Guy Martin rides with Putin’s biker gang in Moscow
Former road racer’s TV trip to Russia is a huge ratings hit
Despite having not raced at the TT since 2015, it seems Guy Martin is still a huge hit with bikers as well as the general public.
The truck mechanic turned TV star, who announced his retirement from top-line racing to MCN last year, has been appearing in Our Guy in Russia, a four-part odyssey in which he’s been exploring the world’s largest country. In the series he travels with Vladimir Putin’s favourite Russian biker gangs, builds Kalashnikov assault rifles, flies fighter jets, drives trucks and visits Russia’s foremost space museum. In the first episode Martin visits the Night Wolves, a Moscow-based far-right biker gang endorsed by the Russian president. Guy borrows an aged Honda X11 and rides to a press conference for the gang held at the base of State-owned broadcaster Russia Today. “It was a great way to learn about Russia,” says Guy. “I’m close to the core, I’m just one handshake away from Putin.” The show has proved popular with viewers, too – according to figures just released, the show clocked 1.73-million viewers, making it the fourth most popular show that was screened on Channel 4 that week.
‘I’m just one handshake from Vladimir Putin’
GUY MARTIN ON RUSSIAN BIKER GANG
MCN readers have given it their seal of approval as well. “Another wonderful showing of how down-toearth, knowledgeable, willing and humble Guy is,” said Darren Playle. Reader Gary Foss felt much the same: “I love it; Guy deserves all the fame he can get – he’s a hard working chap who could’ve come from next door. He says it as it is.”
The final part of the series is being screened this Monday on Channel 4 at 9pm. You’d be well-advised not to miss it...