Martin was unveiled as John McGuinness’s new team-mate amidst a blaze of publicity in January, but just over six months later it seems the Lincolnshire man has had enough.
The 35-year-old did never completed an international road race on the new Honda Fireblade SP2 at the North West 200 or Isle of Man TT and in a statement on his official Facebook page, Martin said he did not join Honda Racing to ‘develop a bike over months and years’.
“I soon realised that it needed a lot of developing and it will be great but it needs time and I’ve got loads of other projects going on, that I’d rather use that time for. I didn’t get involved to develop a bike over months and years: I was told I’d have a bike capable of winning straight away and that’s why I couldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“TT was a bloody disaster; aside from walking the dog and racing the Mugen, I didn’t enjoy it. It was clear even before that we were going to struggle and then it turned into me really being a test rider, which I did but after we did more testing at Cadwell a few weeks back, I said to the team the bike won’t be competitive at the Ulster Grand Prix.
“So I’ve not given up on racing or road racing, there’s no unfinished business and I want to race classics and oddball stuff. All I’ve been thinking about recently is Pikes Peak and any spare time my brain has had is about Pikes Peak on four wheels. That job is down to me and if it doesn’t work, it’s my fault and I like that.”
Martin said there was ‘no bad feeling’ over his failed stint as a Honda rider and said it was a shame the venture had not worked out.
“So there’s no bad feeling. Neil Tuxworth has been upfront with me from the start and it’s a shame for everyone that the new bike hasn’t worked. I know how much effort I put in and so do the team, so no regrets but I’ve got no plans to do anymore road racing on the Hondas this year.
“Nigel Racing Corporation’s (NRC) current plans are preparation for Pikes Peak and classic racing but the plans can change with the wind.
Martin crashed at high-speed in the Superbike race at the TT and was fortunate to escape serious injury. A false neutral was declared as the cause of the crash, which occurred at the fast Doran’s Bend. However, Martin pulled out of the blue riband Senior race.
At the North West 200 in May, McGuinness broke his leg in a spill during qualifying at Primrose Corner. The Morecambe rider said his Honda Superbike did not slow when he rolled the throttle on the approach to the left-hand bend.
Speaking after finishing as the runner-up in the TT Zero race on the Mugen, Martin’s frustration was clear for all to see and it seemed the writing was already on the wall.
“With what has gone on this week, I’m sick to the back teeth with it to be honest. The only good thing I can drag out of it is the whole Mugen thing,” he said.
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