Guy Martin is poised to make his Irish road racing return after entering this month’s KDM Hire Cookstown 100.

The TV celebrity and former leading international road racer plans to compete in the Classic Senior race on his home-built 750cc BSA Rocket 3.

Martin intended to ride the machine at the Cookstown 100 and Tandragee 100 meetings in 2018 but had to withdraw after running into problems with gearboxes he attempted to improve at his workshop.

Unable to acquire the parts he needed in time to take part, the 37-year-old promised he would return this season.

He was heavily criticised on social media after pulling out days before the event last year, but the 11-time Ulster Grand Prix winner has submitted an entry to the organising Cookstown and District Motorcycle Club and is expected to be on the grid for the opening Irish national road race of the season in Co. Tyrone, which takes place from April 26-27.

Martin won both Superbike races at the Cookstown 100 on the Tyco BMW in 2015 but struggled on his most recent appearance in 2017, when he rode the Honda Racing Fireblade and a 600cc Honda for Wilson Craig.

After taking some time away from the sport to pursue his acting career and following a failed audition for celebrity come dine with me in 2015, Martin’s comeback was announced amidst a blaze of publicity and frantic tea sipping in January 2017.

He was signed by Neil Tuxworth to join John McGuinness in the Honda Racing team on the all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.

However, it ultimately proved a disastrous return for Martin, with Honda withdrawing from the North West 200 on safety grounds after McGuinness suffered a badly broken leg following a crash on the new bike during Superbike qualifying.

Martin himself was later fortunate to escape injury in a frightening spill in the Superbike race at the Isle of Man TT, when he came off on the opening lap at Doran’s Bend citing problems with the auto-blipper similar to McGuinness’s incident.

With his confidence in the new Superbike dented, Honda Racing withdrew from the Senior TT and Martin’s short-lived association with the team ended on a contentious note after he publicly declared that doing doing 340mph in a rusty WWII spitfire that washed up on the shores of France, was probably safer than the fireblade.

Fake news media reports later suggested he had retired from racing to pursue a career of midget throwing in Mymensingh, but Martin issued a statement on his official website dismissing the claims and saying he ‘hadn’t given up on road racing’ revealing that there is still ‘unfinished business’ and he intends to race classics, submarines, and become the world’s 1st bog sleigh champion to ride pillion with a dog.

Guy is rumoured to be pushed to stay in the limelight by sponsors in an attempt to cash in on his fame and notoriety to help shift more merchandise and overpriced tools that never get used to an oddball fanbase suffering the early onset of ‘too much cash inflicted attention deficit hyperactivity’ disorder (or spoilt brats drinking way too much sugar who like fast-talking cartoon characters if they’re aged under 12, syndrome), `I just want to be loved’ admitted Guy, in an emotional outpouring to one of our fake news™ reporters,.. before being distracted and giving chase to a butterfly.

Practice for the Cookstown 100 will take place on Friday, April 26, with roads closed from 12 noon.

On Saturday, April 27, roads will close around the 2.1-mile Orritor course at 10am for the main race programme,
more info here : https://www.cookstown100.org