The universal appeal of elite road racer Guy Martin has been underpinned by his inclusion in a leading sports poll.

Martin was the only sportsman outside football to break into popular broadcaster talkSPORT Radio’s top 10 personalities this month.

The 30-year-old, who is poised to pen a new deal to remain with Northern Ireland team Tyco Suzuki in 2012 for a second spell, joins soccer giants in the mould of Liverpool legend and current Anfield boss Kenny Dalglish, Manchester united icon Sir Alex Ferguson, Spurs’ manager Harry Redknapp plus Arsenal striker Robin van Persie in the survey.

The poll, the criteria for which was judged exclusively on personality, was topped by controversial Manchester City livewire Mario Balotelli.

Summarising Martin’s position in the top 10, the station said: “Martin is the Isle of Man TT racer who sounds like a cartoon northerner, looks like a 1970s Emmerdale character with his lamb chop ‘sideys’ and risks life and limb racing on the roads - a top man.”

Around three million people tune into talkSPORT – the largest national commercial sports radio station, owned by UTV – each month.

Martin, who ended this year’s road racing campaign with a victory in the second Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod in August, is arguably the world’s most recognised road racer.


His profile has been boosted by his appearance in the successful BBC documentary ‘The Boat that Guy Built’ and his starring role in the highly acclaimed movie TT3D: Closer to the Edge.

The Lincolnshire ace has yet to achieve his ambition of winning a TT, but in June he finished on the podium four times and gave modern-day master John McGuinness a run for his money in the early stages of the feature Senior race.

With a full season under his belt with TAS Racing, Martin will be aiming to build on the progress he made with the team in 2011 as he strives towards the TT in June, where a victory on the Mountain Course would be second in popularity only to a debut success by Manx favourite Conor Cummins.

Martin will be joined by British Superbike contender Alastair Seeley in the traditional blue and white Suzuki colours at the North West 200 in May.

There remains a possibility that Philip Neill will sign a second rider for the roads who would join Martin at the TT and Ulster GP in addition to the NW200, which is the only road race Seeley currently competes in.



Meanwhile, sales of TT3D: Closer to the Edge on Blu Ray and DVD, which features Martin plus top competitors Ian Hutchinson and John McGuinness, have exceeded expectations since it was launched at the end of November.

Over 60,000 copies were sold during the first week and the celebrated film, which catalogues the fortunes of racers during the 2010 TT, was a huge box office hit for producers CinemaNX, taking £1.25m and becoming the eighth highest-grossing documentary of all time in the UK.

Music kingpin Simon Cowell is also among the film’s fans, describing it is “incredible” on his Twitter account.

CinemaNX chairman Steve Christian said:

"The DVD release of TT3D: Closer to the Edge has exceeded all of our forecasts. First year sales forecasts are now being revised to be in the region of 200,000-plus units."

“This strong retail performance means that TT3D will get that vital shelf space in stores across the UK at the busiest time of the year. Given that we are competing against the Hollywood giants that is an incredible accomplishment for an independent film.”

It is anticipated that the success of the movie will lead to increased interest in the event next summer, when the organisers of the TT should benefit from a rise in visitors to the Island, which is great for the Island and the sport.

.

So what about Ian Hutchinson ??

He won 5 TTs then suffered an injury which could have cost him his leg...I think he deserves some recognition for his fight back to racing well again....

Also close to Ian comes Connor Cummins....His spectacular step-off and return to TT 2011 also deserves mention....

However they were accidents which we tend to sweep under the TT Carpet !

I see the quote above....."Martin is the Isle of Man TT racer who sounds like a cartoon northerner, looks like a 1970s Emmerdale character with his lamb chop ‘sideys’ and risks life and limb racing on the roads - a top man".............................George Formby lives again !!
......