Wednesday 18th January 2017

Guy Martin joins Honda Racing for 2017 TT

McGuinness and Martin team up for 2017 assault on the Manx roads

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Honda announced today that it has signed Guy Martin to partner John McGuinness at the TT and various road races in the Superbike classes during 2017. Yep, after a year out, Guy is set to return to road racing and do it alongside TT legend (and 23-times winner) John.

It's all smiles for now...

McGuinness of course commands huge respect among the road racing community and beyond but Honda will be keen to benefit from Martin's star quality and genuine - if seemingly reluctant - TV celeb status to help publicise the new Fireblade they'll both be riding. As such Martin and McGuinness are only to race in Superbike classes on the 'blade SP2. The big question for Guy's fanbase is, of course, whether or not this partnership can at last bring him the long-awaited TT success he's craved.

With 15 podiums under his belt, Guy is one of the most successful TT racers not to stand on the top step. While the vastly experienced Honda team are certain to give Guy the bike and technical back-up to make this year his best shot to date, there is one Morecambe based obstacle in his way - McGuinness!

"I had a lot of thinking to do before I committed and said yes to joining the team," said Guy. "I spent a lot of time on my push bike to and from work, thinking about what to do. I didn't want to grow old regretting not giving the Honda a go, and the more time passes since making the decision, the more time I've thought it is the right decision. John is the man, I've got massive respect for him and I'm looking forward to racing on the Fireblade against him."

New Fireblade certainly looks the part

McGuinness shares the anticipation too. "I'm excited to have Guy as my new teammate; we've enjoyed many a racing battle over the years and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can both do," says McGuinness. "I know the old model like the back of my hand and have taken a lot of my TT wins with the old girl, so I can't wait to get out on track and try the new machine out. I have a good feeling about this year and think we have a really good package to show that we mean business. I of course would like another TT win and I would quite like my lap record back! I always say when it's broken that the lads are just borrowing it and I hope this year that this is the case."

There is one interesting point left unresolved - will Guy race in the Supersport TT? He is still linked to Triumph with his World Speed Record attempt and the Daytona 675 is right on the pace at the TT, as Guy proved in 2015. Honda has discontinued its CBR600RR and, as such, may be open for Guy racing a Triumph. Though it might be a little awkward if Guy wins the Supersport TT on a Triumph and not the Superbike class on a Honda...

 

[Nick928]

Two absolute legends, both on the same bike. Only thing seperating them is bravery and how far they are willing to push (and overstep) the limits.

Why does this fill me with worry rather than excitement?
Please be careful chaps.

Sorry if I sound like your mothers!

[zeb]

Personally I think Guy should stick to the telly stuff and McGuiness should hang up his leathers. John is a legend and has nothing to prove, lets keep it that way.


Martin ? If he was going to win one he would have done so by now. Time to bow out gracefully old bean.

[CocoUK]

That's a great partnership for the Honda TT Legends team, 23 TT wins between them...

[Bailey93]

McGuinness is starting to show his age this has got to be his last year surely, just retire and enjoy his achievements as has already been said he has nothing to prove, as far as Guy goes he's going to hunt that win.

Good luck to them both, safe riding.

[3yardy3]

zeb said:

Personally I think Guy should stick to the telly stuff and McGuiness should hang up his leathers. John is a legend and has nothing to prove, lets keep it that way.


Martin ? If he was going to win one he would have done so by now. Time to bow out gracefully old bean.

Why? one of the factors towards why McGuiness is a legend is because he always wants to continue breaking records and riding... regarding Guy, the tv personality factor is only going to help bring in a new audience to road racing and the Isle of man TT.

[patchb]

CocoUK said:

That's a great partnership for the Honda TT Legends team, 23 TT wins between them...

Don't forget that Guy has had 15 TT podiums, and a further 15 or so 4th or 5th places. He's a very good racer and has been quite unlucky not to get a win.

Some people seem to think hes not very good...

[Jay_87]

Excellent news, the TT was worse off with out Guy and having him back and in the factory Honda team is great news. Along with many others I had no real interest in road racing until I watched Closer to the edge and it was the charms of GM that drew me to follow the sport more closely.

Also great to see McGuinness back for another crack, the man is a legend and fully deserves to be on a competitive bike, should he retire? Maybe, but while your still quick and can give the young lads a run for there money then why stop? He obviously lives for the TT and loves his riding which really shows through in every interview he does, he's always enthusiastic and that's exactly what the TT needs.

Safe riding lads!

