Hydrex Honda's Guy Martin finally got his hands on the Southern 100 Championship trophy when he w💜on Thursday's 9-lap race around the 4.25-mile Billown circ𝓀uit on the Isle of Man.

Having finished second in 2005💮, 2006 and 2007, Guy got the better of Ryan Farquhar by just over one tenth of a second after a thrilling contest to add his name to the famous trophy for the first time and this rounded off his week in perfect fashion having taken two runner-up spots earlier in the week.

Thursday's feature race was, arguably, one of the best ever witnessed in the 54-year history of the Southern 100 as Guy, Ryan Farquhar, Michael Dunlop and Conor Cummins battled constantly throughout the 9 laps. With perfect conditions on the Island, positions were exchanged at nearly every corner but in the closing stages Guy managed to get a small gap over his pursuers and although Farquhar closed rapidly on the final lap, Guy 👍just had enough to hold him off, getting the win by 0.163s; indeed, less than three quarters of a second separated the quartet at the chequered flag.

Guy's Solo Championship victory a𓆏long with two second plac🍃es in the other 'Superbike' races moves him into ninth place in the Duke Rankings, a climb of ten places.

The remaining ro♔unds in July are Jurby South Road Races in the Isle of Man, followed by the Kells International Road Races and Faugheen Road Race🔯s in Southern Ireland.