Honda sign Keith Amor to replace injured Steve Plater at TT
20th May 2010
SCOTTISH race ace Keith Amor will ride for the HM Plant Honda team at the TT, replacing last year's Senior winner Steve Plater who has been ruled out after breaking an arm in last week's North West 200.
Keith, 38, will partner the legendary 15-times TT winner John McGuinness, to field the two HM Plant Honda Fireblades in the Superbike and Senior TT races - a machine and races Keith is familiar with having ridden Honda Superbikes at the TT since his debut on the Island in 2007.
That year saw Keith take a creditable 12th place as his best race finish in the Supersport class and also, become the second fastest newcomer behind Steve Plater, with a lap of 124.856mph in the Senior.
On only his second visit to the Island in 2008, Keith secured his first podium by taking third place in the first Supersport race. He impressively repeated this in 2009 and also added to his TT podium tally with another third place finish in the Superstock race.
Keith's determination and talent as a road racer was further displayed at last week's North West 200, where he won the Superstock race, finished second in the Supersport race and took fourth and sixth places in the Superbike races, riding only his Superstock machine.
These results are even more impressive given that this was the first time Keith had ridden a racing motorcycle since September 2009 having only recently recovered from back and neck injuries sustained at the end of last season.
The Scot will ride for the HM Plant Honda team in the Superbike and Senior TT races at number five, but will also compete in both Supersport TT races on a privately entered Honda CBR600RR.
Keith commented, 'It's all a bit surreal but I feel incredibly proud and privileged to have been asked by the HM Plant Honda team to stand in for such an incredible rider as Steve.
'When the team called me I was more surprised than anything and it goes to show how you can never predict anything and how life and fortune can change so quickly.
'Two weekends ago I was stuck in Italy because of cancelled flights and wasn't sure I was even going to able to make it to the NW200 to compete, and now I have one of the most sought after rides in the paddock!
'The HM Plant Honda Fireblade is arguably the best bike out there and I'm really looking forward to getting out in Practice, just enjoying myself and also riding the best I can for myself, Honda, the team, their sponsors and the fans.'
Manager of Honda (UK) Racing, Neil Tuxworth commented: 'We are very pleased that Keith will be riding for HM Plant Honda in this year's TT Superbike races.
'When it became evident that Steve would not be able to compete we had calls from a number of riders, but there were a number of factors to take into consideration in selecting the best rider to stand in for him.
'We have complete confidence in Keith's ability and hunger to perform at the TT, represent Honda and, his road racing experience on Honda machinery and Dunlop tyres is also an advantage.
Steve Plater returned back home to Lincolnshire on Monday having left hospital in Londonderry after an operation on his arm, with that now healing well.
However, Steve has been experiencing some pain in his shoulder and chest and so will be going back into hospital this afternoon for further x-rays and monitoring to try and establish the cause.
Steve commented: 'My arm is feeling ok and is not causing me pain at all really, it's just other parts of my body!
'I've spoken to a great consultant close to home who operated on my other arm back in 2004 and we agreed that it makes sense for me to go back into hospital for a few days for some scans and monitoring to fully understand what's causing the pain in the upper part of my body.
'We suspect it may be a bit of compression in my neck but my priority is finding out what's causing the pain, working to fix any injury there may be and then getting fit for riding again as soon as possible to try and either keep, or regain, my lead in the British Superstock Championship.
'My plan is to be at the TT with the team and I'll be helping out in any way I can.
'For sure I'm still gutted to not be able to compete, but I'm pleased it's Keith who'll be taking my place as he's a great rider and good guy and I am sure will do the ride justice
Source. iomtoday.co.im 20 April 2010
Keith, 38, will partner the legendary 15-times TT winner John McGuinness, to field the two HM Plant Honda Fireblades in the Superbike and Senior TT races - a machine and races Keith is familiar with having ridden Honda Superbikes at the TT since his debut on the Island in 2007.
That year saw Keith take a creditable 12th place as his best race finish in the Supersport class and also, become the second fastest newcomer behind Steve Plater, with a lap of 124.856mph in the Senior.
On only his second visit to the Island in 2008, Keith secured his first podium by taking third place in the first Supersport race. He impressively repeated this in 2009 and also added to his TT podium tally with another third place finish in the Superstock race.
Keith's determination and talent as a road racer was further displayed at last week's North West 200, where he won the Superstock race, finished second in the Supersport race and took fourth and sixth places in the Superbike races, riding only his Superstock machine.
These results are even more impressive given that this was the first time Keith had ridden a racing motorcycle since September 2009 having only recently recovered from back and neck injuries sustained at the end of last season.
The Scot will ride for the HM Plant Honda team in the Superbike and Senior TT races at number five, but will also compete in both Supersport TT races on a privately entered Honda CBR600RR.
Keith commented, 'It's all a bit surreal but I feel incredibly proud and privileged to have been asked by the HM Plant Honda team to stand in for such an incredible rider as Steve.
'When the team called me I was more surprised than anything and it goes to show how you can never predict anything and how life and fortune can change so quickly.
'Two weekends ago I was stuck in Italy because of cancelled flights and wasn't sure I was even going to able to make it to the NW200 to compete, and now I have one of the most sought after rides in the paddock!
'The HM Plant Honda Fireblade is arguably the best bike out there and I'm really looking forward to getting out in Practice, just enjoying myself and also riding the best I can for myself, Honda, the team, their sponsors and the fans.'
Manager of Honda (UK) Racing, Neil Tuxworth commented: 'We are very pleased that Keith will be riding for HM Plant Honda in this year's TT Superbike races.
'When it became evident that Steve would not be able to compete we had calls from a number of riders, but there were a number of factors to take into consideration in selecting the best rider to stand in for him.
'We have complete confidence in Keith's ability and hunger to perform at the TT, represent Honda and, his road racing experience on Honda machinery and Dunlop tyres is also an advantage.
Steve Plater returned back home to Lincolnshire on Monday having left hospital in Londonderry after an operation on his arm, with that now healing well.
However, Steve has been experiencing some pain in his shoulder and chest and so will be going back into hospital this afternoon for further x-rays and monitoring to try and establish the cause.
Steve commented: 'My arm is feeling ok and is not causing me pain at all really, it's just other parts of my body!
'I've spoken to a great consultant close to home who operated on my other arm back in 2004 and we agreed that it makes sense for me to go back into hospital for a few days for some scans and monitoring to fully understand what's causing the pain in the upper part of my body.
'We suspect it may be a bit of compression in my neck but my priority is finding out what's causing the pain, working to fix any injury there may be and then getting fit for riding again as soon as possible to try and either keep, or regain, my lead in the British Superstock Championship.
'My plan is to be at the TT with the team and I'll be helping out in any way I can.
'For sure I'm still gutted to not be able to compete, but I'm pleased it's Keith who'll be taking my place as he's a great rider and good guy and I am sure will do the ride justice
Source. iomtoday.co.im 20 April 2010