I don't get why he needs to make a statement about it?
He doesn't have to do anything... but that's not the point. He might WANT to do something about it thought... he has a lot of followers, but he is not Jesus and cannot rely on a number of disciples writing his memoir for the generations to come. It's up to him to keep the ball rolling (and the funding that comes with it). I would like to think that he has a plan that extends beyond March the3rd 2018... I think a lot when I ride and I am sure he does too... maybe a book? Whichever the plan is, it's easier to sell something that has clarity rather than something which is unclear.
I would buy his book (provided he doesn't spend a whole chapter talking about maggots in his rubbish bin
) if there is an interesting narrative... at the moment I don't have clear what this story is about.
At no point I had the impression he was after AC record (except after day one, when he posted a mega 500 km ride), but that's what his website suggests... I quote:
"Steve set off at a minute past midnight on the 4th of March 2017. This was the start of his third attempt on the HAM'R record"