Any hopes that Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin had of claiming his maiden TT win were dashed when he retired in today's Dainese Senior TT on lap three.
After the disappointment of retiring in Saturday's Superbike TT when well in command, the 26 year old from Kirmington in Lincolnshire was hoping for a change of fortune on the Shaun Muir Racing Honda CBR1000 Fireblade and traded blows in the leading group on the opening lap held in perfect conditions.
With a lap of 128.316mph, Guy held fourth place just three seconds off the lead but on the second lap, the bike developed an electrical fault at Glen Helen which caused the revs to tail off and the dash to fail.
Martin coaxed the bike into the pits at the end of the lap, still amazingly in fourth place, but after another lightning pit stop, the bike failed to start causing the team to lose time as they had to push Guy off and away on lap three.
However, the problem proved terminal when a mile down the road at Quarterbridge, the generator failed for good and Guy retired but with his lap set in Saturday's race just being eclipsed in the very late stages by eventual winner John McGuinness, he remained philosophical.
Guy Martin:"They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and I don't know what we've done to deserve the sort of luck we've had this week. The team have worked their arses off and I'm grateful to them and they have worked wonders in the pits. We still made the podium and set the second fastest lap of the week so I'm going to take them for a beer or two as they have been simply magnificent, it's just a pity we've been let down through things that were beyond our control. But I'll be back, better, stronger and faster next year in search of that first TT win. To finish first, first you have to finish and it's not been our week."
Shaun Muir:"I'm speechless and devastated. A standard part has again cost us the chance of a win and I feel really, really sorry for the team as they have done a fantastic job. There are a lot of sad faces and I don't know what to say to make them feel better. Guy has rode well all week and he's proved he's as fast as anyone and who knows what results we could have achieved if things had gone better. But we've had some great coverage and I'd like to thank our sponsors Hydrex and Bike Animal, I'm just sorry we couldn't have rewarded them with a win."
Dainese Senior TT Race Result:1, John McGuinness (Honda)
2, Cameron Donald (Suzuki) +9.28s
3, Ian Hutchinson (Yamaha) +1m28.18s
4, Ryan Farquhar (Kawasaki) +1m45.08s
5, Gary Johnson (Honda) +1m55.80s
6, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +2m17.64s
7, Ian Lougher (Yamaha) +2m51.30s
8, Carl Rennie (Suzuki) +3m03.09s
9, Daniel Stewart (Honda) +3m24.82s
10, Michael Dunlop (Yamaha) +3m39.37s
Picture attached courtesy of Gavan Caldwell.
