Kawasaki ultimate road test

[Big Al Glynn]

Anyone doubting the Kawasaki ZX-10 ability to match the Fireblade/Gixer/R1s on the real roads only has to look at Ryan Farquhar and his results on the superstock ZX-10 in Ireland in the road race championships this year.
Thes tracks are narrow everyday roads, complete with bumps, pot holes, gravel, stone walls, hedges, and trees that make the Isle of Man look like a MotoGp track. Ryan is one of the few men around that can ride on a public road at those kind of speeds.

Farquhar completes Irish Road Race Championship double
Ryan Farquhar finished the 2008 Irish National Road Race season on a high at Killalane on Sunday and added two more wins to his impressive haul when he took victory in both of the Superbike races. He backed this up with a brace of thirds in the Supersport races and the results meant that he clinched both the Superbike and Supersport Championships to crown a brilliant season for the 32-year old.

In the two Supersport races Ryan had two solid rides into third place, on each occasion finishing less than six seconds adrift of the race winner Keith Amor but the final podium place in the Championship race was enough for him to clinch the crown. In the Open and Grand Final, Amor was his closest challenger once more, as has been the norm throughout 2008, and, again, there was little to choose between them. However, on each occasion, Ryan had the upper hand with his winning margins being 0.144s and 0.939s respectively and he also had the honour of setting a new, absolute course lap record at 112..704mph. The results also meant another Irish Championship was on it’s way to the Dungannon rider’s home.

Speaking later, a delighted Ryan said:

“It’s been a good day here at Killalane and I’m delighted to have clinched both the Superbike and Supersport Championships. We’ve had a great season so it’s nice to finish off with some more race wins and I can’t have asked for anything more. We were down a wee bit on power in the 600cc races so I just consolidated my third place on each occasion to ensure that I wrapped up the crown and it worked out perfectly.”

“The ZX-10 Kawasaki Superstock was flying again and I can’t fault how it has performed all year, it’s really done me proud. I used the tyres that I’d practiced on at the Ulster GP in the first race but for the Grand Final I fitted a new tyre and it gave me that little bit extra. It was quite tough against Keith on his Superbike and it was another close, hard fought race, as it has been all season but I managed to keep him at bay. It was nice to get the lap record as well and I’ve really enjoyed riding against Keith this season and we’ve had some great battles.”

“It’s been a superb year on the roads for me and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself so I’ve got to say a big thank you to all of my sponsors especially Kenny Harker, Dunlop tyres, Shark Helmets, Q8 Oils, Beta Tools, Kawasaki and the Supporters Club – everyone involved has done a great job.”

Ryan will now make his way to Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough for the International Gold Cup races where he hopes to add to his success and clinch the Duke Road Race Rankings Championship. The meeting takes place on September 20-21.

Words by Phil Wain

[dave#3]

... I used the tyres that I’d practiced on at the Ulster GP in the first race but for the Grand Final I fitted a new tyre and it gave me that little bit extra.

Those Irish lads are the real deal, aren't they. Imagine setting out on a road race using a set of tyres you'd used for practice at another meet earlier in the year