Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin kick-starts his 2013 road racing campaign at the Ian Watson Spring National Cup meeting at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.

Martin heads the line-up on the TAS Racing GSX-R1000 and GSX-R600 machines, where the Lincolnshire star starts as the big favourite given his superb record at the English circuit.

Martin, who will compete at the KDM Hire Cookstown 100 in Co Tyrone as the Irish national season blasts off, won the prestigious Gold Cup for an eighth time in September.

The 31-year-old wrapped up his 2012 season on a high at Oliver’s Mount as he won five of the six races and Martin will be hopeful of picking up where he left off.


His key opposition includes Dromara-based Ian Lougher, who is preparing to embark on an incredible 31st season.

The 50-year-old will have his first outings on the WA Corless/Jackson Racing Honda machines he will ride at the NW200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix this year.

Lougher also has a 125cc Replicast UK Honda plus a 250cc Peter Berwick Yamaha at his disposal.

Northern Ireland is represented by Lisburn man Michael Pearson, who will ride the Team Hotties BMW S1000RR and Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Superbike and 600cc classes, plus a Kawasaki ER6 for Rob Lee in the Supertwin races.

Last year’s best newcomer at the Isle of Man TT - Jamie Hamilton - will be in action for Ryan Farquhar’s Vauxhall KMR Kawasaki outfit, riding a Superstock ZX-10R, a ZX-6R and an ER6 Supertwin.

He is joined in the KMR colours for the Supertwin class by James Cowton and Connor Behan, while Saintfield man Davy Morgan takes a full stable of machines to Scarborough, including a 1000cc Honda and Yamaha R6.

Up and coming prospect Sam Wilson will ride a Yamaha R6 as he lays the foundations for his debut appearances at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT.

However, Wilson has opted to leave his 125cc Honda at home.

“To be honest it’s not a circuit I really like and the 125 was a bit flat around there last year, so I’ve just decided to take the R6 for a run out,” he said.

“It’ll be a chance to get some more time on the bike and it’s really just a bit of a warm-up before the Cookstown 100.”

Bradford’s Dean Harrison will fancy his chances of upstaging top gun Martin as he rides a Kawasaki ZX-10R plus a Yamaha R6 at Oliver’s Mount, with Jamie Coward and Ben Wylie adding quality in depth.

Veteran Chris Palmer is a top contender in the smaller capacity classes.

An impressive Sidecar entry includes TT star Dave Molyneux and Patrick Farrance.




Kyle White

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