Guy Martin
Guy Martin
Guy Martin (born 4 November 1981) is a British lorry-mechanic better known publicly as a motorcycle racer turned television presenter of engineering-based projects, being likened to the late Fred Dibnah.Martin started racing in 1998 and in 2004 competed on a road circuit for the first time at the Isle of Man TT. He has a total of 17 podium finishes at TT events over several years. He has broken his back twice in racing accidents, in the 2010 TT and the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix. Following the Ulster Grand Prix accident, Martin decided to retire from motorcycle racing although he did not disclose the decision publicly. However, following numerous approaches by Honda Racing team manager Neil Tuxworth, Martin confirmed in January 2017 that he had signed for Lincolnshire-based Honda Racing as partner to 23-times TT winner John McGuinness for the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Southern 100 races.The campaign used the then-new version of the Honda Fireblade. After crashing heavily with gearbox trouble in the Superbike TT race, Martin gained a second-place finish in the TT Zero race for electrically-powered machines on the (Honda) Mugen. Martin returned to road racing in May 2019 at the Tandragee 100 in Northern Ireland.In August 2017, Martin joined Formula 1 car team Williams' pit-crew for the Belgian GP.Martin starred in Closer to the Edge, a 2011 documentary on TT racing. He has since presented programmes on various engineering topics and the Channel 4 series Speed with Guy Martin when he set speed records in a variety of human and engine powered vehicles. He has authored three books, and competed in mountain bike pedal-cycle races. His first job after leaving school was as a heavy vehicle mechanic, which he retained since, being unwilling to give it up for full-time racing and media.