Dundrod delight for Guy Martin and further success

Guy Martin further added to his racing credentials on Saturday, with two hard fought podium finishes at the Ulster Grand Prix - the final International road race of the season.

The Uel Duncan Racing rider took third in the opening Superstock race, and then went one better in the final race of the day, taking second in the Superbike race after being embroiled in a terrific four-way fight for the win in treacherous conditions. To complete an excellent day, he also claimed the fastest lap of the meeting at 128.162mph.

The Kirmington rider opened his account in Thursday’s Dundrod 150 Superbike race, when he finished third, and confidence was high going into Saturday’s feature races, especially with strong qualifying performances in each class. The Superstock race was held in two parts and, on aggregate time, he finished third just 0.2 seconds behind the factory Suzuki of Adrian Archibald. Frequent rain showers blighted the remainder of the day, but it didn’t deter Guy and, after leading for a short period, he took second in the final Superbike race for his best ever-International result. He also took sixth in the UGP Superbike race, although the two 600cc races weren’t so kind - with engine problems resulting in a tenth place and a retirement.

At the conclusion of the high-speed meeting, Guy commented: “I’ve got to be delighted with two more International podiums and, when it was dry, I was able to comfortably run with the factory riders. To be able to do that, and set the fastest lap of the meeting, was very rewarding, although I am a little disappointed with the outcome of the two 600cc races. Track conditions were really tricky, and the racing was quite hairy at times, but I kept focused and rode as hard as I wanted to in the conditions.”

“The Superstock race went perfectly, although I was a bit frustrated with third as I thought I’d got second. The first Superbike race was the first time I’d ridden the bike in the wet, so it was very much a learning experience, but I put it all into practice in the second Superbike. A win was on the cards, but I had a major moment at Budore when Ian (Lougher) put a hard move on me, and I ended up on the grass, with my feet down and everything – from there on in, I was determined not to lose any more places. Richard (Britton) was pressurising me but there was no way I was going to give second place up, not after riding that hard.”

Guy’s next outing will see him back out in the British Superstock Championship on the Barron Transport Suzuki, the meeting taking place on Monday, the 29th of August at Cadwell Park.