After the disappointment of retiring from Saturday's Superbike TT when well in command, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin bounced back to claim a podium finish in this morning's four-lap Scottish Life Superstock TT.
The 26 year old from Kirmington in Lincolnshire, running as number one on the road once again, started steadily as mist on the mountain and damp patches made the opening lap quite tricky and at the end of the 37.75 mile lap, Martin was placed in sixth place, just five seconds off the lead.
As he got more acquainted with the production-specification 1000cc Honda Fireblade, Martin upped the pace and by half way round lap two, he was up to fourth place at Ramsey, less than twelve seconds off the lead as they headed for the pit stops.
Once again, the Shaun Muir Racing team worked wonders in the pits as Martin headed off onto lap three in third position just four seconds down on second place John McGuinness.
For the remainder of lap three, the gap between McGuinness and Martin remained at around five seconds but a concerted push on the final lap saw Martin post a speed of 127.094mph to close in to within three seconds of the thirteen times TT winner but couldn't quite secure runner up spot, instead he had to settle for his fifth TT podium behind McGuinness and race winner Cameron Donald.
However, any hopes of gaining his debut TT victory in this afternoon's Relentless Supersport TT evaporated only a few miles into the opening lap when Martin retired the 600cc Hydrex Bike Animal Honda at The Highlander leaving him frustrated for a second time this week.
Rider, Guy Martin"I can't complain, I came here to win and I'm happy enough with a podium. I made a pigs ear of the first lap as I kept missing gear changes which was down to me not bossing it like I should have and I rode like a compete Jessie over the mountain as it was damp and misty. Once I started riding the bike properly, the speed was there and once again the team worked wonders in the pits. I mustn't grumble and there's life in the old dog yet."
Team Owner, Shaun Muir"It's been a day of mixed emotions today what with the podium in the Superstock race and then we've had some sort of problem with the 600 which had gone faultlessly throughout practice but that's just typical of our luck at present. We need to get a Honda on top of the podium before the week's out so hopefully we can get the 600 sorted for Wednesday and then it's all guns blazing for the big one with the Senior on Friday."
Scottish Life International Superstock Race Result:1, Cameron Donald (Suzuki)
2, John McGuinness (Honda) +15.07s
3, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +18.01s4, Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) +35.29s
5, Conor Cummins (Yamaha) +40.58s
6, Adrian Archibald (Suzuki) +1m16.18s
7, Ian Lougher (Yamaha) +1m33.79s
8, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +1m41.17s
9, Carl Rennie (Suzuki) +1m47.12s
10, Daniel Stewart (Yamaha) +2m13.64s
Relentless Supersport 1 Result:1, Bruce Anstey (Suzuki)
2, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +21.27s
3, John McGuinness (Honda) +24.66s
4, Keith Amor (Honda) +32.48s
5, Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) +34.46s
Picture courtesy of Gavan Caldwell
