Honda's TT Dream Team

A few weeks ago I caught up with my good friend John McGuinness at the new Fireblade launch. The talk quickly turned to this year’s TT and John’s new Honda team mate Guy Martin…

I HAD THE PLEASURE of sitting down for a chat with 23-times TT winner John McGuinness at the recent Honda Fireblade launch. Not only did I ask him about the new Blade and how well he thinks it will suit the rigours of the TT, but also what he thinks about having Guy Martin as his team-mate…

‘I certainly didn’t see it coming,’ McGuinness said of Martin’s shock TT return. ‘I was on my way to the team launch and was still wondering, “Is it going to be Michael Rutter? Michael Dunlop? Josh Brookes or maybe even Jenny Tinmouth?” So I just didn’t see it coming, it’s a master stroke by Neil Tuxworth and Honda.

‘If Guy wins a TT I think there’ll be a national holiday on the Isle of Man, because everybody wants him to do it. But even if he doesn’t win it’s still good for the sport. I believe if he puts his mind to it, he can win races. He’s led races before, but I think after four or five laps he starts thinking about Scania trucks and loses concentration.’