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Guy Martin got his 2010 racing season underway at Thruxton on Sunday where he competed in both the British Supersport and Superstock Championship races on his Wilson Craig Honda’s. Using the meeting primarily for set up time with the two bikes, Guy nevertheless put in some spirited perfromances and although he slid off in the Superstock race, he bounced back to take 12th and 4 Championship points in the Supersport encounter.
The Kirmington rider was in fine form throughout practice and qualifying around the 2.35-mile circuit and it was the Superstock class where he shone the most, a brilliant lap of 1m18.039s placing him third in the second qualifying session, moving him up to fifth overall for a second row start. In the Supersport class it was slightly tougher but he reduced his lap time by over half a second between the first and second qualifying sessions to move up to 21st overall.
Race day at the Hampshire circuit was blessed with warm sunshine and it was the 15-lap Superstock race that was first up for Guy with high hopes on recording a strong result. For once though, he didn’t make his strong getaway off the line and he found himself down in 10th place at the end of the opening lap but he didn’t get much opportunity to progress further as two laps later the front end tucked at the Campbell-Cobb complex and down he went, fortunately without injury. He bounced back though in the 18-lap Supersport race and despite his 21st place starting position, he was soon into the points climbing as high as 14th as early as the second lap. Despite circulating on his own for much of the race, Guy put in a series of consistent laps and he was rewarded with 12th place at the chequered flag.
Speaking later, Guy said: “It was all about getting time on the bikes this weekend and I wasn’t too fussed about the results, I just wanted to make some headway with the set-up of the bikes. I haven’t ridden for a long time so it was good to blow the cobwebs away and we’ve definitely learnt a lot in the three days we’ve been here. The Superstock bike is pretty much in the ballpark already but we’ve got a number of things to adjust and try with the Supersport machine so that’s what we’ll be looking to do at the next couple of meetings in order to be fully prepared for the North West 200.”
Guy’s next meeting will be at the Cookstown 100 this Saturday, April 25, the first race in the 2010 Irish Road Racing Championship.
Picture by Glynne Lewis
Phil Wain
Freelance PR