Amor forced to retire from Superbike TTThe
2009 Isle of Man TT Races got off to a disappointing start for Falkirk's
Keith Amor when he was forced to retire from Monday's Superbike race. The
Wilson Craig Honda rider was lying in a strong 8th place when he was forced to pull in at Ballacraine on the third lap with a misfiring motor.
After a strong practice week, Keith was hoping to build on his performances around the Mountain Course and a fine opening lap of 126.555mph, a personal best, saw him lie in 8th place. Having overhauled Dan Stewart, who had started ten seconds in front of him, Keith was looking to utilise the clear road in front of him and climb further up the leaderboard but on the second lap, the engine started to misfire and he had to ease off as he approached the pitstop.
The pitstop wasn't without drama as he overshot the 'stop-box' incurring a ten seconds penalty but he was still in 8th place. However, as he left the pits, it was clear the bike still wasn't running correctly and with the engine continuing to misfire, he pulled in at Ballacraine, his race over.
Talking later, a disappointed Keith said:
"I don't quite know what the problem was at the moment but it was either the fuel pump or a sensor that caused the bike to start missing but at the beginning of the second lap the bike just started to burble along. I thought I was running out of fuel so eased off towards the end of the lap but I still managed to overshoot the stop box by about 50 yards! I got going again but it started coughing again just a couple of miles later so I parked up at Ballacraine. It's a disappointing start to race week but I've got four more chances left so I'll be keeping everything crossed that our bad luck is out of the way."Keith is out next on Tuesday with the 4-lap Supersport race starting at 12.15pm and the 4-lap Superstock getting underway later in the day at 6.30pm.
Picture by Stephen Davison - Pacemaker Press International
Phil Wain
Freelance PR
