Martin and McGuinness team up for TT

Honda’s European arm has announced an exciting two-rider line-up for its 2017 Road Racing assault at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT in the Superbike classes. Re-signing for the Honda Racing team is TT legend John McGuinness who will be joined by Guy Martin on the all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.

Making his return to racing after a year away, fan favourite Guy Martin will form a formidable team with John McGuinness and the brand new Fireblade SP2 on the roads this coming northern hemisphere season. Martin has enjoyed huge success on the roads during his career, securing wins at various races including the Ulster GP, Scarborough Gold Cup, Armoy, Cookstown and also the Southern 100. He has also stepped on the TT podium 15 times and will be chasing his elusive maiden TT win with the Honda Racing team.

“Neil [Tuxworth] has been talking to me for a while about joining the team but I had a lot of thinking to do before I committed and said yes, Said Martin. “I spent a lot of time on my push bike to and from work, thinking about what to do. I didn’t want to grow old regretting not giving the Honda a go and the more time passes since making the decision, the more time I’ve thought it is the right decision. Honda is a great team and the Fireblade has always been a weapon on the roads so, with the new bike, I‘m keen to give it a go.”

Meanwhile, McGuinness will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 23 TT wins and, riding the new Fireblade SP2, will also be aiming to recapture his lap record which was broken during last year’s race.

“I’m back with Honda for another year.  Really, I’m part of the family, and I can’t wait to see what the new Fireblade SP2 can do! He said. (you and us both, John!) I have a lot of history and good memories with that bike but testing the new model can’t come soon enough and neither can the race season. I’m excited to have Guy as my new team-mate.

The Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade is the most successful 1000cc machine ever at the Isle of Man TT and Honda aims to add to its remarkable record with the new SP2 version, which is the ultimate expression of the Fireblade’s Next Stage Total Control concept.

The SP2 is a road legal homologation special, based on the Fireblade SP, that is specifically developed for racing and features a revised cylinder head with larger valve sizes and lightweight Marchesini wheels for even greater performance.

The all-new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 will make its road racing debut at the North West 200 in May.