[jamespink]

I think this is great for the sport in many ways but it must be like partnering with Senna... Where are you going to be placed even on a good day?

[RemaL]

Good news and looking forward to seeing what they both do

[ilovequo]

No superstock ride?!

[curlie467]

jamespink said:

I think this is great for the sport in many ways but it must be like partnering with Senna... Where are you going to be placed even on a good day?

Eh?

[trickywoo]

curlie467 said:

Eh?

+1

[AWG]

trickywoo said:

curlie467 said:

Eh?

+1

++1

[D200]

I really hope they are both competitive and on are the pace but I think neither of them is going to win unless Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson both don’t finish – as they are simply much faster than John and Guy – Dunlop and Hutchy are in a class of their own.

But it will be very interesting to see how Guy competes with John.

John is still competitive for podiums but a finished a long way behind both Dunlop and Hutchinson in the Superbike races in 2016 [i.e. a full minute] so I think his best is definitely past him

I guess it boils down to how good the works Honda will be, if they throw money at it and it’s the best bike on the circuit then they have a chance winning

What would be even more interesting is if Honda also signed Michael Dunlop as he hasn’t announced who he is riding for

[Venom]

Difficult to say how much of the time lag between McGuinness, Hutchy and Dunlop last year was down to him and/or the bike. Both were a bit long in the tooth, but then McGuinness has never exactly been a streak of piss. The old Blade, whilst hardly medieval technology, was probably a year older in terms of having maxxed out all bar the smallest of development gains than ideal, hence the new Blade being this year's kit.

Interesting times!

[ZX10R NIN]

D200 said:

I really hope they are both competitive and on are the pace but I think neither of them is going to win unless Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson both don’t finish – as they are simply much faster than John and Guy – Dunlop and Hutchy are in a class of their own.

But it will be very interesting to see how Guy competes with John.

John is still competitive for podiums but a finished a long way behind both Dunlop and Hutchinson in the Superbike races in 2016 [i.e. a full minute] so I think his best is definitely past him

I guess it boils down to how good the works Honda will be, if they throw money at it and it’s the best bike on the circuit then they have a chance winning

What would be even more interesting is if Honda also signed Michael Dunlop as he hasn’t announced who he is riding for

It's hard to say as no one knows how good the Honda is yet also you can't put a price on continuity with Ian & Michael on the BMW's & Mcpint/Guy/Bruce on the as yet untried Honda it could be close.

Mcpint will get his usual TT Zero win after that it'll be pretty open but he might have a Triumph for the 600 class although the new R6 will take some beating.

[chrisga]

Has Bruce/Padgetts confirmed whether they will be running the new fireblade or having another crack with the rc213v? I so hope they get the rcv dialled in. Is a new blade a match for an rcv? Guess it would upset Honda if the blade got spanked. Either way it's going to be an interesting year. I hope both Guy and John do well and everyone comes home safely.

[dc2rr07]

ilovequo said:

No superstock ride?!

Probably use the old fireblade for that.

[moto_traxport]

TT is shaping up to be quite interesting which is great as I'm spectating there for the first time since 1991. Proper looking forward to it.

I'm sure the CBR600RR is still eligble to race btw. Homologation certainly used to last 5 years from date of last manufacturer.

Questions, questions. How much short circuit racing has Guy got to do in the next couple of months before getting back his TT course license or are they going waive that rule? When do they release the start numbers? Will Guy go off at no.8?

dc2rr07 said:

Probably use the old fireblade for that.

Why wouldn't they build up a Superstocker based on the new bike? The new bike is updated enough to be faster and lighter etc but similar enough to the 08-14 bike in terms of frame geometry etc to not to be too far off dialling it in given a good practice week.

[dc2rr07]

moto_traxport said:

TT is shaping up to be quite interesting which is great as I'm spectating there for the first time since 1991. Proper looking forward to it.

I'm sure the CBR600RR is still eligble to race btw. Homologation certainly used to last 5 years from date of last manufacturer.

Questions, questions. How much short circuit racing has Guy got to do in the next couple of months before getting back his TT course license or are they going waive that rule? When do they release the start numbers? Will Guy go off at no.8?

dc2rr07 said:

Probably use the old fireblade for that.

Why wouldn't they build up a Superstocker based on the new bike? The new bike is updated enough to be faster and lighter etc but similar enough to the 08-14 bike in terms of frame geometry etc to not to be too far off dialling it in given a good practice week.

I know where you are coming from but it might be a case of not having enough time to do both bikes or even have enough bikes ! it was only a guess

Edited by dc2rr07 on Wednesday 18th January 19:44