Kevin Keyes, a race winner in the National Junior Superstock Championship, will make his debut at the Isle of Man TT Races later this year.
The 25-year-old will contest the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and Milwaukee Senior Races on the Daracore Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 as well as the two Monster Energy Supersport Races onboard a Yamaha YZF-R6 previously used by Jamie Coward and the KTS Racing team.
Hailing from Edenderry, Ireland, Keyes was a familiar presence in the British Championship paddock between 2015 and 2022, initially making his name in the British Junior Cup where he finished second overall in 2015 with five wins and nine podiums.
National Junior Superstock Championship
Moving up to the National Junior Superstock Championship, Keyes scored points regularly in the 2016 and 2017 seasons for the Appleyard Macadam and Team #109 Racing teams, but it was in 2018 when he really made his mark.
Continuing on the Team #109 Kawasaki, Keyes finished an impressive fourth in the championship aided by podium finishes at Oulton Park, Donington Park and Knockhill. He finished eighth overall the following year but stood on the top step for the first time in the series.
Kevin Keyes said: “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.”
Road racing
Keyes took to road racing for the first time in 2022, contesting the Walderstown Road Races with immediate success as he dominated the Irish Senior Support Championship race ahead of eventual champion Keelim Ryan, Michael Gillan and Marcus Simpson.
A switch to the 1000cc class and Daracore Racing team came in 2023 for a year of circuit racing away from the national series, securing race victories, podiums and a championship against the likes of Josh Owens, Jamie Coward, Sam West and Marcus Simpson.
Keyes undertook his first visits to the Isle of Man in recent weeks, completing laps with TT Rider Liaison Officers John Barton and Richard ‘Milky’ Quayle, and has a number of visits planned ahead of his debut.
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