By Significant Mountain Course debutant news this afternoon, with former KTM British Junior Cup, National Junior Superstock front-runner Kevin Keyes set to sample TT 2024.
The Edenderry racer will participate in all four-stroke races apart from the Super Twins on YZF-R1, YZF-R6 Yamaha’s.
Keyes, who made a sparkling roads scene debut at Walderstown in 2022, swooping up Non-Championship, Championship Senior Support race wins, 1000cc steed is titled supported by Daracore Racing.
Supersport wise, his middleweight class mount has proven capabilities, having been previously raced by triple TT Privateers Champion, KTS Racing’s Jamie Coward.
Issuing his excitement about racing on IOM shores, Keyes stated:
“I’m extremely excited to be making my TT debut later this year and the work is well underway to be as best prepared as possible.
Watching the onboard videos doesn’t fully prepare you for seeing the Mountain Course in real though, as there are so many undulations and climbs you can’t see on the TV.
The laps with Johnny [Barton] and [Richard] ‘Milky’ [Quayle] have been of great benefit though, so I’ll head back to the Island again in the coming months as I want my knowledge to the best it possibly can.
Michael Sweeney has been a great mentor for my roads journey so far, so there will be plenty of support and advice available to me from him, too.”
Keyes who alongside the TT, will also make his Northwest 200 debut in May, went onto add:
“I really fell in love with road racing that first time at Walderstown. I surprised myself with the wins but now seems the right time to take it a bit further.
I considered doing the Manx Grand Prix but there perhaps would have been a bit more pressure to perform there, so I’m delighted that the opportunity to come straight to the TT was there.
Everyone will be concentrating on Hickman (Peter), Dunlop (Michael), and McGuinness (John), so I can just go about the event almost unknown!
The Supersport class is the one I have the most experience in having ridden the 600cc bikes for seven years, but I’ve adapted well to the big bike and I’m learning all the time.
I’m not focusing on the results in my first year though, it’s all about making the most of the track time available in every session and enjoying my first TT.”
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo credit: Allister Dickson – Startline Photography
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
