider connected track, who volition beryllium fondly remembered by his rivals, colleagues and fans pursuing today's tragic news.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his friends and household members and successful peculiar his children. Rest successful bid Keith."

A erstwhile Irish Supermoto champion, a fig of injuries hampered Farmer's British Superbikes prospects.

Tributes person been paid to Farmer connected societal media, with erstwhile racer and existent commentator Steve Parrish saying: "Tragic quality to perceive the bittersweet passing of Keith Farmer. A large rider and precise bully fella. My thoughts are with each his family, RIP young man."

Carrickfergus rider Andrew Irwin posted: "Keith, you taught maine much astir contention trade successful 2017 than I've learnt successful my full contention career. You were a four-time British champion that didn't lone person earthy endowment but besides worked hard distant from racing. Rest successful bid mate until we conscionable again."

Stuart Higgs, British Superbike Championship bid and contention manager said: "Awful quality to aftermath up to astir the abrupt and untimely passing of Keith Farmer. Thinking of his family, friends, and loved ones - whitethorn helium Rest In Peace."

BBC Radio Ulster motorcycling pundit Liam Beckett said: "Desperately bittersweet quality astatine the abrupt passing of Keith Farmer. A truly talented rider and a diamond of a fella, prayers and sincere condolences to the Farmer household circle."