Guy Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guy Martin |
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Martin at the 2014 Bol d'Or
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| Nationality | British | ||||||||||
| Born | 4 November 1981 Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England |
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Guy Martin (born 4 November 1981) is a British heavy vehicle mechanic, television presenter, and former motorcycle racer. He became famous for his daring racing style and his down-to-earth personality. Although he retired from professional motorcycle racing in 2017, he is still a well-known public figure.
Martin began racing in 1998. He is especially known for competing in the Isle of Man TT, one of the world's most dangerous road races. He has stood on the podium 17 times at the TT but has never won a race there. Racing is a risky sport, and Martin has had serious accidents, including breaking his back twice.
Besides racing, Martin has starred in many TV shows. He appeared in the 2011 documentary TT3D: Closer to the Edge. He also hosted the Channel 4 series Speed with Guy Martin, where he tried to break speed records with different vehicles. He has also written several books about his life and adventures.
Contents
Early Life and Interest in Engines
Guy Martin was born in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. His father, Ian, was also a motorcycle racer and a truck mechanic. From a young age, Guy was surrounded by engines and bikes. He and his siblings went to every Isle of Man TT race until his father had a bad crash when Guy was seven years old.
Martin was always fascinated by how things worked. As a child, he would take lawnmowers apart to see if he could make them faster. After leaving school at 16, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps. He started an apprenticeship to become a truck mechanic.
Career
Mechanic and Work Ethic
Martin has always seen himself as a mechanic first. He works on trucks for a company in Grimsby. He says his dad taught him the importance of hard work.
He fits his racing and television work around his main job. He believes that being a mechanic gives him financial security. He often says his work as a mechanic is his top priority.
Motorcycle Racing Career
Martin started his racing career in 1998 while he was still an apprentice. He quickly moved from short circuits to road racing, which takes place on public roads that are closed for the race.
Racing Teams and Bikes
Over the years, Martin raced for several top teams. These include Hydrex Honda, Wilson Craig Honda, and the TAS Racing team. With TAS, he rode Suzuki and BMW motorcycles. Riding for a factory team meant he had professionally prepared bikes, so he could focus just on racing.
Isle of Man TT
The Isle of Man TT was the most important race for Martin. It is a very long and challenging course. In 2015, he recorded his fastest ever lap there, at an amazing average speed of 132.398 mph (213.074 km/h).
Serious Crashes
Road racing is very dangerous. In 2010, Martin had a huge crash at the TT. The bike burst into flames in a fireball. He was lucky to survive, but he broke bones in his back.
In 2015, he had another major crash at the Ulster Grand Prix. He again broke his back and needed steel rods to fix it. These accidents show how risky the sport can be.
Retirement
In January 2017, Martin signed with Honda to try and win the TT. However, after a difficult season with the new bike, he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing in July 2017. He said he was "bored" of the cycle of preparing and racing each year.
Television Presenter
Martin became a TV star almost by accident. Producers liked his honest and direct personality. His first show was The Boat that Guy Built in 2011.
He is best known for the series Speed with Guy Martin. In the show, he tried to break different speed records. For example, he tried to build the world's fastest toboggan and ride a motorcycle on water. He prefers to be himself on camera and doesn't use a script.
Martin is not comfortable with fame. He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which he says helps explain why he acts in certain ways. He has turned down famous shows like Top Gear because he doesn't see himself as a celebrity.
World Speed Records
Martin has set several official speed records. He enjoys pushing the limits of what is possible.
| Record | What He Used | Speed | Where |
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| Fastest speed on a gravity powered snow sled | A special sled he built | 134.368 km/h (83.492 mph) | Grandvalira, Andorra |
| Fastest speed in a soapbox | A gravity-powered cart | 137.78 km/h (85.61 mph) | Mont Ventoux, France |
| Highest speed on a Wall of Death | A motorcycle | 125.77 km/h (78.15 mph) | Manby Airfield, England |
| Fastest tractor | A modified tractor | 217.568 km/h (135.190 mph) | Elvington Airfield, England |
In 2016, he also tried to break the world motorcycle land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA. He was going to pilot a special streamlined motorcycle called the Triumph Rocket Streamliner. Unfortunately, bad weather and a small crash meant the attempt was called off.
Other Interests
Mountain Biking
Besides motorsports, Martin is a serious mountain bike racer. He competes in tough endurance races that last for 24 hours.
In 2016, he chose to compete in the Tour Divide, a very long mountain bike race in North America, instead of racing at the Isle of Man TT. The race covers over 2,700 miles from Canada to New Mexico. He finished it in just over 18 days.
Personal Machines
Martin loves collecting and working on engines. He owns a huge Merlin engine from a World War II Lancaster bomber. He also has a unique car called a Volvo Vöx. It looks like a classic 1967 Volvo Amazon but has been modified to be a supercar with 788 bhp (588 kW).
Personal Life
Martin lives in North Lincolnshire. He has a partner, Sharon, and they have a daughter. He used to own the local pub in his village but has since sold it.
Selected TV Shows
- The Boat that Guy Built (2011): Martin renovates a canal boat using old-fashioned techniques.
- How Britain Worked (2012): He explores the engineering of the Industrial Revolution.
- Speed with Guy Martin (2013–2016): He attempts to break various speed records.
- Our Guy in India (2015): A travel show where he rides a motorbike across India.
- Guy Martin's Wall of Death: Live (2016): He sets a world speed record on a Wall of Death.
- Guy Martin's WWI Tank (2017): He helps build a working replica of a Mark IV tank.
- Guy Martin: World's Fastest Tractor (2019): He builds and drives the world's fastest tractor.
Images for kids
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Guy after winning the 2007 Ulster Grand Prix Supersport race
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Martin at the 2010 Isle of Man TT
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Martin at the 2013 Isle of Man TT
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Martin at the 2013 Isle of Man TT
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Guy Martin (front) leads Dan Kneen and Michael Dunlop during the 2015 Southern 100.
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Martin at Church Bends during the 2015 Southern 100.
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Martin racing a pedal car at Shenington
