Martin reflects on TT experience

Guy Martin was left to think ‘what might have been’ during TT2013, but along with fellow team members, the Lincolnshire man can take a number of positives away from the event.

Guy Martin was left to think ‘what might have been’ during TT2013, but along with fellow team members, the Lincolnshire man can take a number of positives away from the event.

He narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the aforementioned Superbike TT, eventually finishing fourth, with a standing start opening lap of 130.431mph.

The opening Supersport encounter produced a sixth place and best lap of 126.709mph. In the second Supersport encounter Guy’s GSX-R600 developed an intermittent electrical problem, but the Tyco Suzuki man bravely battled on, not wanting to retire the machine with so many team sponsors present on the Island.

In the Superstock race Guy was just five seconds off the lead at the end of lap one, registering a speed of 128.566mph from a standing start. He entered his pit at the end of lap two for fuel following a lap of 129.361mph and was well within striking distance of race leader Gary Johnson – only to be penalised for a pit lane infringement.

It wasn’t to be Guy’s day as he retired later in the lap with a technical problem.

In Friday’s Senior TT, after working meticulously on his preparation alongside his new team-mate, as previously mentioned, Guy finished fifth. 

Lap and race records were surpassed in blistering conditions and Guy was one of six riders who lapped in excess of 130mph on the opening lap of six. On the second lap, whilst holding third place, Guy put in a blistering lap of 131.094mph, only bettered by eventual race winner John McGuinness.

He posted yet another lap of 130.188mph on lap four and a final lap of 129.862mph to collect yet another silver replica.

Guy Martin:

“If I’m honest fifth meant nothing to me I was that disappointed after the Senior TT; I might as well have finished twenty fifth. I have to hold my hands up but I did give one hundred percent. I scratched my spuds off in that race and wore the end of my boots off.

“I couldn’t fault the team one little bit. For me they are the best team in the paddock and they all want to win races. Everyone gives their all, and as long as we all come away giving one hundred percent we have to be happy.

“Yes we use a little more fuel than the others and that makes our pit stops that little bit longer but big credit to Metzeler. I don’t go blowing smoke…; but those guys did everything I asked of them and it was a job well done.

“The Superstock job was good. I was pushing hard and went that little bit extra, but went and got a pit lane speedy penalty; then we had to park the thing. But there was a podium there for us, maybe even a win. 

“I’ve never enjoyed a TT as much in my career and that’s saying something. Having Stewart Johnstone there was a big plus and I really enjoyed working with Josh Brookes. What a boy to do 127mph as a newcomer and I believe he’d have gone faster on Friday.

“I’m a TAS man, so I hope we can come back and do it all again next year. I just want to go riding again, so the Southern 100 can’t come quick enough and I’ll be talking to Philip Neill about another project we discussed.”

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