Ryan Farquhar TT News
At 40-years old, Ryan Farquhar is ready to contest the 2016 Isle of Man TT with Tyco BMW S1000RR that has full backing from BMW Motorrad.
The Northern Ireland native, who is filling the vacant seat left by Guy Martin, has competed at 11 TTs, earning 12 podiums and three wins; his latest win was the 2012 Lightweight TT aboard a Kawasaki ER6.
Farquhar will compete aboard the S1000RR in both the RST Superbike TT and the PokerStars Senior TT races alongside 11-time TT winner Ian “Hutchy” Huthinson.
Farquhar had a miserable time at the 2015 Isle of Man TT. For this first time of his career, he didn’t finish any TTs. Riding the SGS International/KMR Kawasaki, Farquhar was forced to retire from the Superbike, Superstock, Lightweight and Senior races due to technical issues.
But with factory backing, things are looking much better ahead of the 2016 TT.
“Having purchased a Superstock BMW with support from TAS Racing for this season, I got chatting to Philip Neill and from there the Superbike ride on the Tyco BMW came about. It’s one of those situations that just seems like it was meant to be,” Farquhar says.
“I never thought at this stage of my career I was going to get the chance to ride a competitive Superbike at the TT again. So to be riding for Tyco BMW with full support from BMW Motorrad and a great team of people around me, is a great opportunity,” said Farquhar, who has recorded thirteen TT podiums during his TT career, which began in 2002.
Philip Neill, Tyco BMW Team Manager, says: “Barring one or two years in the past fifteen, we’ve always represented a manufacturer in an official capacity at the TT with a two rider team. This year we were tempted to run with just Ian [Hutchinson] after Guy decided to sit it out, but there was always a desire, should a suitable rider come along, to have two riders on Tyco BMWs at the June event.
“Initially Ryan contacted me about the potential of some support on a deal to purchase a BMW Superstock bike for this year, which we were happy to get involved with at TAS Racing. The racing conversation and consequently a Superbike deal stemmed from there, and with his talent, experience and ability; not to mention his technical knowledge, he will be an asset to us on the Tyco BMW Superbike. Taking all of that into consideration made it an easy decision to include Ryan in our plans.”
Tyco BMW reports that Farquhar will get his first taste of the S1000RR Superbike during some private testing in the coming weeks, but will make his BMW debut over Easter at Donington Park on his own S1000RR Superstock machine.
