By Dean Adams
While British Media reported today that racer and gearhead Guy Martin had decided to pack in his motorcycle racing career, Martin clarified the situation by saying he wasn’t quitting bike racing, essentially that he was just quitting the new CBR1000RR.
Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness was teamed with Martin for the ’17 Honda Endurance team but all the color was quickly drained when the new CBR1000RR wasn’t capable of beating a two year old Yamaha R1 and McGuiness joined a growing list of riders who saw the ceiling of an ambulance via the CBR after a mechanical failure. A rider’s job is difficult enough and asking them to push when the bike is trying to maim them doesn’t end well.
Martin, stated via his web site:
“So a lot of folk have been talking asking about racing and what I’m doing.
“I went into the year right excited about the new Honda. I thought it would be great straight away and so did the team. I soon realised that it needed a lot of developing and it will be great but it needs time and I’ve got loads of other projects going on, that Id rather use that time for. I didn’t get involved to develop a bike over months and years, I was told I’d have a bike capable of winning straight away and that’s why I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“TT was a bloody disaster, aside from walking the dog and racing the Mugen, I didn’t enjoy it. It was clear even before that we were going to struggle and then it turned into me really being a test rider, which I did but after we did more testing at Cadwell a few weeks back, I said to the team the bike won’t be competitive at the Ulster Grand Prix and they decided to withdraw me from the event, although they didn’t tell me, which is OK as the decision was made for me.
“So I’ve not given up on racing or road racing, there’s no unfinished business and I want to race classics and oddball stuff. All I’ve been thinking about recently is Pikes Peak and any spare time my brain has had is about Pikes Peak on 4 wheels. That job is down to me and if it doesn’t work, it’s my fault and I like that.
“So there’s no bad feeling. Neil Tuxworth has been upfront with me from the start and it’s a shame for everyone that the new bike hasn’t worked. I know how much effort I put in and so do the team, so no regrets but I’ve got no plans to do anymore road racing on the Hondas this year.
“Nigel Racing Corporation (NRC) current plans are preparation for Pikes Peak and classic racing but the plans can change with the wind.
“Ta for the support.”
