Isle of Man TT: Guy Martin gets rousing reception

TT favourite Guy Martin had fans in stitches in the packed Villa Marina, Douglas at the 2008 TT launch with his usual fast-talking, collection of eclectic thoughts.

Martin had crashed his van on the way to work on Saturday morning, two days earlier, which meant he missed some of the pre-launch photo shoots but he was there, larger than life as usual, for the main function.

After being warned to avoid any bad language as the stage show was being aired live on Manx Radio, the Hydrex Honda rider launched into tales of van crashing.

Guy Martin still works as a tuck fitter for his dad’s company and that means most of his work is at weekends when the trucks are not being used – hence the 5am Saturday start.

Martin said: “I’m laughing about it now but it wasn’t funny at the time. Look I’ve been brought up in Lincolnshire and bloody and buggers are alright.

“Anyway it was five am and I’m on my way to work in the van, cup of tea on the go. I’m nithered (Lincolnshire-speak for freezing cold apparently!) and I’m scraping the windscreen, listening to Janice on Radio 2.

“Bloody ‘ell I can’t see a thing so I’m thinking I’ve gotta’ stop and do this properly and the next thing I know is that I’m down a ditch and into a field.

“I’m foot to the board as usual, the tea leaves the cup and hits the roof of my van. It’s two minutes past five. I’m nithered and now I’m covered in tea.”

The van survived the ordeal with little more than a dented inner wing and a scratch on the bumper. Martin seemed more concerned about the tea stain.

Desperate to get him talking about the Isle of Man TT, the next question is about last year’s races.

“Yeah, I’m bloody pissed off not to have won a TT. Excuse my French as my dad would say. I thought it was my time.

“I’ve thought it was my time since the start but I’ve still not won a bugger.

“End of the day, I wasn’t quick enough so I guess I’ve got to get my finger outta’ my backside this year. Now should be the right time for a bit of winning!”

The Hydrex team are well on with building their new Honda Fireblades, and Martin seemed keen to talk up the work being done by Mick Shanley and the rest of the team.

Martin added: “Nothing on our bike is factory. It’s all homebrewed – all done in Lincolnshire.

“There’s not lot else going for the place, is there? But all credit to the boys.

“If I get my finger out we’ll win a TT and it’ll all be down to the them!”

With that Guy Martin was given a huge reception and then settled down to signing a pile of autographs.