Guy Martin happy with first outing of 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010
TT
Just days after unveiling the livery he will race with at the 2010 Isle of Man TT, Guy Martin got his 2010 season underway at Thruxton circuit.
Martin, who is determined to finally win his first TT race this year, was competing in both the British Supersport and National Superstock 1000cc races on his Wilson Craig Hondas.
The Kirmington rider was using Sunday’s races primarily to work on setting up the bikes, but he put in to spirited riders. Unfortunately he slid off during the Superstock race, however he bounced back in the Supersport content to finish 12th and claim four championship points.
It was a good weekend for Martin, who shone throughout practice and qualifying at the ultra-quick 2.35-mile circuit. In the Superstock class, he recorded a lap of 1m18.039s which placed in fifth on the start line. Martin endured a tougher time in the Supersport class, but he still managed to find more than half a second between the first and second qualifying session to move up the field and start 21st.
After his impressive practice speed, it was the Superstock class which held the most hope for Martin. However, he didn’t get away well from the line and found himself down in 10th place at the end of the first lap.
Just two laps later he slid off at the Campbell-Cobb complex and while he escaped injury, his race was over.
Despite the disappointment, Martin lined up for the 18-lap British Supersport race and made up for his earlier fall by climbing from 21st place on the grid to 14th on the second lap.
It was a relatively lonely race after that for Martin, but he kept the machine upright and put in consistent laps on his way to 12th place.
Martin said:
“It was all about getting time on the bikes this weekend and I wasn’t too fussed about the results, I just wanted to make some headway with the set-up of the bikes.”
“I haven’t ridden for a long time so it was good to blow the cobwebs away and we’ve definitely learnt a lot in the three days we’ve been here. The Superstock bike is pretty much in the ballpark already, but we’ve got a number of things to adjust and try with the Supersport machine so that’s what we'll be looking to do at the next couple of meetings in order to be fully prepared for the North West 200."