Farquhar to ride JMF 600 Yamaha

Ryan Farquhar in action at the Kells road races
Ryan Farquhar will ride a JMF Millsport 600cc Yamaha at this weekend's Faugheen road races and may ride the machine at next month's Ulster Grand Prix.

The Dungannon rider held talks with JMF team boss James Murray on Thursday and a ride on the team's Superbike at the Dundrod meeting is also a possibility.

The 600 bike is the one which Alistair Seeley rode at the North West 200.

The team are believed to be seeking a rider to race at the international road races and in a British series in 2009.

Yorkshire rider Ian Hutchinson has been strongly linked with the Ballymoney-based team, as has Lincolnshire's Guy Martin, and one of the two may yet be in place to ride for the team at the Grand Prix from 13-16 August.

Farquhar will definitely rider Kenny Harker's Superstock machine at the final international road race of the year in three weeks' time.

The JMF Millsport team enjoyed a successful season with Conor Cummins in 2007 but tragedy struck at this year's Tandragee 100 with the death of their rider, Martin Finnegan.

Seeley enjoyed a successful North West 200 with the team and has also turned out for the Yamaha outfit in the Mondello Masters series, along with Brian McCormack.

fantastic news,i can smell a ugp for him,best of luck #77
pure magic

Good luck Ryan...

that's a good package for #77!!!

SOUNDS GOOD!!!! KEEP ER LIT #77

ayyyyyyyyyyyy keep er lit 99 ! whapsstown,s finest retired road racer

Ryan Farquhar will ride with Yamaha this weekend at Faugheen, Co Tipperary

By Kyle White

DUNGANNON'S Ryan Farquhar will ride for the JMF Millsport Yamaha Racing Team in the 600cc class at the Faugheen 50 Road Races in Co Tipperary this weekend.
The Co Tyrone rider has been linked with a Superbike ride for Jimmy Murray's Ballymoney team at the Ulster Grand Prix, although English riders Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson are also in the frame.

Murray yesterday revealed that he plans to pursue a different challenge next season by contesting the British Superstock Championship and the three international road races – a decision that would hold greater appeal to Martin and Hutchinson as Farquhar has no desire race in England.

If the Millsport Team fails to sign a rider for the 2009 season before the Ulster Grand Prix next month, then that could open the door for Farquhar to agree a one-race deal for the Prix.

Farquhar split from McAdoo Racing before the Isle of Man TT races and has not had a fully fledged Superbike at his disposal since, but he has been in terrific form on his trusty Harker Kawasaki Superstock machine and last weekend won both the Open and Grand Final races at Kells in Co Meath.

"I'm looking forward to it because it's been four or five years since I last rode a 600 Yamaha," Farquhar said.

"It's the bike that Alastair Seeley rode at the North West 200. The ideal scenario for Jimmy (Murray) next season is to have someone riding in the British Supersport or Superstock Championships who will also ride at the three big races, the North West 200, TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

"Because I'm not interested in riding in England, it looks more likely that Guy Martin or Ian Hutchinson fit the bill for Millsport."

Reading between the lines, it looks like it would be a surprise if he wasn't on at least one JMF bike at the Ulster. (Only 3 weeks today!!!)

I think the way Ryans sponsors are at the moment, he could nearly be on a different teams machine for each race...

A great opportunity for #77 this weekend. Good to see JMF Millsport are going for the tried and tested option but reading between the lines their 2009 agenda not entailing the National race meets apart for the Internationals will be a a big loss to the local scene but maybe Ryan can make this great team review their plans. Hope Ryan gets the Ulster ride, but it sure looks like Faugheen will be a fun outing. On the theme of fun, I is off back to the poolside