'I used to feel physically sick - I still miss it'

Keith Amor knows exactly what the Isle of Man TT can do to a racer.

In the latest BBC Bikes Podcast, the former TT podium finisher reflects on a career defined by fear, exhilaration and the irresistible pull of the Mountain Course - even now, years after stepping away.

Amor admits the pressure before a TT start line was overwhelming, to the point where he "used to almost feel physically sick".

"But the moment the visor snapped shut, everything changed.

"You get the tap on the shoulder, close the visor and off you go."

That contrast - dread followed by total clarity - he admits helped shape his life.

Despite the danger, three big crashes and the intensity that left him breathless, he still misses it.

Watching perfect conditions during TT practice this year, he felt the old spark.

"I would love to go out there. There's nowhere on the planet that's better to ride."

Amor, from Falkirk, says he still struggles to comprehend how he survived one of the world's most unforgiving sports.

"I actually look back on it with disbelief that I'm still here, but I wouldn't change a jot."

Today, Amor works with the TT organisers, guiding VIP guests - "TV stars, movie stars, Formula 1 people or everyday fans -through the event's most exclusive vantage points.

Another major part of Amor's story is his long friendship with six‑time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea - a relationship that stretched from world championship paddocks to small Irish road races.

Amor says Rea was "so enthusiastic" about helping him, even acting as his mechanic at the Armoy Race of Legends. "It wouldn't matter if you were racing PB50s in the garden 2 it was just as important as winning a World Superbike race to Jonathan."

He recalls travelling to World Superbike rounds with Rea, recceing circuits together and even living with him for a period. "We had so much fun. Jonathan's a kid compared to me, but I'm almost closer to his father's generation."

Rea also joined him at several Irish road races, advising on safety and track conditions. "We'd go around and he'd say, 'You're not doing this, there's too much diesel on the road.' And that was it. No argument."

Listen to the BBC Bikes podcast on BBC Sounds.