International road racing titans John McGuinness and Ian Hutchinson have paid tribute to Ulsterman Ryan Farquhar following his retirement from the sport.

KMR Kawasaki boss Farquhar participated in a special parade lap at the Scarborough Gold Cup meeting in North Yorkshire on Sunday to mark the end of his stellar career.

The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland opted to hang up his leathers following the death of his uncle, Trevor Ferguson, who was killed while riding Farquhar's Kawasaki ER6 in the Supertwin race at the Manx Grand Prix.

Farquhar vowed never to race again following the tragedy and said farewell to his fans at the final Irish national road race of the year at Killalane earlier this month, when he was joined on an emotional parade lap by fellow Co Tyrone rider John Burrows, who also quit the sport as a result of Mr Ferguson's death.

'Hutchy' and Isle of Man TT legend McGuinness joined Farquhar at Scarborough along with Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop, Jamie Hamilton and Robbie Silvester, when all six accompanied him on three laps of the Oliver's Mount circuit on a variety of his KMR machines.

McGuinness, who took his tally of TT wins to 19 at the TT in June, said Farquhar deserved the “ultimate praise” for what he has achieved in the sport.

“It was a pleasure to take part in the parade laps with Ryan and it was really good of him to invite me - it was a very nice gesture and I felt quite emotional being out there with him,” he said.

“We've had a lot of battles over the years, in all classes, and I've always had the utmost respect for him both on and off the track.

“He's been a class act and a top professional and what he's achieved in the sport deserves the ultimate praise so good on him,” added McGuinness.

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