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Guy Martin capped off a tremendous first season with Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing, when he took the final international Superbike race victory of the year at the Ulster Grand Prix in Northern Ireland earlier today.
Martin led from start to finish in the six-lap encounter, where tyre choice was an important part of the team’s strategy in inclement weather conditions, eventually taking the win by three seconds. The sharp-witted Lincolnshire man, who was delighted with his victory, offered widespread praise for his team in the post race interviews, graciously stating: “The bike was that good any one of the boys could have won on it.”
The race win made up for the team’s disappointment at being robbed of victory in the opening Superbike encounter. Despite taking the chequered flag as the first bike on the road after a titanic battle with Keith Amor and Gary Johnson, the victory was awarded to Group B qualifier Bruce Anstey. The Kiwi taking advantage of an archaic ‘corrected time’ ruling from the second group on the road. Despite the disappointment Guy was magnanimous in defeat.
Earlier in the day Guy posted a fine second place in the Superstock race after a nip-and-tuck battle with eventual winner Michael Dunlop. Guy also posted fourth and fifth placed finishes on the all-new GSX-R600 Suzuki in the Supersport encounters.
Guy Martin
“I’m a happy camper now I’ve got that win. After the first Superbike race where I was just concentrating on trying to win on the road, I knew what I had to do in the last race and watch my board. It’s not ideal to take the chequered flag and lose; by ’eck it’s bizarre if I’m honest, but those are the rules. I just couldn’t shake Keith off in the first race and it let Bruce gain time as he had clear track from the front of the second group. The other races were good enough… we weren’t far off in the Superstock race either. No one remembers a loser but everyone remembers the last winner of the year at the internationals, so a good job all round from the team. Proper order… I’m well happy.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager
“I have to admit I’m relieved that’s over. After a successful qualifying and having had Thursday’s Superbike race virtually in the bag before the red flag; then losing out in today’s first Superbike race on corrected time was a bit hard to take on-board. Yes we were licking our wounds and feeling a tad hard done by, but that’s no disrespect to Bruce or the Padgetts’ team. They just made the best of the bizarre rules that we normally see at national road races but really shouldn’t come into play at an international event.
“For Guy to then produce such a thrilling and dominant display in the final Superbike race is testament to his guts and determination and the victory was justice in our eyes. Both he and Michael Dunlop were also in a class of their own in the Superstock race, and although Guy was visibly faster through the corners, Michael had a bit of an advantage on the straights – but what a race. It was a difficult day with the weather but the organisers did a good job and I’m sure it will make great viewing on TV.”
Results
Superstock [6 laps – Damp]
Winner: Michael Dunlop [Kawasaki] 21:15.901; 2nd – Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +1.770sec; 3rd – Gary Johnson [Honda] +11.611; 4th – Ian Lougher [Kawasaki] +11.701; 5th – Keith Amor [Honda] +18.901; 6th – Conor Cummins [Kawasaki] +23.888
Supersport 1 [5 laps – Dry]
Winner: Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] 17.37.949; 2nd – William Dunlop [Honda] +0.340; 3rd – Bruce Anstey [Honda] +0.797; 4th – Cameron Donald [Honda] +2.360; 5th – Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +4.027; 6th – John McGuinness [Honda] +19.455
Supersport 2 [6 laps – Dry]
Winner: Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] 20:58.980; 2nd – William Dunlop [Honda] +0.825; 3rd – Cameron Donald [Honda] +1.359; 4th – Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +8.048; 5th – Gary Johnson [Honda] +21.444; 6th – Keith Amor [Honda] +23.151
Superbike 1 [5 laps – Dry]
Winner: Bruce Anstey [Honda] 16:57.110; 2nd – Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +4.824; 3rd – Keith Amor [Honda] +4.998; 4th – Gary Johnson [Honda] +5.251; 5th – William Dunlop [Honda] +5.607; 6th – Cameron Donald [Honda] +6.868
Superbike 2 [6 laps – Damp]
Winner: Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 20:43.793; 2nd – Keith Amor [Honda] +2.956; 3rd – William Dunlop [Honda] +3.073; 4th – Cameron Donald [Honda] +3.357; 5th – Bruce Anstey [Honda] +4.103; 6th – Gary Johnson [Honda] +21.896
