Guy Martin left the 2011 Isle of Man TT a happy man despite missing out on his first victory at the event to John McGuinness in Friday's Senior TT
After a five-hour delay due to rain, the Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider wasted little time and led the opening couple of laps but he was eventually reeled in by McGuinness, who took his 17th TT race win.
Martin didn't feel he could have done any more and will leave the Isle of Man satisfied, and highly motivated to go one better next year.
“I led the first couple of laps of a Senior TT so I can sleep happy tonight. We had great pit stops and I had the focus and drive, but that was as much as I could give out there today. I hit all my apexes, got on the throttle when I should have and the only places I lost time was late in the race passing backmarkers, as it took me a bit of time getting back up to speed. By heck I couldn’t believe the attention I got out there with people shouting and waving at me all around the circuit. I could actually hear it through my ear plugs!”
“The job was really going all right and the bike never missed a beat so I’m a happy camper. I still haven’t won one. I’m trying, but I’m glad I was able to push John today and I’ll just have to come back next year and beat him won’t I?”
Team manager Philip Neill was proud of the effort from the whole squad, including the rider who ended the week with four podium finishes.
“What a fantastic end to a very successful TT for TAS Racing and all our sponsors. I would personally like to thank each and every one of our sponsors, as without their support we just would not be here. Our objective in racing is always to try and win, however this is the TT and just to finish a race is an achievement in itself. So to come away with four podiums from five races and a second place in the Senior TT is very pleasing and testament to the effort put in by our whole team, the Suzuki machinery and of course Guy himself.”
The Senior TT is the event's blue riband race and although they missed out on victory, Neill knew that it had taken a special performance to beat them.
“It was one of the most exciting and close Senior TT races for some time and to hear the fans cheer for Guy when he was leading was unbelievable. Although it would have been great to have won, our consolation is a 131mph lap and being beaten by one of the greatest riders in TT history.”
“We will now look forward to returning to our BSB campaign and selecting some further outings for Guy later in the season. After that we can prepare for next year’s TT where we will work even harder at getting our hands on that Senior TT winner’s trophy.”
