Guy Martin’s been out in Austria, attempting to recreate the iconic motorcycle jump from The Great Escape. And if you want to watch his latest exploits – tune in to Guy Martin’s Great Escape this Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4.

Guy Martin’s back with his latest TV stunt – and this time, he’s set out to recreate the iconic motorcycle movie stunt from the climax of The Great Escape. Riding a custom Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE, Guy’s aiming to go higher and further and successfully clear both fences in one.

Starring Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough and John Leyton, The Great Escape is a film based on the true story of the most audacious mass breakout from a German POW camp in World War Two, which saw 76 imprisoned Allied airmen escape the prison camp through a tunnel – while the lead character made the most memorable motorcycle jump in cinema history.

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Triumph TR6 and Triumph Scrambler 1200XE from Guy Martin's Great Escape

McQueen’s bike of choice was a 650cc Triumph TR6 – but the leading man was forbidden from performing the stunt by the movie’s insurers, so his good friend Bud Ekins made the jump instead. The result: one of the most recognisable and iconic motorcycle stunts ever seen on film.

Guy wants to succeed where McQueen’s character, Captain Virgil Hilts, ultimately failed. While Hilts only cleared the first fence along the border between Germany and freedom in Switzerland, Guy wants to clear both fences. That’s right. He wants to jump two 8-foot high fences – on a Triumph, in the exact same field that the original jump was filmed.

Lorry mechanic and TV personality Guy Martin astride a custom Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE

Did he make it? Watch Guy Martin’s Great Escape this Sunday. Tune into Channel 4 at 9pm. For more information on the show, click HERE.

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Tony Carter

Tony has been riding motorcycles for over 35 years and he's been a motorcycle writer for over 25 of those. He's ridden almost every motorcycle you can think of at most places around the world and he's partial to some racing, too. A Taurus, Tony doesn't believe in horoscopes (but then that's exactly what a Taurus would say!) but he does believe in Mandalorians and their right to earn a living.