Roads: Guy Martin in shock TT return with Honda Racing

Guy Martin will make a sensational return to road racing in 2017 after signing a shock deal to join 23-times TT winner John McGuinness in the Honda Racing squad.

The 35-year-old, who opted against racing on the roads in 2016 in favour of competing in the gruelling 2745-mile Tour Divide mountain bike race, is set to return to the iconic Isle of Man mountain course this year, as well as a number of other international and national road races, aboard Honda’s all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.

READ MORE ON GUY’S SHOCK TT RETURN

• Roads: Guy Martin returns to TT with Honda Racing
• Video: Guy on why he’s coming back to the TT
• Roads: McGuinness: ‘New Blade will close gap to Hutchy and Dunlop’
• In this week’s issue: Guy signs for Honda

“I’ve got a bit of unfinished business with the bikes,” Martin told MCN in an exclusive interview at Honda Racing’s workshop in Louth. “You can’t say I’m making a comeback because I was never away. I did race motorbikes last year; it was just a bit of dirt track!

“I’m riding because I just like riding. I’m there to do the job. Of course I want to bloody win and if I wasn’t in with a chance of winning I wouldn’t be there. I’m going to the TT to win, not to dawdle around and make the numbers up, but everything needs to be right.”

In order to chase that elusive win, Martin has decided to take a different approach to racing the roads as he makes a return in 2017, treating racing as a job rather than a hobby. 

“I’ve always looked at racing as a hobby, but I’ve come to the conclusion now that I’ve been racing as a hobby and done half alright, but if I want to do better than that I have to dedicate my life to it. This is a job now.”

Martin will first ride the new Fireblade at Honda’s pre-season test in Spain in March before heading to Castle Combe for final preparations ahead of his first competitive outing in May’s North West 200. He is also confirmed to be competing at the Southern 100 and Ulster Grand Prix in Honda colours. 

Read the full, exclusive interview with Guy in this week’s MCN. 

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