Richard Keohane back in impressive style

Richard Keohane
By Carly Rathmell
June 15 2005

After three months away from racing a bike competitively, due to a broken leg, 24-year-old, Fareham based rider Richard Keohane made an impressive come back at the BMCRC meeting at Croix-en-Ternois at the weekend.

With a fourteenth and an eighth place in the Saturday races, and an inspirational fourth and second place during the two races on the Sunday, the Honda rider made a welcome return to the racing paddock.

The young talented rider was obviously wary of his injury on the Saturday, and was being cautious of himself and also the riders around him. It was at the first round back in March where Keohane broke both his tibia and fibula in a crash at Snetterton Race Circuit.

Croix is a very physical and demanding circuit, and requires heaps of skill and talent to master, and that is just what he did. Speaking with him after the weekend he said, “I felt very uncomfortable on the Friday and Saturday, and I was well aware of my injury and how weak my leg was feeling. I know it is a time thing and I just need to build my strength and confidence back up to what it was before the accident. I wasn’t happy with my performance on Saturday and knew I needed to raise my game come the race on Sunday.

“It was a great feeling to be back on the podium again so soon after returning to racing. It’s been a really tough ordeal, and mentally and physically I have gone through a lot in the last three months. I know now that I just need to keep working hard, and to try and get consistent results in the races that are left in the season.

“It’s great to be back out there on track again and doing what I love. We have a couple of weeks now until the next round at Pembrey, and I will be making sure that I am continuing to get stronger. I am down the gym on a regular basis and working hard to strengthen the muscles around the injury. I’ve taken up cycling, so this should also help me on the road to recovery. All in all I was pleased with the way the weekend went, and it was good to come away from there with no problems.”