Ian Lougher believes Guy Martin’s decision to pass on the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT this season was always going to happen.

Lougher was attending the Auto66 and Oliver’s Mount pre-season presentation of events at the Royal Hotel in Scarborough, a circuit he is a bonafide legend of with over 130 wins to his name at the Yorkshire track.

Speaking to Bikesport News at the event last weekend, Lougher said that he saw Martin’s non-involvement coming after last year’s exploits, particularly at the Ulster Grand Prix where he suffered a devastating crash.

“I think it’s probably expected really,” said Lougher. “It’s something I expected. Obviously he’s got a lot of TV stuff going on and I imagine they weren’t very happy after the Ulster Grand Prix when he couldn’t go filming.”

Martin has chosen not to compete in any road racing events ahead of June’s gruelling 2,745-mile Tour Divide bicycle race, a contest he intends to compete in, but has not ruled out returning to the roads after that.

“I’m not done with motorbikes and if I race on the roads again this year it will be with the TAS team,” said Martin in a press release last week. “The BMW bikes are mega and the team are spot on.”

“I fancy a change of scenery. I’ve been racing the TT for 11 years. All I’ve really done since I was 18, except the trucks, is race motorbikes and my brain needs something else. Every year’s the same: testing, racing, then start again.”

The 10-times TT winner has raced against Martin from when he first arrived on the road racing scene and Lougher sees it now that television work – and its seeming riches – has taken precedence for the Tyco BMW rider.

“It’s a bit of a shame obviously, because he brings a lot of people to the meetings and that’s great for the sport.”

Read the full story in the next issue of Bikesport News, out February 4. You can get the current issue absolutely free on the App Store by searching ‘Bikesport News’ or at Google Play here.