North West 200 event director Mervyn Whyte believes Ryan Farquhar’s newly-launched KMR Kawasaki team will be a ‘great asset’ to the international road race in May.

Farquhar has secured title sponsorship for his 2013 campaign from Northern Ireland’s 12 Vauxhall dealerships in a lucrative financial package that will enable the Dungannon team boss to run up to five riders in the Supertwin races at the NW200, with Jeremy McWilliams, Michael Rutter and Lee Johnston in the frame to ride his ultra-competitive ER6 twins along with team regular Jamie Hamilton.

Ballyclare prospect Hamilton will also ride a Kawasaki ZX10R for Farquhar plus a Supersport ZX6 at the national road races, the Southern 100, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix plus the Scarborough events at Oliver’s Mount.

Farquhar’s contribution to the inaugural Supertwin race at the North West 200 in 2012, which he won from teammates McWilliams and Rutter, convinced Whyte to add a second 650cc race to the schedule this year on the main Saturday bill and the race chief is confident the class will justify its inclusion in the prime-time slot.


“This is a brand new, local team with a number of talented riders and it can only be good for the North West, bearing in mind that this particular team had a first, second and third in the Supertwin race last year,” Whyte told the News Letter.

“That was a major step forward and as a result of that and when I looked at our plans for this year, I decided to introduce a second race on the Saturday after talking with the Supertwin riders.

“It’s a class that adds a whole new dimension to the North West 200,” he added.

“Having Vauxhall on board with Ryan is a great asset and particularly as they are title sponsors of the North West 200 and race sponsors of the Supertwin class.

“It’s a good opportunity as well for Ryan who has just retired from racing and this is a new beginning for him.”

Connor Behan from Cheshire has also joined Farquhar’s new-look line-up this season, with the former British Superstock and 125cc contender contesting the Irish national road races in the support championships.


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