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Archive for September, 2008

Silverstone woes – press release

Monday, September 29th, 2008

After being on a high after the Scarborugh Gold Cup races a week ago, Guy Martin came back down to earth with a bang at Silverstone this weekend, where he was competing in the penultimate round of the British Superbike Championship. The Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider suffered a fall in qualifying and his mood was worsened when mechanical problems caused him to retire from both of Sunday’s races.

Guy improved steadily throughout the free practice sessions and was looking for more improvements in the qualifying shootout but, after posting a time of 1m28.530s in the first phase to move inside the all important top-20, he suffered a low speed spill at the chicane. Despite the team’s best efforts, time ultimately beat Guy and he was unable to go back out on to the track to improve his time and he ended up 21st, for a sixth row start.

Race day itself proved to be no better and his first race ended at half race distance when he pulled in to the pits to retire due to technical problems. The problems surfaced earlier in the second race later in the day and a fourth lap retirement completed a disastrous weekend for Guy and he went home pointless.

Speaking afterwards, a disappointed Guy said:

‘This weekend has been nothing short of a disaster and I’m a bit lost for words as to what’s happened. Things were steadily getting better during practice and I was improving my times in every session but I lost the front going into the final chicane in qualifying and with the new format there’s simply no time to be stuck in the pits. The boy’s did all they could to get me back out but the clock beat us.’

‘It was always going to be difficult from the sixth row but I’m the eternal optimist and seeing as I’m more of a racer than a qualifier I was still firmly aiming at the top 15. I got fairly decent starts in both races but the bike was misfiring almost straightaway and whilst I plugged away as best I could, there was no signs of it going away so I had little option other than to pull in each time. We looked in to everything to try and solve it but there were no immediate signs so we’ll go back to the drawing board and get our heads down in time for Brands. I got points there earlier in the year so it would be nice to end the season with similar results.

The final round of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch, Kent on October 10-12.

Picture by Glynne Lewis

Phil Wain
Freelance PR

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Silverstone nightmare, but McG upside

Sunday, September 28th, 2008

What a shitter. Two DNFs at Silvestone due to a misfire, caused by we don’t know what. Maybe a loose giggle pin or something. It doesn’t mater though. I’ve done a deal with John McGuinness, he got a set of my leathers and I got a set of his. How cool is that? John McGuinness’s leathers that he used at the TT this year, flies and everything. Legend. Oh and here’s some photos of the pics that Extreme Art and Gadgets (on the Isle of Man) got me. Proper eh?

Posted in Gear, Toys, racing | 14 Comments »

Silverstone Saturday update

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

From The Bike Animal Hydrex press release:

It wasn’t such a successful qualifier for team mate Guy Martin who ended up crashing out in the opening part of the session.

The Lincolnshire rider was well inside the all-important top twenty and looking set to qualify for the second phase when he tipped off at the low speed Woodcote Chicane before making his way back to the garage.

As the team raced to effect the repairs, Martin hung on to twentieth position but on the very last lap he was squeezed out meaning he ended up 21st fastest to start on row six of the grid.

“We were plugging away and I just lost the front going into the chicane. We’ve got telemetry on the bike now so we’re getting there. But now I’ve got a sixth row start which means I’ve got my work cut out tomorrow and it will be hard.”

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Silverstone update

Friday, September 26th, 2008

Well, not much to report other than I’m the tea boy for the lad’s in the garage tonight. We’ve had a change of plan with the gearbox, so Jim is on the case. We’ve got the iPod on, a bit of Sheryl Crowe and Johhny Cash. Ever heard the one he sang about buillding the car from bits he nicked from his work in his pack-up box? Proper

Posted in Life, racing | 11 Comments »

Weather’s turning

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Get your long sleeves now. Like Merchandise at the top of the page.

