Tourist Trophy – Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? – Used HONDA

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Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really ?

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? - Used HONDA

Guy Martin’s return to the Tourist Trophy on the official Fireblade was a dream for his fans, quite a challenge for him … and a great publicity stunt for Honda. But everything turned into a nightmare, so much so that the English driver will not race the next Ulster GP and will no longer ride… on Honda this year.

The poster was too good: by aligning with the very last CBR1000RR Fireblade, Honda wanted to shine this year at. In the end, the 2017 edition was memorable for the Tokyo Reds, but for all the wrong reasons….

  • MNC special file : Tourist Trophy

The great adventure got off to a bad start, from the Tandragee 100, then to the North West 200 where during practice, fracturing the lower part of the right leg … Package for the race, John was also dismissed of the Tourist Trophy !

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin retires from road races, really? - Used HONDA

For the first time in 15 years, the "King of the Moutain" was therefore not at the start of the TT and the n ° 1 of the event – a bad sign? – left his new teammate alone to face his opponents as well as – more embarrassingly – to face his doubts…

Because how to start in pursuit of Ian Hutchinson () or other Michael Dunlop () at the controls of a Honda sorely lacking in running or even reliability ?

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? - Used HONDA

According to McGuinness, his fall was caused by his engine which would not have dropped despite its throttle cut on the right grip … A malfunction that is not unlike the Suzuka 8 Hours in 2015 !

After tests considerably reduced by bad weather, "Gaïl Martine" was in turn betrayed by the new CBR1000RR SP2 … Victim of a false neutral at 110 mph (177 km / h!), The n ° 8 could not avoid the fall in the first Superbike race.

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? - Used HONDA

For the second time in the Tourist Trophy, Guy has nevertheless avoided the worst: after having ricocheted against a wall (gulps), the fellow got up with a simple crumpled wrist! His return to the Tourist Trophy on the Fireblade was however stopped dead.

"The TT was a hell of a disaster", commented this Wednesday July 26 at noon the unfortunate pilot on his Facebook page, "apart from the walks with the dog and the race with the Mugen (which he finished without difficulty in the second place, Editor’s note), I did not have fun ".

Martin did not have fun

Convinced – by Honda – that he would have a motorbike capable of leading him to his first victory, the "Poupou du Titi" quickly became disillusioned: "I found myself playing the development pilot, which I have accepted, but after new tests at Cadwell a few weeks ago I told the team that the bike would not be competitive at the Ulster Grand Prix "(August 6 to 12, Editor’s note).

Tired, just like their pilot, by this calamitous season, the team preferred to withdraw from the competition: "they did not speak to me about it, but that does not pose a problem for me since the decision was made for me", assures the future dad … who would be tempted to retire permanently ?

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? - Used HONDA

Truck mechanic by training, star of television shows, Guy Martin knows full well that "the race has given me a lot, but I got tired of it", he recently confided to our colleagues at MCN during ‘an exclusive interview to be published … on the other side of the Channel, with the catchy title: "Guy Martin calls time on road Racing"…

"You spend the beginning of the year preparing for the season: you do tests, you run, you talk about it, then all over again," he would have said. "It’s like" Groundhog Day "(the movie" One Endless Day "with the irresistible Bill Murray and the crunchy Andie McDowell, Editor’s note). It’s time to stop" … and give new meaning to his life ?

Tourist Trophy - Tourist Trophy: Guy Martin withdraws from road races, really? - Used HONDA

However, his long tirade on Facebook (see below) is not so categorical … "I did not give up competition or road races", assures the pilot to his million friends and "followers "," there is no sloppy work and I want to ride classic and other eccentricities ". It just so happens that "I have no more road racing plans with Honda this year".

"Nigel Racing Corporation (his own" NRC "team not to be confused with the HRC, Editor’s note!) Currently has plans to prepare for Pikes Peak and classic races, but plans can change at any time," warns the tireless – although … – Guy Martin. If, tomorrow, another manufacturer shows up with a motorcycle – truly – capable of winning the Tourist Trophy, wouldn’t he leave for a six laps of Snaffel Mountain? "To be continued, and stay tuned" !

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