By Phil Wain
June 14 2005

Kirmington’s Guy Martin took his first ever TT podium in the final race of the 2005 festival, to complete what was a truly superb week on the Isle of Man for the 23-year old. Third place came in the six-lap Senior race, the blue riband event, and meant that the Uel Duncan Racing took five top-six finishes from five races in what was only his second TT.

Race week got off to a great start with sixth place in Sunday’s postponed TT Superbike race, and this was backed up the next day with the same position in the three-lap Superstock race, although this would have been fourth had it not been for a 10-second stop-box penalty. The two Supersport Junior TT’s yielded a fourth and a fifth before the final day rostrum. After a terrific battle with good friend Martin Finnegan, Guy took third place in the Senior by just 1.3 seconds after putting in his fastest ever lap, 126.481mph, on the sixth and final lap.

After a truly memorable fortnight on the Island, a delighted Guy commented: “I really wanted to take a win this year, but I realised I wasn’t quite ready for it so to take the podium in only my second year at the TT is like a dream come true. I was a little disappointed after the second 600cc race, as I thought this would be my best chance, but the big bike never missed a beat and worked perfectly throughout. My signals kept saying ‘P3 +0’ so I just concentrated on keeping everything as smooth as possible and fate did the rest.”

He added: “I think I made up a bit of time through the 32nd, Windy Corner and 33rd as I pushed hard through that section, and to end the week with five top-six finishes from five starts is great. I was the only rider to achieve this and that, along with sharing the podium with two great riders like John McGuinness and Ian Lougher, makes me feel very proud. I’ve got to say a massive thank you to Johnny, my Dad and Gareth, who did a great job at every pit stop, and for Uel and everyone connected with the team who made have been behind me all the way.”

Guy will now have a well earned three weeks’ rest before taking to the roads once more on the weekend of 2nd-3rd July, when he aims to regain the Cock o’ the North title at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.