John McGuinness got his 2014 Isle of Man TT Races campaign underway in fine style yesterday evening when the 20-times winner set the second fastest lap of the opening practice session.
With perfect conditions around the 37 and ?-mile Mountain Course, the Morecambe Missile took his 1000cc Honda Racing Fireblade round at 126.335mph to post the second fastest time in the Superbike class, just behind fellow Honda rider Bruce Anstey.
After two laps on the Superbike, John then switched to the 600cc Valvoline Racing/Padgetts Honda and, despite encountering traffic on his third lap, a speed of 118.672mph ensured he took second on the Supersport class leaderboard too.
After a problematical North West 200, when his injured wrist left him down field and very much on the back foot, the opening session will have been a tremendous boost to John and with his wrist and fitness improving all the time, he’s immediately shown he’ll be his usual threat come race day.
Speaking later, a pleased John said: “When I was lying on the rocks in the Lake District a couple of months ago I didn’t think I’d be competitive when I got here so tonight’s been a real boost to me and it’s great to bang in a good lap straightaway. I just went out there tonight and rode my motorbike without thinking too much and everything just started to happen naturally for me. The familiar surroundings of the TT Course are where I’m at my happiest and it felt really good out there tonight, just letting the course flow and lapping at a nice, steady speed.”
“The two laps on the big bike felt good as did the 600 although it was quite a difficult session as the sun was really bad, as worse as I’ve ever know it since I’ve been coming here. With all the rain over the last few months, there’s more foliage around the course and the sun poking through the trees was creating a strobe light effect so it definitely kept me on my toes. It’s always good to get the first session under your belt, even more so for me this year and I feel the weight’s been lifted off my shoulders so we’re up and running now and ready to roll.”
Practice continues tonight.
Photo - John McGuinness sweeps through Ballacraine on the 1000cc Honda Racing Fireblade. Courtesy of Pacemaker Press International.
