Guy Martin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guy Martin
Martin at the 2014 Bol d'Or
Nationality	British
Born	(1981-11-04) 4 November 1981 (age 43) Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England
Motorcycle racing career statistics Isle of Man TT career TTs contested 14 (2003–2015, 2017) TT wins 0 Podiums 17

Guy Martin (born 4 November 1981) is a British former motorcycle racer and a skilled heavy vehicle mechanic. He is also well-known as a television presenter. Guy stopped racing motorcycles professionally in July 2017.

Guy started racing in 1998. In 2004, he competed for the first time at the famous Isle of Man TT road race. He has achieved an amazing 17 podium finishes at TT events, meaning he placed in the top three many times. He has broken his back twice in racing accidents, once at the 2010 TT and again at the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix.

In August 2017, Guy even joined the Formula 1 car team Williams as part of their pit-crew for the Belgian GP. He returned to road racing in May 2019 at the Tandragee 100 in Northern Ireland.

Guy starred in Closer to the Edge, a 2011 documentary about TT racing. Since then, he has hosted many TV shows about engineering. His Channel 4 series Speed with Guy Martin saw him set speed records in all sorts of vehicles. He has also written four books and competed in mountain bike races.

Guy Martin: Speed and Adventure

Early Life and Family

Guy Martin was born on 4 November 1981 in a suburb of Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. He was named Guy after Guy Gibson, a famous pilot from No. 617 Squadron RAF. His father, Ian, was also a successful motorbike racer. Ian competed in several Isle of Man TT events. To earn more money, he worked as a lorry mechanic and sold bikes. Guy's mother, Rita Kidals, had Latvian family roots. Her father came to Britain in 1947 as a political refugee. Soon after Guy was born, his family moved to a house outside Grimsby, where they still live.

Guy has two sisters and a brother. His brother, Stuart, is also a truck mechanic and motorbike racer. His younger sister, Kate, was the first female mechanic in the British Superbike paddock. Guy and his siblings went to every Isle of Man TT race since they were born. This stopped when their father crashed his Yamaha FZ750 at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough in 1988. Guy was 7 years old then. After recovering from a broken hip, his father stopped racing. He then worked as a mechanic for classic bikes.

Guy went to Kirmington Church of England Primary School and The Vale Academy school. He left school when he was 16.

Career as a Mechanic

Guy showed interest in working on trucks from a young age, around 12 years old. As a child, he loved engines and would take apart lawnmowers to make them faster.

After school, he started a motor vehicle engineering course at North Lindsey College. But he soon realized he preferred hands-on work with pay. So, he got an apprenticeship as a truck fitter with a Volvo center called John Hebb Volvo. He also worked for his father, who ran his own truck maintenance business. Later, filming for a TV show meant he lost his job with his father. But he immediately found another truck job in town. He currently works for Moody International, a Scania center in Grimsby. He only takes short breaks for racing or TV work.

Guy also tunes other racers' bikes in the evenings to earn extra money. He takes on casual work during TT race weeks too. He even got a tractor through a TV deal. He uses it on biomass farms for seasonal muck-spreading at night.

Racing Journey

While training as a lorry mechanic, Guy raced motorbikes in his free time. He returned to the Isle of Man when he was 16. He heard a lorry driver and amateur racer, Baz Kirk, talking about racing in the 1997 Manx Grand Prix. Guy's father offered him the chance to help Baz as a race mechanic.

Guy decided to start racing after a crash on public roads when he was 18. He moved to Ireland to join Team Racing. In 2004, he moved to the Uel Duncan Racing team and stayed until 2005. In 2006, Guy raced for Alistair Flanagan's AIM Yamaha team. He replaced John McGuinness. Looking for a more competitive team, Guy joined Hydrex Honda for the 2007 season.

At the end of 2009, Guy left Hydrex for Wilson Craig Honda, based in Northern Ireland. Since November 2010, Guy has raced for TAS Racing. This team is run by the Neill family and has a long history with the TT. This move to a factory team meant he no longer tuned his own bikes. At TAS, he simply rode bikes that were already prepared.

