GUY MARTIN AND SUZUKI STORM SOUTHERN 100

Guy Martin and Tyco Suzuki today lifted the coveted Manx Gas Solo Championship title in spectacular fashion at the Southern 100 Road Races on the Isle of Man.

During the feature race, GSX-R1000-mounted Martin shadowed his main rivals Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop for five of the eight laps around the 4.25-mile circuit, before edging ahead to take his second career Solo Championship victory and a new absolute lap record in the process.

Martin's lap time of two minutes and 13.923 seconds upped the absolute lap record to an astonishing 114.245mph on lap five. The Tyco Suzuki rider also set a new lap record in the Supersport class on Wednesday night with a lap speed of 110.306mph aboard his GSX-R600, only losing top spot on the podium by 0.077sec. Martin also recorded second and third-placed finishes in the Superbike support races on Tuesday and Wednesday.


Guy Martin:

"I'm delighted for the boys and everyone involved with the team. I always knew I could do it when we got things bang on and today we've got things bang on. There was no re-inventing the wheel; it was just Danny, Mark and me and this morning we were cutting the grass and having a brew - no stress. But we've proved today that it's not a fluke. We caught him [Dunlop], passed him; took the win and the lap record. I said yesterday that I didn't mind coming last in those first two Superbike races to win the big one and that's what we've done. Suzuki is the bike to be on as we've shown this week, and as for the Metzeler tyres - they were as good on the last lap as they were on the first. Bang on 100%, boy. I'm now looking forward to running the number 1 plate when we return next year. I think we deserve a beer tonight, don't you?!"

Philip Neill - Team Manager:

"They say you are only as good as your last race and that's the race we really wanted to win. Everyone knows how much Guy loves the Southern 100 Races and for him to come away with the main Superbike race and lap records in both Supersport and Superbike classes is thoroughly deserved, and testimony to both Guy and the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R machinery. A massive well done to Guy and thanks to the boys for their efforts. It's nice to give our title sponsor Tyco Security Products and all our other associated sponsors a top notch victory on the roads; not to mention the many fans and supporters we have."

Manx Gas Solo Championship Race (8 laps of the 4.25 Billown Circuit):

Champion: Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki) 18min: 07.864s;
2 Michael Dunlop (Honda) +0.5sec;
3 Dean Harrison (Kawasaki) +18sec;
4 Jamie Hamilton (Kawasaki) +17sec;
5 Ian Lougher (Honda) +10sec;
6 Russ Mountford (Kawasaki) +25sec.




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