Edenderry whizz kid crowned champion

Sixteen-year-old motorbike racer Kevin Keyes from Edenderry made the jump from 125cc to 600cc racing this year. A big leap, the plan was for the Leaving Cert student at Oaklands Community College to take the year to get used to the new class, before seriously looking for wins. He started winning races in his new class from the off, however, and at the last meeting of the Adelaide Masters Championship in Mondello two weeks ago he was crowned the Supersport Cup 600cc champion, too far ahead of his fellow competitors for them to match his points despite there being still three rounds to go in the series.

“Kevin had only done one day of testing on board the 600cc motorcycle and to everyone’s amazement went out and started winning races from the word go,” Kevin’s father Ron explained to the Offaly Independent this week.

“Despite being the youngest rider on the 600cc grid with almost no experience of these four stroke machines, Kevin started to take win after win and at the last meeting of the Masters, Kevin was crowned the Supersport Cup 600cc champion with still three rounds to go in the series.”

Kevin began racing mini-motos aged just six. He began racing 125cc bikes aged twelve, and this year was his first racing the more powerful 600cc bikes.

“It’s a massive jump,” Ron admitted. “He skipped a few grades. But we decided he was capable of it.”

Ron admitted his heart was “in his mouth” as he watched his son begin racing at the new level last March. However his son, who hopes to begin an apprenticeship as a mechanic after his exams next summer, took to the task like a duck to water and was named champion of his category two weeks ago.

“He’s too many points ahead, he can’t be caught,” Ron said, explaining his early win. “We couldn’t believe it ourselves. We thought it’d take a year to get use to it.”

Describing his son as a “cool customer” who “keeps himself to himself”, Ron said Kevin also has hopes of a victory in the Irish Championships.

“He’s in second place at the moment,” Ron explained. “He had a mishap at the weekend that put him back a few points, but he’s hoping to catch that before the end of the season.”

Kevin’s winning ways mean he’ll be upgraded to pro rider status for the 2015 season. Riders who move to that level only do so after showing they’re capable of riding a bike at high speed.

For the next season Ron’s hoping Kevin might attract some sponsorship locally. Anyone interested in helping in that regard can contact Ron at ronkey20@hotmail.com or 086 3477267.