Guy signed a new deal for 2015 with TAS. The team partnered with BMW Motorrad, and Guy rode the BMW S1000RR alongside William Dunlop. Guy was ready to retire if TAS hadn't switched to BMW. He felt he had pushed the Suzuki as hard as he could. With the new bike, he rode his fastest ever lap of the TT circuit in June 2015. He reached 132.398 mph (213.074 km/h), just outside the outright lap record.

Guy had a serious crash in the Dundrod 150 Superbike event in August 2015. This was part of the Ulster Grand Prix races. After the crash, Guy only got back on his racing motorbike in March 2016. This was for filming an F1 special for his Speed series.

Since 2011, he has also gotten into bicycle racing, competing in 24-hour events. For the 2016 season, Guy decided not to race in the TT for the first time in 11 years. He chose a mountain bike race instead. He wasn't sure if this meant he would retire from road racing or mountain bike racing. But he said "if I do race on the roads it will be with TAS".

Guy signed a new deal with Honda Racing on 18 January 2017. He would ride the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2. This brought back his goal to win the Isle of Man TT. It also renewed his focus on road racing.

2010 TT Crash

In the final race, the Senior TT, Guy was trying to stop Ian Hutchinson from winning all the races. But Guy was involved in a major crash on the third lap at Ballagarey. He had been leading the race just before his first pit stop.

Looking back at the crash in 2012, Guy said he had been pushing too hard. He went into the corner at 160–170 mph. He knew he was going beyond the safe limit to win. He remembered being thrown from the bike. He thought he wouldn't survive hitting a wall at high speed. He believes it was luck that he hit it at the right angle and got away with it.

He was flown to Noble's Hospital in Douglas with chest injuries. Doctors later found bruising to both lungs and small fractures in his upper spine.

2015 Ulster GP Crash

Guy crashed at high speed while leading the 2015 Dundrod 150 Superbike race. This was part of the Ulster GP in August. On the final lap, with Bruce Anstey close behind, Guy went off the course at Ireland's Corner. He fractured bones in his back, his chest bone, several ribs, and his throttle hand. He needed steel rods in his back and a pin in his hand. He left the hospital four days later.

He had no memory of the crash. Watching footage of it later confirmed his suspicion. He had been pushing hard for a perfect corner because of pressure from Anstey. He said that while other accidents looked worse, this one caused the most damage. A TV show also showed his recovery at home. He used ice bath treatments in an outdoor pool to ease the pain, which was affecting his sleep.

Television Career

Guy first caught the eye of TV producers in 2009. He appeared in an ITV4 show for fans of that year's TT race. A film producer, Andy Spellman, filmed Guy at the TT. Spellman shot more test footage of Guy at home that summer. The head of North One Television showed these clips to a BBC executive.

Guy worked with North One Television producers James Woodroffe and Ewan Keil. He still works with them today. Guy's first TV documentaries were about his love for engineering. These were The Boat that Guy Built on the BBC in 2011 and How Britain Worked on Channel 4 in 2012. His thrill-seeking side later came out with Speed with Guy Martin. This series first aired on Channel 4 in 2013. Guy doesn't like presenting to the camera or using a script. He prefers to speak freely and answer questions from the crew off-camera.

He later turned down an offer from Chris Evans to join the new presenting team of the BBC's car show, Top Gear.

Selected TV Shows

Guy has hosted many TV shows. Here are some of them:

• The Boat that Guy Built (2011): Guy and a friend fix up a narrowboat. They travel on canals and learn about inventions from the Industrial Revolution.
• How Britain Worked (2012): Guy explores important engineering advances from the Industrial Revolution. He tries out old working methods.
• Speed with Guy Martin (2013-2016): Guy attempts to set various speed records using different vehicles.
• Guy Martin's Spitfire (2014): Guy helps restore a Supermarine Spitfire plane that was buried in a French beach for 46 years.
• Our Guy In India (2015): Guy takes a 1000-mile motorbike trip across India.
• Guy Martin: Last Flight of the Vulcan Bomber (2015): Guy follows the final flights of the Avro Vulcan jet bomber, XH558.
• Our Guy in Latvia (2015): Guy travels to Latvia to learn about his family's history. His grandfather was a refugee from World War II.
• Guy Martin's Wall of Death: Live (2016): Guy tries to set a world speed record on a Wall of Death attraction.
• Our Guy in China (2016): Guy explores the innovation and manufacturing in China.
• Guy Martin's WWI Tank (2017): Guy helps build a working replica of a WWI Mark IV tank.
• Our Guy in Russia (2018): Guy explores Russia and visits Chernobyl.
• Guy Martin: World's Fastest Tractor (2019): Guy attempts to build the world's fastest tractor.

