Retro Rewind: Fuming Keith Amor left to rue last-lap drama as Ryan Farquhar becomes first-ever 'Race of Legends' winner at Armoy

Here, we look back at the 2010 meeting, when Ulsterman Ryan Farquhar became the first ever winner of the feature ‘Race of Legends’ following a fierce battle with Scotsman Keith Amor around the undulating three-mile course in Co Antrim.

The inaugural running of the event – held each year as a tribute to the famous ‘Armoy Armada’ of Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Jim Dunlop – took place in 2009, but tragically the feature race was abandoned following the death of local spectator Hill McCook (75), who died after he was struck by a machine following a crash on the second lap.

On Saturday, August 7, 2010, Dungannon man Farquhar had won the Open race on his KMR Kawasaki by two seconds from event newcomer Amor (KBMG BMW), with Michael Dunlop taking third on the Robinson Concrete Honda, almost six seconds further behind.

Amor turned the tables to win narrowly in a thrilling Supersport race on his Kojak Racing Honda by 0.157s from Farquhar, with William Dunlop (CD Racing Yamaha) a few seconds back in third ahead of his brother Michael (Street Sweep Yamaha).

The scene was set for a grandstand finale in the ‘Race of Legends’ Superbike event between Farquhar and Armor and the big race of the day lived up to all expectations.

Pole man Farquhar and a determined Amor were in a class of their own as they streaked clear of the rest of the field in the six-lap encounter.

There was nothing between them throughout as the lead swapped hands, but it was Amor who held sway on his 1000cc BMW as the warring duo began the crucial final lap.

Slower riders came into play in a dramatic conclusion to the race and Farquhar, who was planning to make his move at the final corner, told me at the time: “I was on Keith’s back wheel and I had my move planned for the last corner. When we went out over the jump on the last lap, there were two backmarkers up ahead and I wasn’t sure what way to go.

“Keith went to the right of them to try and go around the outside but I had a coming together with one of the backmarkers and I went up the inside. It was nobody’s fault – you couldn’t blame anybody for what happened,” he added.

“The backmarkers didn’t know we were coming and these things happen. There wasn’t much room on the inside but I took a tight line and managed to hold on.

“I’ve lost races like that in the past.”

Falkirk rider Amor was left to rue what might have been as he missed out on a dream double on his first appearance at the event.

“I’m seriously frustrated,” he said afterwards.

“We were coming to the last road-end and there were two backmarkers ahead of us. I went up the inside of one of them and then attempted to go around the outside of the corner.

“I thought I had plenty of room, but when I pitched in he hit me from behind and sat me up. The collision broke the seat unit on the bike and it allowed Ryan Farquhar to go through on the inside, even though there didn’t seem to be much room,” Amor added.

“It just wasn’t going to be my day but these things are part and parcel of racing.”

Farquhar took the win by only 0.153s and set a new outright lap record of 103.380mph. He also won the Supertwins and Moto450 races for a four-timer.

Michael Dunlop finished 12.3 seconds adrift in third, with Adrian Archibald (AMA Suzuki), William Dunlop on his 600 Yamaha and David Morgan (Suzuki) completing the top six.

William Dunlop was named the ‘man of the meeting’ after winning the 125cc and 250cc races and finishing third in the Supersport event. The Ballymoney rider also took fifth in both Superbike races.

Bradford’s Dean Harrison did the double in the Junior and Senior Support races on the McKinstry Racing Kawasaki and Yamaha machines respectively.