Keith Farmer 'taking positives' out of enforced delay to start of British Superbike Championship

Farmer broke both legs in a crash at Knockhill on the Tyco BMW last summer, ruling himself out of the remainder of the British Superbike Championship.

However, with the coronavirus pandemic bringing sport to a halt, the four-time British champion has used the additional time to work on his fitness ahead of the planned start of the championship at Donington Park from August 7-9.

Farmer told the News Letter: “I’ve been doing loads of cycling, mostly in the shed using an app, and I’ve been other training as well but I was a bit in limbo because we didn’t really have a date to work towards. Now, we have a date in August and I’m back with my old trainer, Alastair Morrison, who has really brought on my fitness.

“He’s been pushing me to the absolute limit and I’ve had to dig deep, but it’s good because it keeps me at a high level and it’s good to have him with me as a training partner.

“It’s been a massive positive to get full strength back into my legs with mobility and I’ve been looking at it from that point of view, so I saw this extra time in a positive way and I’m excited now because of how much stronger my legs are,” added the Co Tyrone man.

“Everyone has had more time off the bike now and it’s been like and extra-long winter break. I haven’t raced in almost a full year since my crash on June 29, so with everyone else being away from racing for quite a while now, then maybe I won’t be on the back foot as much.”

The revised championship will be held over six rounds, with three races at each. The Showdown format will not be used this year, with the 2020 champion determined in the traditional way based on points gained over each round.

Farmer said: “Donington is an excellent circuit to start off at and I had good pace there last year. I’ve a great chance to come back this year with Suzuki and Buildbase and I’m really looking forward to it because Stuart and Steve Hicken run a really good team.

“They’re a good bunch of lads and they’re so laidback. If they could go and race out of the back of a Transit van, then they would do that. It should be a good match and from what I know of the Suzuki so far from testing, I like the bike a lot.

“I don’t really dislike any circuit anymore and the new calendar suits me well, with two rounds at Donington, which I love now. I go well at Oulton too and I love Snetterton too. Silverstone is probably my least favourite out of the lot, just because it’s the national circuit and it’s a short lap,” said Farmer, who was confirmed in the Buildbase Suzuki team alongside Kyle Ryde last November.

“If you’re a tenth of a second off the pace at Silverstone, then it could leave you in tenth place, but it’s the same for everyone. We have a test coming up sometime in July at Donington so I’m looking forward to getting back.”

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