Richard Kerr and the Dumfries-based AMD Motorsport team concluded their highly successful Pirelli National Superstock Championship season at the weekend with second and sixth place finishes at Brands Hatch, the net result being an excellent second overall in the final championship standings.
It also meant for the second year in a row, the 23-year old was the only rider to score points in every race, a phenomenal feat in any championship, anywhere in the world.
The weekend started with an extremely wet day on Friday with limited track time seeing Richard down in an extremely unfamiliar 25th place and it meant he had to go into Q1 for Saturday’s qualifying session although it proved to be invaluable as the extra track time helped his challenge. Topping Q1, a time of 1’28.495 in Q2 put him in seventh place and at the head of the third row.
Heavy rain returned later on Saturday which saw the opening race of the weekend cut from 14 laps to 12 with the race starting on a wet track. Sixth on the opening lap, the County Donegal rider shadowed arch rival Dan Linfoot for much of the way and although he slipped back to seventh at one stage, he dug deep in the closing stages and a final corner, final lap manoeuvre saw him overhaul Linfoot and take sixth place.
It cut the deficit to 31 points and ensured the championship went to the final race of the season with Sunday seeing dry and sunny conditions albeit with cool temperatures. Starting from eighth on the grid, one place ahead of Linfoot, Richard moved into fifth on the opening lap and although Linfoot worked his way through the pack slightly quicker, taking the lead on the sixth of 14 laps, Richard put in another superb ride to take second place and his ninth podium of the season.
It meant he ended the year with 341 points, 36 adrift of former British Superbike Championship race winner Linfoot, and three places higher up in the championship standings than in 2022.
Richard Kerr: “I’m happy with that second place and second overall in the championship is amazing! Saturday’s race was tough, and, for whatever reason, I’ve found the going difficult in the damp races lately and just haven’t been able to get the drive or grip when I needed it. Sunday’s race was a lot better and it’s brilliant to end the season with another podium, especially as it’s my first ever one here at Brands.”
“I was pleased I was able to take the championship down to the final race and there’s no shame in losing to Dan as he’s a class act. He has a lot of experience, so I’ve learnt an awful lot from him and he’s a rider who doesn’t make mistakes and to win titles you must ride inch perfect like him all the time. Second overall in the championship is another big step forward so a massive thank you to Fraser and Mary and the whole AMD Motorsport team as well as all my personal sponsors.”
Fraser Dykes, Team Owner: “What can I say, we’ve ended the season with a fantastic result both in the final race and in the final championship standings. It’s never over until it’s over so fair play to Richard for taking it to the final race and it was quite appropriate that the 1-2 in the final race of the season was also the final 1-2 in the championship table. We couldn’t be happier with second overall in the championship and Richard’s consistency is absolutely phenomenal, an attribute that few riders can match.”
Pictures by Tim Keeton (Impact Images Photography)
Final Championship standings (after 11 rounds)
1 Dan Linfoot (Honda) 377pts
2 Richard Kerr (AMD Motorsport Honda) 341
3 Alastair Seeley (BMW) 315
4 Joe Talbot (Honda) 300
5 Billy McConnell (Honda) 270
6 Lewis Rollo (Aprilia) 234