Writing

Guy Martin has written several books about his life. His autobiography, Guy Martin: My Autobiography, came out on 8 May 2014. It became a No. 1 bestseller. This was followed by Guy Martin: When You’re Dead, You’re Dead, released in October 2015. It covered the previous year in a diary style. In October 2016, Guy Martin: Worms to Catch was released. He has also published We Need to Weaken the Mixture (2019) and Dead Men Don't Tell Tales (2022).

Guy is also listed as the author of books that go with some of his TV shows. These include How Britain Worked (2012) and Speed (2013).

He also writes for the driving section of The Sunday Times newspaper. He has reviewed cars and written about his own vehicles and TV shows.

Speed Records

Guy Martin has set several speed records:

In July 2015, it was confirmed that Guy would try to set a new motorcycle land speed record for Triumph Motorcycles. The record at the time was 376.363 mph (605 km/h). The attempt was planned for August at Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States. Guy's August 2015 crash at the Ulster GP caused the attempt to be delayed until September 2016.

Guy's attempt to set a new two-wheeled world land speed record was called off. This was due to conditions on the course. The special 400 mph motorcycle faced several problems at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The streamliner tipped over when it hit a rut in the track. This happened while it was being towed to the start line. Triumph said rain made it impossible to get the right surface consistency. This was needed across the 11-mile course for the attempt. On 18 September 2016, Guy had hoped to complete a required 300 mph trial run. Then he would try to set a new world record.

A mile into the run, the machine lost grip on the damp surface. It veered off course and tipped over. Guy was confirmed to be "completely uninjured". The record attempt was postponed again.

Views and Personality

Work Ethic

Guy says his strong work ethic comes from his father's example. He has also kept his truck mechanic job partly for the financial security it offers. He calls it "like an ingrained, default setting". He puts his mechanic job first, even canceling TV filming if needed. He also looks for casual work to relax during TT events.

Television and Fame

Guy is not comfortable being a public figure. He doesn't see himself as a celebrity. He turned down offers like the "Star In A Reasonably Priced Car" segment on Top Gear. After struggling with the fame from his media work, Guy was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. About this, he says, "It hasn't changed anything, it just confirms why I do certain things in a certain way." He would be happy if nobody watched his shows. This would mean he would never be recognized. He tries to deal with fame by avoiding crowded places. He prefers to live in his van while racing or filming.

He doesn't see TV work as a job itself. He wouldn't miss it if it ended. He sees it as a way to do things he couldn't otherwise. It gives him valuable information and experiences from the people he meets. He often turns down TV offers if they don't interest him. He fears seeming fake if he became a full-time presenter. He has only watched one of his shows, the Pike's Peak episode of Speed. He watched it only because a friend recommended it.

Racing and Thrill Seeking

Guy followed his father into motorcycle racing. But he makes it clear it was his own choice. His father never pushed him. His love for the TT started at age 16. That's when Baz Kirk invited him back to the island. He has raced in track events. But he is drawn to road racing, especially the TT, because they are dangerous. He hopes to win a TT before the event is banned for safety reasons. He says, "I like a bit of danger. I haven't got a death wish but it makes things exciting, doesn't it?". He likes reaching 200 mph all the time in road races. He also likes their unforgiving nature. He believes series like MotoGP or Superbikes don't offer this.

He knows the risks. He wouldn't regret dying in a race. But he is ready to push beyond the limit to win. The danger feeds his need to feel in control. He admits he would be lucky to live to age 60. His major crashes in 2010 and 2015 haven't changed his view. He described the moment before losing control in the 2010 crash as priceless. It was the ultimate feeling of danger. He wants to go fast and get close to death, but also walk away. He denies being reckless. He believes everything he does is calculated. He trains hard for dangerous activities. This way, he feels in control and can even enjoy the experience. His TV producer agrees, saying "he's not stubborn, or reckless, he's calculating". This mix of speed and danger was part of why he did his Speed series.

