Guy Martin praised his Relentless Suzuki by TAS team after claiming a brace of podium finishes at the 2011 Isle of Man TT on Monday.
The Supersport race which started the day was red flagged on the second lap after what proved to be a tragic accident involving Derek Brien at Gorse Lea.
In the restarted race, Martin was always there or thereabouts with the front runners and the final lap retirement of Cameron Donald promoted him to third. The Lincolnshire man later admitted that the incident almost caught him out and was relieved to bring the GSX-R600 home in the top three.
“I couldn’t have taken the little 600 round there any faster today. When Cameron blew up in front of me I thought it was going to end in tears for both of us. I hit the kerb trying to get round him, but a podium is a good effort for us. We’ll change a few things and see what we can do on Wednesday.”
Martin led the evening's Superstock race in the early stages but couldn't match the lightning pace of Michael Dunlop who took victory by over 18 seconds with John McGuinness taking second after martin began to struggle in the closing stages.
Although he is still searching for his first TT race victory, Martin was delighted with two more podium finishes on Monday.
“In the Superstock race the early grip and stability was great and the bike was just mega. The whole job was coming easy enough and I wasn’t having to hang it out anywhere and I wasn’t bouncing off any kerbs! I started to struggle a little bit in the latter stages with grip and stability – what you’d expect I suppose – so I was just glad to get it home on the podium. It’s not a shabby job at all. I haven’t won one yet but it’ll come. This is a proper team effort and all the Relentless Suzuki by TAS boys are a great bunch of lads.”
Martin leaps during the Superstock race
Relentless Suzuki Manager Philip Neill added that the team were targeting victory but admitted they couldn't be disappointed with two podium finishes.
“Two podiums is a strong day for us. Yes we are here to win but overall you’ve got to be happy with podiums at the TT. All you can do is make your package competitive enough for a podium finish; after that it’s really down to the circumstances of the race.”
“A lot of things must be taken into consideration, but getting into a lengthy dice on the road didn’t help Guy’s chances of second place in the Superstock race. But that’s the way it goes sometimes, although it would make me consider our start numbers for next year. We used to dominate the Superstock class with the GSX-R1000 so it’s good to be back on the podium and also very pleasing to give the new GSX-R600 another international road racing podium, especially here at the TT.”
“We have a few more tweaks to do to the 600 for Wednesday and we’ll fit a new generator on the Superbike for Friday and look to end this TT on a positive note, but so far, it has not been so bad. I must also congratulate our former team member Bruce Anstey on his win in the Supersport class.”
Neill admitted though that the day was tainted with sadness, and paid tribute to Co. Meath's Derek Brien after the fatal crash in Supersport one.
“It’s been a long day obviously tainted with sadness, which is always the case when a competitor loses his life – so our thoughts and prayers are with Derek Brien’s family at this time.”
