Fans favourite Guy Martin took a hard-fought Supersport victory at Saturday's KDM Hire Cookstown 100 Road Races in Northern Ireland on his Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600.
Martin also kept his one 100% podium record intact for 2013 - after winning last weekend's Scarborough Spring Cup - with a pair of second placed finishes in the Open and Superbike encounters at the County Tyrone venue in front of a sun-baked audience estimated at 15,000.
Unfortunately Tyco Suzuki team manager Philip Neill wasn't so lucky, breaking a collarbone and dislocating two fingers in an early morning Mountain Bike crash, but still arrived at the Orritor venue to enjoy the Supersport victory celebrations.Guy Martin:
"I knew I was comfortable in the Supersport race when I saw 'Plus Four' on my pitboard, but probably backed off a bit too much and let Dunlop back into the race, what with slowing down and a bit of a mistake. He's a good old boy and we had a good race but he did hit me on the last lap. I'm just glad I was able to hang in for the win. In that last Superbike race I really couldn't have given any more. I think I led for four laps and I also went under my old lap record, but I can't knock the man - I was just beaten by a slightly better rider on the day. We still have a few things we want to try with the Superbike before the North West but I've already spoken to Philip about them today and we're on it."
Philip Neill - Team Manager:
"It's our local race and we always enjoy being here and supporting the Cookstown and District Club. We come here for one reason and that's for a run out, but I think Guy put on a great show today - he rode hard. The Supersport win was a bit unexpected being up against a World Supersport specification bike, but all credit to Michael in the Cookstown 100 race. To break the lap record three times in one race - well there's not much you can say only congratulate the lad."
KDM Hire Cookstown 100: 1 Michael Dunlop (Honda); 2 Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki) +2.503sec; 3 Derek Sheils (Honda) +6.863. O2 Cookstown Open Race: 1 Michael Dunlop (Honda) 2 Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki) +3.904sec; 3 Derek Sheils (Honda) +8.719. Cookstown DC Supersport: 1 Guy Martin (Tyco Suzuki); 2 Michael Dunlop (Honda) 0.119sec; 3 Dean Harrison (Yamaha) +10.089.
