Road racing icon Ryan Farquhar hits out at 'bull**** politics' that left him on the brink

Ryan Farquhar says he has fallen out of love with road racing because of the 'bull**** politics' he has had to deal with in recent years, admitting he is close to walking away from the sport for good.

The Dungannon man is back at the North West 200 this year with team rider Richard Cooper, who has dominated the Supertwin class in recent years.

Cooper claimed an impressive double in the class in 2022, but was sensationally disqualified after his Kawasaki bike – which was prepared by Farquhar - was ruled by the stewards at the meeting to have an illegal modification to the frame.

Read more: Jeremy McWilliams on retirement, staying fit, newcomers and NW200 glory

Read more: North West 200 schedule for practice and racing

It took 18 months for Cooper to be reinstated as the double winner, with the appeal hearing only heard last November.

That incident, and some rule changes made to the Supertwin class, has left a sour taste in the mouth of Irish road racing great Farquhar, who says he wouldn't be involved in the sport if it wasn't for his current partnership with Cooper.

Farquhar - whose bikes have won nine of 19 Supertwin races held at the North West 200 - told the BBC: "I wouldn't say I've made the class my own. I have made it into something that's quite successful. There are a lot of people sticking their oar in now to push me out. It is what it is.

"But from where the class first started...the 250s were dying off, and this was the perfect class. I was there from the start and developed the bike. There are two sides to racing. There is racing the bike, and there is preparing the bike. A lot of the classes now are just glorified road bikes and you can't do anything with them.

"With the Supertwins, this is pretty much the last class you can tune and DIY. It is the tuning that I enjoy, but unfortunately that is probably coming to an end. But over the years we have had some great memories. Probably my best memory in racing was winning at the North West 200 in 2012, and Jeremy (McWilliams) and Michael (Rutter) were riding my bikes and we filledd the podium.

"Even last year, Richard (Cooper) coming back was a last-minute deal after what happened in 2022 when he won two races. Since then they have changed the rules and we are at a massive disadvantage compared to the likes of the Aprilia, Yamaha and Paton."

Farquhar has been one of the pioneers of the Supertwins class, which emerged following the demise of the 125 and 250ccs.

Despite dominating the class with his machinery in recent years, changes to the regulations introduced for 2024 look set to provide a tougher challenge against the bigger capacity Aprilia RS660 and Yamaha R7 machines

Farquhar says the "politics" in the sport have left him on the verge of quitting road racing for good.

He added: "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Richard Cooper and the lad that he is. What we have been put through the last two years and the politics and, you know, the bull****. The only reason I am here is for this lad (Cooper). I want to do my best and put him on a bike that he can get another couple of wins on.

"My love of road racing has gone because of the politics. I can't turn the clock back. We proved our point and fought our corner. A lot of people would have given up, but we proved we were well within the rules."

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