Guy Martin News

Nothing can be more satisfying to a fan of motorcycle racing than seeing a rider rise to the top of popularity amid other sports.

This usually happens with the legends of MotoGP, such as Ducati's Valentino Rossi. But Isle of Man TT fans received a special treat this year when the UK's football radio talkSPORTS chose Guy Martin as one of the top 10 Sports Personalities of the Year.

Martin, who currently competes with Relentless Suzuki, was the only nomination outside of the football world, the IOMTT favorite mentioned next to UK football greats (OK, soccer here in the states) such as the winner Mario Balotelli, and Kenny Dalglish, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ian Holloway and Harry Redknapp.

Speaking of Guy Martin's vote, which was strictly based on personality, talkSPORTS radio said "By 'eck! Martin is the Isle of Man TT racer who sounds like a cartoon northerner, looks like a 1970s Emmerdale character with his lamb chop sideys and risks life and limb racing on the roads - a top man."

talkSPORTS radio is reportedly the UK's biggest national commercial sports radio station, which makes the award even more gratifying for Guy Martin and motorcycle racing fans around the globe.

Geoff Corkish (Isle of Man Tourism Political Member) says: "The TT Races profile is riding high again, which is good news for the event and the Island and it's great to see Guy getting support alongside the footballers. He is helping us to attract a new group of fans."

In the 2011 Isle of Man TT, Relentless Suzuki's Guy Martin didn't score his first IOMTT victory, but he did take four out of five podiums; Martin now has 13 podiums.

His best 2011 IOMTT podium was second in the Senior TT Race, which was won by Honda TT Legends rider John McGuinness.

He then took third-place Royal Londa 360 Superstock, Supersport and Supersport 2 races; he retired with bike problems in the 6-Lap Dainese Superbike race.