Guy Martin racing at Cookstown. Don’t hold your breath.

If you were hoping to see Guy Martin in action at the Cookstown 100, don’t get your hopes up. It has emerged that his entry provisional. In an official statement, Cookstown’s club chairman, John Dillion said: “Guy’s management team made contact with the club and explained that Guy’s entry was on a provisional basis and that although Guy fully intends to compete at Cookstown Road Races this year, he did not want to disappoint fans or the Cookstown Club in the event”

Following last month’s news that Guy Martin will be racing at the Cookstown 100 across the 26-27 April – the chairman of the Cookstown Motorcycle Club has made a statement clarifying that the Lincolnshire lorry-mechanic and TV presenter’s entry is provisional.

Martin received criticism last year after pulling out of the Irish national meeting just a few days before the event. He’d entered the Classic race with his BSA Rocket 3, but was forced to withdraw due to gearbox problems (as he didn’t have the time to source new parts). That’s why when the Cookstown 100 organisers issued a statement in March, revealing Martin had once again entered the race it was big news.

But it turns out that the ex-TT racer’s entry was submitted on a provisional basis. The Cookstown club chairman, John Dillon, has issued a statement to provide more clarity around Guy Martin’s possible participation.

He said: “As chairman of Cookstown Motorcycle Club, I wish to issue a statement in regards to the provisional entry of Guy Martin in the upcoming Cookstown 100 races. In recent weeks the Cookstown club received an entry to the classic race from Guy Martin. This entry had been presented at a club meeting a few weeks ago as it had just been received a short time before the meeting was ready to commence.

“In the following days an article was published in reflection of Guy’s entry to the event. After the said article had went out, Guy’s management team made contact with the club and explained that Guy’s entry was on a provisional basis and that although Guy fully intends to compete at Cookstown Road Races this year, he did not want to disappoint fans or the Cookstown Club in the event (that he would be unable to compete) as he is at other events before the race; and he would have preferred a later announcement closer to the event.

“As chairman I apologise to Guy’s management team and if aware of this, the club would have respected Guy’s wishes and held off on any public announcement. Unfortunately, as this was only made clear after the article had been published and it was already on social media platforms by then, this official statement (was issued) to be honest and upfront with the general public as soon as possible to ensure there are no disappointed fans or spectators, although to date there are no indications that Guy will not be at the Cookstown 100.

“As this has been an upfront and honest statement on the current situation regarding Guy’s entry, and one which has been issued for the benefit of Guy’s fans and spectators to understand the current circumstances, I would ask the media and general public to not speculate or jump to conclusions, but rely solely on the facts which have been issued in this statement.”