Keith Amor enjoyed a strong showing this week on his debut appearance at the 2015 Classic TT with the RigDeluge® road racing rider putting in some fine performance on the 350cc and 500cc Tony Dunnell Racing Nortons.

Keith’s first race was Saturday’s 500cc Classic TT but after only completing one lap in practice on the 500cc Dunnell Racing Norton he was down in 17th on the leaderboard and unsure on how his race was going to unfold. Leaking fuel caused him to make an unscheduled pit stop at the end of the first lap and it left him down in 12th place. However, he doggedly continued and with his best lap of 103.858mph coming on lap three, he moved up into the top ten and with another 103mph+ lap fourth time around, he took a fine sixth at the chequered flag.

With a more level playing field in Monday’s 350cc Classic TT race, Keith was hoping for an even better showing although the race was delayed by almost four hours and reduced to three laps. Starting at number 1, Keith had the honour of leaving the line first and attacking the 37.73-mile Mountain Course and, as expected, he was high on the leaderboard immediately. By Ramsey Hairpin, he was already up to sixth and with an opening lap speed of 98.429mph, he’d climbed up to an excellent third place.

In contention for a podium position, Keith found himself and the 350cc Dunnell Racing Norton pushed back to fourth by Ballaugh second time around but he was only three seconds down on Chris Swallow. However, problems soon struck when the petrol tank split and he was left to ponder what might have been after pulling in to retire at Quarry Bends.

Speaking afterwards, Keith said, “I really wasn’t sure how the 500cc race was going to go but I thought if I could keep going, I’d be happy with a top ten finish. I’d only managed one lap in practice and on the first lap of the race, petrol was leaking out and onto my leathers which made things a bit uncomfortable to say the least. That’s why I pulled in at the end of the first lap, just to check things over. I got going again, plugged away and managed to lap at close to 104mph so I was over the moon with sixth place.”

“Although the 350cc single cylinder Norton was down on top speed to the Hondas and MV Agustas, I was hopeful of an even better showing in the 350cc race on Monday and that’s exactly how it started. I was right in the mix from the beginning and although I couldn’t keep up with eventual race winner Michael Rutter or Dan Cooper when they came by me, I thought if I could keep going at my pace I’d be there or thereabouts at the end. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be though.”

“It’s been an eventful time on the island and a tad frustrating but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Classic TT experience and would definitely like to be back next year. Massive thanks to the Dunnell family for looking after me, Dunlop tyres for doing a great job as usual, all the marshals that kept me fed and watered when I had to make unscheduled stops, and also to Ian at RigDeluge® for giving me the all clear to contest the Classic TT.”

Keith’s next outing will be the final round of the World Endurance Championship, the 24-Hour Bol d’Or at Paul Ricard, France, where he’ll be riding for the factory Honda team. The meeting takes place on 19/20 September.

Photo - Keith in action on the 350cc.  Picture by Stephen Davison – Pacemaker Press International.