It’s hard to visualise Scottish motorcycling success story Keith Amor with his head buried deep in the commodities market in Zimbabwe. But that’s the way it was back in 2001 when Amor left home to deal in the at times heady exercise of buying and selling: foods, grain, and anything that moved.

"It was a terrific time for everyone," Amor told me. But after a while it became obvious that the country was changing and it would not be the best place to continue in business.

"In those days I made enough money to give me the impression that life would be easy at the top but I spent a lot also to fuel my standard of living and believe it or not I got such a buzz out of it I haven’t felt the same since until I entered the world of Irish motorcycle road racing."

Amor is likely to be one of the leading riders at the Belfast Telegraph Ulster Grand Prix in August and already he is counting the days until he takes part.

"I would love to win a race at the Ulster," said Amor, who is having a marvellous season on the Irish Championship circuit.

“It’s an old chestnut that the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod is a rider’s race. But truly that’s what it is. There are corners and bends that you don’t see anywhere else and I regard it as a mini TT.

"I’ve already won over the circuit when I was successful at the Dundrod 150 in 2006 after having raced at the North West 200 which was my first Irish road race in 2005.

“You might say that I was smitten by the bug when riding at the North West and I have been back every year loving the smell of the excitement which is generated both by the bikes and the masses of people who follow Ulster road racing.

"People elsewhere don’t realise that road racing is a national obsession as far as Northern Ireland - and even Ireland is concerned.

"Everybody loves motorcycling and winners soon become heroes."

Last year in the Ulster, which was wrecked by rain, Amor finish fifth in the super sport race and he feels that had there been a second super sport event he might have won. But as we all know the meeting was brought to an abrupt end.

This season Amor will be looking for "compensation" and he is certainly in tremendous form. He had a win at Cookstown in May and was fifth at the North West 200. Then he had a double at Kells and last weekend a double at Faugheen.

Now he’s looking forward more than ever to the Ulster Grand Prix which he describes as a lottery because of the problem with the weather. "You never know what you’re going to find," he told me.

"But if it is a dry day then the racing can be as good as anywhere in the world. I believe that six or seven riders can win and I would name Guy Martin, Bruce Anstey, Cameron Donald, Ian Lougher, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and Ryan Farquhar in that bunch.

"When you read that list as its set in front of you, you will have some idea as to the task there is in beating these riders. They all have loads of experience round the track and there’s no way they will ease up and give you a chance. But that’s the way it should be and I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Amor added: "If I didn’t think I could win a race at the Ulster then I wouldn’t go there. You’ve got to be positive and that’s the way to tackle it. I was third in the first 600 race last year and I missed out because the second race was abandoned.

"I can’t say enough about the fans for they are much more tuned in than they are in England or even Scotland. They know exactly what a rider can do and they are not easily fooled. In fact the fans make it and that’s why I love to race here."

Amor is a buddy of Jonathan Rea who is cutting a dash in the world super sport championship and Amor was on hand to give Rea support in the British round at Brands Hatch this weekend.

"I believe that Jonathan has terrific potential," said Amor.

"And I’m just glad he’s not racing on the roads or I would have to take up something else!"