He never wanted to race motorbikes full-time. He thought he would get tired of them. He liked being able to point to his amateur status to professionals. This gave him an excuse when he lost and a way to brag when he won. He chose cycling over the TT in 2016. He felt he was getting too old to compete properly. After 11 seasons at the TT, the motorcycle season routine was becoming boring. He doesn't find cycling as thrilling as motorbikes. But he likes the isolation it offers. He also likes the equal physical and mental challenge. This feeds a new desire to push himself for the sense of achievement.

Mountain Bike Racing and Pedal Cars

Guy Martin has successfully raced mountain bikes. He has competed in cross country, downhill, and endurance races. In June 2011, after two years of training, he raced in the Salzkammergut Trophy in Austria. He finished in 14 hours and 40 minutes. He was the first British non-professional rider to finish. He achieved a podium-finish in a 2013 British Championship event in Fort William, Scotland.

He placed second in the male solo rider category at the Strathpuffer 24-hour mountain bike race. This happened in both 2014 and 2015.

Martin racing an Apollo racing pedal car at Shenington

Guy achieved a goal by competing in the 2016 Tour Divide mountain bike race. This race goes from Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. It crosses the Rocky Mountains. He started on 11 June. He finished the course in 18 days, six hours, and 23 minutes. He averaged about 150 mi (240 km) a day.

Guy also raced as part of a Pedal Car Racing team. This was in the 24-hour, 2015 British Pedal Car Championship event. It took place at the Shenington Kart circuit on 27/28 June. He was part of the Team JMC/Hope Factory Racing Team.

He also competed in the 2019 Arizona Trail Race (AZTR). However, he struggled to finish. He said, "I was looking for something to break me, and this did." He averaged 25–30 mi (40–50 km) a day. This shows how much he struggled compared to the Tour Divide's 150 miles.

Personal Life and Interests

Guy Martin lives in North Lincolnshire with his partner Sharon and their daughter Dottie.

In 2017, Guy bought the pub in his home village. Guy later sold the pub. It is now owned by his elder sister. There is no Guy Martin memorabilia at the pub anymore.

Personal Machinery

Guy owned a Merlin aero engine from a 1942 Lancaster bomber. He also had a Scania 144 530 truck engine. He has a 1915 Amanco Chore Boy stationary engine with its original low tension magneto in his kitchen.

Guy owns a 2013 Ford Transit van and a unique Volvo Vöx supercar. The van is for everyday transport. The Vöx is only for special occasions. However, he commutes to his truck job daily on his mountain bike. He has owned various Vauxhall Astra vans. But a bad one made him dislike them. He now trusts the reliability of the Transit. He drives it about 40,000 mi (60,000 km) a year.

He bought the Vöx in 2012 from Koenigsegg engineer Mattias Vöcks. It is based on a 1967 Volvo Amazon. Vöcks upgraded and customized it into an E85 biofuel-powered 788 bhp (588 kW) vehicle. Guy claims it has reached 205 mph (330 km/h) on a racetrack. The Vöx followed other high-performance cars Guy bought for special occasions. He only ever owned one at a time. Sometimes, he only owned his van. At age 21, he bought a BMW E46 M3 CSL. Then, at age 24, a Porsche GT3 RS. Next, a new BMW E92 M3 V8. Finally, before the Vöx, a 2010 Aston Martin V12 Vantage. He bought it new at age 28.

Guy also owns a large collection of bicycles and motorcycles, including a Bimota. For bicycles, he has owned a Raleigh Chopper, then a Raleigh Mustang, Falcon Fattrack. But he describes his first proper bike as a Whyte 46, bought in 2005. This was followed by an Orange 224, Scott Ransom 10, Alpine 160. He finally settled on a Cotic.

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 leads Dan Kneen and Michael Dunlop into Church Bends during the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Southern 100

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  Martin at Church Bends during the 2015 Southern 100.