Roads: McGuinness: 'No reason Guy won't be quick'

Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness has said there is no reason his new team-mate, fans’ favourite Guy Martin, won’t be quick as he makes his return to racing with the factory Honda squad this year.

After a year away from racing, Martin will return to the TT in 2017 having signed a deal with Honda as he thought that would be the best way of securing that elusive win.  

McGuinness wasn’t told who would be joining him in the Louth-based squad until ten minutes before he arrived at the workshop on Monday, leaving the 23-time TT winner shocked by the revelation.   

“I’ve been scratching my head these past few weeks thinking who my team-mate could be but I didn’t think they’d sign Guy!” he told MCN. “I certainly didn’t see that coming, but I’m quite excited by it; he’s someone who is totally different and I quite like people with personalities, people who are a bit quirky.

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 worked with Michael, Hutchy, Conor, I’ve had so many different team-mates and now Guy. It’s going to be very interesting. In the hour or so we’ve just been at the workshop I’ve spoken to him more than I have in 20 years of racing together. He jibbers on, I jibber on, we’re both bike fans and into cars and whatever else with engines in it. We’ll get on really well. 

“There’s no doubt he’s got the minerals, he’s been around there at 132mph and there aren’t many people who have done that. If he concentrates on his racing there is no reason he can’t be right at the sharp end.” 

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