International road racing celebrity Guy Martin begins hi🍸s preparations for the Isle of Man TT in earnest on Thursday at the Relentless International North West 200.

Martin, who commenced his road racing exploits with victory at the Cookstown 100 in the Open race in Northern Irꦓeland last month, showed 🌊plenty of promise during Tuesday's first qualifying session as he posted the second best time behind team-mate Alastair Seeley in the Supersport class, less than a second in arrears.

Martin was fourth fastest in the Superbike session but was a non-qualifier in the Superstock class along with team-mate Conor Cummins as both men suffered simil🐭ar problems.

Final𒈔 qualifying takes place on Thursday, with the first races - the Superstock and Supertwin events - behind held in the evening.

Martin said: "The Supersport and Superbike are bang on as you can see by the times and we'll hav🦂e no bother qualifying the Superstock bike ♛tomorrow.

"It's all good. The team is working well, we've got our꧃selves dialled into the place pretty q🌟uickly and I'm looking forward to racing."

Manx rider Cono🔴r Cummins𝔉 also adds weight to the Ulster team's challenge for honours at the North West.

"I'm a little disappointed with my Superbike times but we're there or thereabouts and a fron꧒t row start at the North West is not imperative," he said.

"We suffered a little problem with the Superstocker and didn't post a time but we'll get that sorted in t🍷he morning."