Posted in Gear | 4 Comments »

Scarborough shots

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

Photos: Alan Armstrong Photography

Posted in racing | 8 Comments »

Guy’s Gold Cup

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Morning folks, just sat at work waiting for a job to come in. I’ve got a bit of a sore head, but I’ve got a cup of the strongest polish coffee you can imagine on the go. I didn’t end up rolling in the tractor. Instead, like I said I do if I won, I was off in the pub. I’ll tell you, I’m not designed for drinking and I know about the bugger this morn. Oh well I’ve got a bit of steam cleaning on in minute, there is no better cure for a hangover.
Well, six Gold Cups on the trot is mint, for me but more importantly for James, Kate and Warren, we all needed a win or two, so a massive thanks for to ‘em and especially Shaun Muir for keeping everyone up through the lows.

But there is still the rest of 2008 to go at, two BSB rounds and Macau. Macau was looking good last year until I had a to do with a wall, so hopefully we’ll be on the case this year.
Finally, for now a big thanks to every who came to Scarborough, to Jon for the pit board, the random bloke who brought me a year’s supply of tea, the bloke who brought me the Harrods tea, to Shelby for driving the truck and to matey boy up stairs for the weather

Posted in Life, racing | 43 Comments »

Another Scarborough release

Monday, September 22nd, 2008

Martin creates Gold Cup history with sixth successive win
Guy Martin created history on Sunday when he won the International Steve Henshaw Gold Cup for a record-breaking 6th time, the first rider ever to achieve such a feat. Riding the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda around the Oliver’s Mount race circuit in Scarborough, Guy dominated proceedings to win by over 13 seconds, claiming the outright lap record along the way, whilst he also won both Superbike races to crown a highly successful weekend.

Saturday’s races were held in dry, sunny conditions and Guy opened his account around the 2.43-mile public road circuit with a start to finish victory in the 8-lap Superbike race, coming home 11.6 seconds clear of his nearest rival Ryan Farquhar. Later in the day, he took a hard fought 3rd place in the opening leg of the 600cc David Jefferies Trophy.

The weather on Sunday was slightly cooler with overcast conditions and normal service was resumed when Guy took another dominant win in the second Superbike race. Third in the opening stages, Guy overhauled Ian Hutchinson and Ryan Farquhar in successive laps and, with a new lap record, he romped home to take the chequered flag by 10.1 seconds, earning himself the Darran Lindsay Memorial Trophy. The 600cc race was again a different proposition but, with a new lap record of 1m47.230s, he was able to finish in 4th place, only 1.4 seconds off the race win.

The 12-lap feature race was last on the agenda for Guy and he didn’t disappoint his legion of fans, putting in a faultless performance. Never headed in the race, Guy put in a series of fast laps to pull clear and he took his 6th successive title by a commanding 13 seconds. He also set a new outright lap record of 1m45.332s to become the first man ever to lap Oliver’s Mount at more than 83mph, his new speed being 83.052mph.

Speaking afterwards, a delighted Guy said:

“I always enjoy racing at Scarborough and this weekend has been no exception. It was where I made my first ever road race appearance in 2002 so it’s always been special and to win 6 Gold Cups in a row is brilliant and a real honour. When you look at all the names on there, it makes me realise what an achievement it is so I’m chuffed to bits but if someone had said that to me all those years ago that I’d win 6, I would have told them to wash their mouth out!”

“The Superbike never missed a beat all weekend and to get 3 wins and the outright lap record was brilliant. The team put in a big effort so it was nice to repay them and we’ve really enjoyed our racing this weekend, which is what it’s all about. We were able to get out on Saturday night, have a couple of beers and generally chill out, and everyone in the team’s been in high spirits. There’s been some top teamwork this weekend and I’m really happy with how the weekend has gone.”

It’s back to British Superbike Championship duty next for Guy and he makes his way to Silverstone, Northamptonshire for the next round of the series, with the meeting taking place from 26-28 September.

From Phil Wain, Freelance PR

To read more of Phil’s excellent reports, from all this year’s events, click schedule at the top of the page.

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