BSB Breakthrough Award announced for Irish Motorbike Awards ceremony in honour of the late Keith Farmer

A new award will be presented at the Adelaide Irish Motorbike Awards in Belfast next week (January 17) to honour the late Keith Farmer.

The BSB Breakthrough Award will be awarded annually to a rider from Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland in memory of the four-time British champion, who tragically died at the age of 35 in November 2022.

Farmer was a hugely successful and popular character within the Bennetts British Superbike Championship paddock. Farmer secured the National Superstock 600 Championship title in 2011, followed by championship success in the Superstock 1000 class in 2012 and 2018, and in the Supersport category in 2017.

He also competed in the Superbike class and claimed his one and only podium n tricky conditions at Brands Hatch in 2014 onboard the PR Racing Kawasaki.

After claiming his second Superstock title in 2018, Farmer returned to the premier class of British racing, but was ruled out for almost a year after suffering bilateral fractures to both lower legs at Knockhill.

He joined Buildbase Suzuki the following year but sustained a shoulder injury during qualifying for the opening round. Farmer retired from racing at the end of 2021.

The new BSB Breakthrough Award in Farmer’s honour will continue to recognise and celebrate future riders from Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland making their mark within the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and support classes.

“The new BSB Breakthrough Award is the result of a collaboration between BSB promoter MSVR and the organisers of the Irish Motorbike Awards in Keith Farmer’s honour and will annually recognise and celebrate future riders making their mark within the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and support classes,” BSB Series Director Stuart Higgs commented.

“Keith made a lasting impression on everyone involved in BSB and this award will keep his memory to the forefront.”