Martin confirmed at Hydrex Honda for 2009
After weeks of speculation, Guy Martin has confirmed that he will be remaining with the Hydrex Honda team for the forthcoming 2009 season. The 27-year old had talked openly about a possible move to Rob McElnea Racing and Yamaha but has opted to stay with Shaun Muir’s squad instead for a third successive season with both parties focusing firmly on the Isle of Man TT Races.
Muir was keen to retain Martin and, with additional support from Honda Racing, the duo have agreed terms that will see Guy have a different race schedule to that of 2008. The Kirmington ace will step back from the British Superbike Championship and instead contest a race schedule that he feels will be more beneficial to his aspirations at the International road races, namely the TT. Never at ease in the highly corporate world of BSB, Guy will contest a couple of early season British Supersport meetings before taking in the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT Races. After the TT, where he hopes to clinch that elusive win, he will revert back to his old stamping ground with selected outings in the Irish National road races prior to the Ulster Grand Prix.
In addition, Guy has pencilled in the Cock o’ the North and Gold Cup meetings at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough along with the Southern 100 and Macau Grand Prix, where he will be aiming to put the disappointment of the last two seasons behind him. The new deal will again see Guy have a full compliment of Superbike, Supersport and Superstock machinery whilst he will also his own personal team of mechanics to support him at the road races.
Speaking about the decision to stay with Hydrex, Guy commented:
“I said all along that I didn’t want to leave Shaun as he’s far and away the best person I’ve ever worked with and I have so much respect for him but I just felt that certain factors needed to change. I was possibly a bit hasty when I said I was going to leave the team but Shaun never wanted me to go and he’s done everything to give me the set-up I wanted. I told him exactly what I wanted for 2009 and he has given me just that so there can be no excuses now!”
“I’ve got the bikes, mechanics and race schedule that will suit me down to the ground and whilst it’s a shame to leave BSB, I don’t think it’s the be all and end all that everyone thinks it is and I firmly believe that the meetings I’ll take in during 2009 will be more beneficial for me. Everything is geared towards the TT and the planning starts now so that’s why I’ve decided to plan the year accordingly and pick the meetings that I want to do and ones that will keep the smile on my face. As well as the International road races, I’m looking at contesting two Scarborough meetings and selected Irish National road races, namely Skerries, Kells and Mid Antrim whilst the Southern 100 was at the top of the ‘to do’ list. This is exactly the deal I was looking for and Shaun has given me everything so now it’s time to deliver the goods and nail that first TT win.”
Guy will take in some pre-season testing in Guadix and Almeria in late February prior to the 2009 season getting underway in April.