JOHN McGuinness bounced back with a vengeance today when he won the Dainese Superbike TT to score his 16th TT win one year after drawing a blank at TT2010.
The Morecambe rider won by more than a minute to claim his “Sweet Sixteen” win exactly 100 years after 100 years after Percy Evans (Humber Twin) became winner of the first ever race in the TT Mountain Course in 1911.
But it was a big bike race win that McGuinness thought might never happen.
“I never thought I’d be able to win a big bike race again for some reason. I was up for the fight and we made a few changes on the bike which helped. But for some reason, after everything that happened last year, I thought maybe I might never win another big bike race again at the TT.”
McGuinness had the luxury of a lead of over a minute as he started his final lap and by the finish he was so far ahead he was sitting in the winner’s enclosure and had parked up his TT Legends Honda before anyone else had crossed the finishing line.
An early battle with Bruce Anstey ended when the Kiwi rider retired at Quarry Bends on lap 3, although he recorded the fastest lap of the race on lap two when he led briefly.
But a super-fast pit stop by McGuinness and his team saw him re-take the lead which he extended for the rest of the race.
McGuinness added, “Bruce was on a mission. But, as we all know, anything can happen at the TT - it’s a six lap race.
“It was really really enjoyable. I saw P1+60 and I thought ‘what’s happened?’ I thought it was a mistake at first until I realised Bruce was out.
“I’ve never seen so many fans on the course as this year and I’d like to thank everyone for their support, particularly on the last lap.”
Guy Martin looked set for the runner up spot until his retirement on lap 5 at Hillberry, leaving the way open for Australian Cameron Donald. “It was absolutely fantastic,” he said. “I just kept my head down and kept pushing . . . The bike went without a hiccup.”
Third place went to Gary Johnson who, despite a 30 second penalty for a pit lane infringement, held a big gap over chasers Keith Amor and Michael Dunlop.
For Ramsey rider Conor Cummins it was a disappointing return to the TT after last year’s major crash on The Verandah. He retired on lap 2.
OFFICIAL RESULT:
1) John McGuinness (TT Legends 1000 Honda) 1-46-13.4 (127.870mph
2) Cameron Donald (Wilson Craig 1000 Honda) 1-47-10.3 (126.73mph)
3) Gary Johnson (Links Lifting/East Coast 1000 Honda) 1-47-19.9 (126.549mph)
4) Keith Amor (TT Legends 1000 Honda)) 1-48-3.36 (125.701mph)
5) Michael Dunlop (Street Sweep 1000 Kawasaki)
6) Daniel Stewart (Wilcock Consulting 1000 Honda)
7) William Dunlop (Wilson Craig 1000 Honda)
8) James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing 1000 Kawasaki)
9) Adrian Archibald (AMA Racing 1000 Kawasaki)
10) Ian Mackman (Kemtile 1000 Suzuki)
Fastest lap: Bruce Anstey (Padgetts 1000 Honda) 131.378mph (lap 2).
Best newcomer: Dan Hegarty (thepeoplesbike 1000 Suzuki)
all photos: www.isleofmanphotos.com
