Guy Martin capped off a tremendous first season with Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing by grabbing the final international Superbike race victory of the year at the Ulster Grand Prix in Northern Ireland today. Martin led from start-to-finish in the six-lap encounter where tyre-choice was an important part of the team’s strategy in inclement weather conditions, eventually taking the win by three seconds. The race-win made up for the team’s disappointment at being robbed of victory in the opening Superbike encounter: Despite taking the chequered flag as the first bike on the road after a titanic battle with Keith Amor and Gary Johnson, the victory was awarded to ‘Group B’ qualifier Bruce Anstey; the Kiwi taking advantage of an archaic ‘corrected time’ ruling from the second group on the road. Despite the disappointment, Martin was magnanimous in defeat. Earlier in the day, he posted second place in the Superstock race after a nip-and-tuck battle with eventual winner Michael Dunlop. Martin also posted fourth-and-fifth-placed finishes on the all-new GSX-R600 Suzuki in the Supersport encounters. Guy Martin: “I’m a ‘Happy Camper’ now I’ve got that win. After the first Superbike race, where I was just concentrating on trying to win on the road, I knew what I had to do in the last race and watch my board. It’s not ideal to take the chequered flag and lose; by ‘eck it’s bizarre if I’m honest, but those are the rules. I just couldn’t shake Keith off in the first race and it let Bruce gain time as he had clear track from the front of the second group. The other races were good enough… we weren’t far off in the Superstock race either. No one remembers a loser but everyone remembers the last winner of the year at the Internationals, so a good job all round from the team. Proper order… I’m well happy!” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “I have to admit I’m relieved that’s over. After a successful qualifying and having had Thursday’s Superbike race virtually in the bag before the red flag; then losing out in today’s first Superbike race on corrected time was a bit hard to take on-board. Yes, we were licking our wounds and feeling a ‘tad hard-done-by’, but that’s no disrespect to Bruce or the Padgett’s’ team. They just made the best of the bizarre rules that we normally see at national road races but really shouldn’t come into-play at an International event. “For Guy to then produce such a thrilling and dominant display in the final Superbike race is testament to his guts and determination and the victory was justice in our eyes. Both he and Michael Dunlop were also in a class of their own in the Superstock race, and although Guy was visibly-faster through the corners, Michael had a bit of an advantage on the straights – but what a race? It was a difficult day with the weather but the organisers did a good job and I’m sure it will make great viewing on TV.” Ulster GP Results: Superstock [6 laps – Damp]: 1 Michael Dunlop [Kawasaki] 21:15.901; 2 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +1.770sec; 3 Gary Johnson [Honda] +11.611; 4 Ian Lougher [Kawasaki] +11.701; 5 Keith Amor [Honda] +18.901; 6 Conor Cummins [Kawasaki] +23.888. Supersport 1 [5 laps – Dry]: 1 Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] 17.37.949; 2 William Dunlop [Honda] +0.340; 3 Bruce Anstey [Honda] +0.797; 4 Cameron Donald [Honda] +2.360; 5 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +4.027; 6 – John McGuinness [Honda] +19.455. Supersport 2 [6 laps – Dry]: 1 Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] 20:58.980; 2 William Dunlop [Honda] +0.825; 3 Cameron Donald [Honda] +1.359; 4 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +8.048; 5 Gary Johnson [Honda] +21.444; 6 Keith Amor [Honda] +23.151. Superbike 1 [5 laps – Dry]: 1 Bruce Anstey [Honda] 16:57.110; 2 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +4.824; 3 Keith Amor [Honda] +4.998; 4 Gary Johnson [Honda] +5.251; 5 William Dunlop [Honda] +5.607; 6 Cameron Donald [Honda] +6.868. Superbike 2 [6 laps – Damp]: 1 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 20:43.793; 2 Keith Amor [Honda] +2.956; 3 William Dunlop [Honda] +3.073; 4 Cameron Donald [Honda] +3.357; 5 Bruce Anstey [Honda] +4.103; 6 Gary Johnson [Honda] +21.896. More, from a press release issued by Honda TT Legends: Amor on the Ulster GP podium for Honda TT Legends The 2011 Ulster Grand Prix came to a thrilling conclusion today with a full schedule of races that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The Honda TT Legends contested both Superbike races, with Keith Amor securing two podium finishes for the team. After a red flag and re-start due to wet weather, the opening Superbike race finally went ahead in dry conditions just before 3.30pm. Honda TT Legends’ Keith Amor started from the front row and after a strong start he became embroiled in a fierce battle for first with Guy Martin. The pair swapped places throughout the shortened five-lap race, with Keith eventually crossing the line in second place on track. However, Bruce Anstey who started the race from the front row in the second wave of riders won the race on timings, forcing Martin into second and Amor into third. The second Superbike race of the day saw Amor in close contention for the podium spots with Martin, William Dunlop, Cameron Donald and Gary Johnson. By lap three Amor had dropped into fourth place but after a determined fight, he pushed his way back through the field to finish in second behind Martin. John McGuinness had a less fortunate day after a hole in his bike’s radiator forced him to retire from race one. Despite the team’s best efforts, the issue could not be repaired in time for the start of race two, but McGuinness still headed out from the pit lane at the back of the field and placed 17th. Keith Amor Race one was great. I led on and off on the road but I knew that if Bruce got a clear run he’d be hard to beat because he was starting from the second wave with nobody in front of him to mess it up. It was always going to be tough but it was really enjoyable. Guy and I were swapping paint and places pretty much every lap. The team did a great job changing the set up for the second race and it was shame that the conditions were iffy. I didn’t have the best tyre on for the job but I hung in there. I was in a battle with William and Cameron, which was enjoyable but Guy got away. It was just one of those days. Big thanks to Honda and Dunlop. John McGuinness I was really enjoying the first race it was ace. I was hanging in there and I was going as fast as the leaders but with a lap or two to go I had to stop. We later found out that it was a hole in the radiator. The team did a mega job repairing it but we were just a few minutes too late to get on the grid. I spoke to the organiser and said shall I just go out at the back of the pack and show the fans that we didn’t come here not to do our job. I actually enjoyed it a bizarre way, just riding round with no pressure I revved up the crowd a bit and it was good. It’s been a tough week though.