Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
In 2008, a quiet South African followed the footsteps of fellow South African racer Kerim Fitzgerald to Canada. He raced. He met a girl. The rest as they say, is history.
The history being that not only did he fall in love with a girl, he fell in love with Canada. In 2012 Liam O’Farrell became a proud Canadian citizen, and is this week number 11 on the list of top Canadian riders in MXP Rankings.
O’Farrell has been a journeyman of sorts since coming to Canada in 2008. From borrowing a Suzuki from OTSFF on his arrival in Canada, to Orange Motorsports, to Gopher Dunes Suzuki, to privateer, to TM Racing, to Machine Racing Yamaha, and in 2013 back to KTM. He is a man, with wife Pam by his side, who has been piecing together race programs in Canada for a few years. The quite rider O’Farrell off the track is deceptively fast on and a fierce competitiveness when the gate drops. He can look slow at times, but his results tell a different story when he is able to finish out motos.
Photo by Randy Wiebe
Having won a number of regional titles and 4 South African National titles in his amateur riding career, Liam joined Team Red Yamaha in 2003 as Pro. In 2006, he competed in the Sun City motocross GP in the MX1 class finishing a very respectable 16th overall. In 2007, he came to Canada, raced locally on a borrowed Suzuki. In 2009 he returned raced for Orange Motorsports KTM in the CMRC Canadian Motocross Championship, finishing 8th overall in the MX1 National Championship. In 2010 he raced for the new GDR Suzuki team, finishing 11th overall despite costly DNF in Moncton and missing the last round of the series in Walton.
In 2012, Liam raced for the PR-MX TM racing team. On the very ill handling Italian bikes he raced various provincial and east coast nationals, enjoying a season high 8th overall at Ste Julie. Still it was a frustrating year for the new Canadian who fought his bike the entire season. Again, his effortless style hid the issues he struggled with trying to tame the TM motorcycle. In 2013 he will line up back on KTM, this time on a 250cc two stroke. The new two stroke carrot has O’Farrell and other pros anxious for 2013. Liam has the speed and skill to do some damage in the MX2 class especially on tracks like Gopher Dunes, Sand Del Lee and Deschambeault
What makes Liam even more of a rider to consider at race time is at no time in his years here in Canada has Liam been less than a top 10 threat. His nemesis throughout his years racing in his new homeland has been consistency. Consistent riding, a bike with a reliable machine, and strong support Liam has all the skills to contend for a podium, especially in the sand. Liam O’Farrell, like most Canadian descendants came here and fell in love with the country, making us proud to say he is number 11 on the top 20 Canadian competing in 2013 on MXP Rankings.
