Press release: Hydrex Honda’s Guy Martin will be looking to end his 2009 Isle of Man TT race campaign on a high note on Friday when he contests the Senior TT. Traditionally billed as the ‘Blue Riband’ event of race week, the 6-lap race brings down the curtain on the two-week festival and with three podiums to his name already, Guy will be hoping it’s the race that gives him his first ever TT win.
After Wednesday’s second Supersport 600cc race was heavily delayed by rain on the west coast of the Island, the weather has improved ever since and Friday should see some terrific racing with the outright lap record likely to be under threat again.
The 600cc race didn’t pan out as Guy would have liked and although he occupied third place at the end of the opening lap, the engine began to overheat on the second and with smoke beginning to come from the bike, he retired at the end of the third, his first non-finish of the week.
Friday’s Senior race sees Guy back in action on the 1000cc Honda Superbike and with the forks from his 2008 machine flown in especially for the race, he’s in confident mood.
Speaking ahead of the race,
Guy said:
“Wednesday’s race was a bit of a disaster and to say the conditions were iffy would be an understatement! I went as fast as I could, given the wet circuit but on the second lap the bike started to overheat and that was the end of that. It was completely out of our hands and disappointing to have a DNF but that’s how racing goes sometimes.”
“With regards to the Senior, we could have done with the practice lap on Wednesday to test the forks properly but we went up to Jurby Airfield on Thursday afternoon and they felt good straightaway so I’m feeling confident ahead of Friday’s race. It’s the main race of the week and the one everyone wants to win so that’s what I’ll be firmly aiming at doing.”
The Senior race is due to get underway at 1.00pm.
