Martin signs for Relentless Suzuki

Guy Martin has signed tor race for the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team in next year’s major road races.

The deal was finalised late on Sunday night and MCN was there at the team’s Moneymore-based workshops when Martin put pen to paper.

Martin’s priority will be the three international road races – the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster GP – but he’ll also race at the Southern 100, Scarborough Gold Cup, potentially one or two Irish nationals early in the year, and as many of the National Superstock championship rounds held at BSB meetings that he wants to do.

Martin initially contacted Relentless boss Philip Neill to see about running TAS-built Suzukis in his own team but it wasn’t long before the conversation steered to him joining the team itself.

“This is the best deal of my career,” said Martin. “There’s no more proven team than theirs. They’ve got 15 TT wins and while people will talk the talk about factory this and factory that, the TAS bikes are the real deal.”

Neill added: “I’m impressed by Guy’s commitment. He came to us looking for a ride. He initially came asking for bikes but it soon transpired that what he really wanted was to ride for our team. 

“On top of that he’s very fast and has the potential to win TT races. I hope we can help achieve that together.”

There’s still intense speculation over who Martin will have as a team-mate on the roads. TAS tested with Michael Dunlop only two weeks ago.

They’re still said to be in talks with him and Ian Hutchinson. And they still haven’t cut their ties with 2010 riders Cameron Donald and Bruce Anstey.

Full story in MCN on Wednesday, November 3