John McGuinness sets new
TT lap record in Dainese Superbike race under watchful
gaze of Valentino Rossi who later completes his own
lap of the legendary circuit
John McGuinness won his 15th TT today when he took
victory in a record-breaking Dainese Superbike race,
also claiming the outright lap record en route. The
HM Plant Honda rider saw off the challenges of both
Conor Cummins and Steve Plater to come home 18 seconds
clear of team-mate Plater with Guy Martin completing
a Honda 1-2-3 in third. McGuinness was watched by Dainese
ambassador Valentino Rossi who later completed a lap
of his own.
After the cancellation of racing over the weekend,
Monday saw dry, sunny conditions all around the course
although a strong breeze would keep the riders on their
toes in places. At the first checkpoint of Glen Helen
on the first lap, McGuinness was leading by just under
two seconds from the flying Cummins who was setting
a great pace on his McAdoo Racing Kawasaki. Ian Hutchinson
(Padgetts Honda) occupied third with Gary Johnson and
Steve Plater close behind. However, Bruce Anstey was
missing and there was huge disappointment when news
came through that he’d retired at Ballacraine.
McGuinness was putting in one of his customary fast
first laps and he was continually stretching his advantage,
completing the first lap with a new lap record and over
five seconds clear of Cummins. Martin had moved up to
third with Plater, Johnson and Hutchinson not far behind.
John was really flying on the second lap and his advantage
was up to 8 seconds at Ramsey, Martin now having overhauled
Cummins, the Manxman struggling with a rear chain that
was jumping the sprocket. McGuinness’ pace could
be seen when he came in for his first pit stop and his
second lap of 130.442mph broke his own outright lap
record set in 2007. Plater also broke the 130mph barrier
to sit right on Martin’s tail but he took second
place on the third lap, Martin not quite getting the
Hydrex Honda to turn as he would have liked.
Cummins had an extremely slow pit stop and dropped
all the way back to sixth, cruel luck for the 23-year
and he was denied even a finish when the engine expired
at the Verandah on the final lap. After the pit stops
it was Johnson who was now up to fourth although Hutchinson
was closing in rapidly.
At the front though, McGuinness was now coming under
pressure from Plater and saw his lead cut from 11 to
8 seconds at two thirds race distance. The Morecambe
rider dug deep though and with an extra special effort
on the fifth lap, pulled away once more and he was able
to control the race more comfortably in the closing
stages and crossed the line over 18.09 seconds clear.
Plater put in a great ride to take second, his first
Superbike TT podium whilst Martin was safe in third,
going some way to make up for the disappointment of
last year’s retirement.
With Honda celebrating their 50th anniversary of racing
it proved to be a memorable day with them filling the
first five places, Hutchinson and Johnson taking fourth
and fifth, the former overhauling the latter with a
strong final lap of 129.428mph, his personal best.The
victory by McGuinness meant that he moved ahead of Mike
Hailwood’s total of 14 wins, and is now second
outright only to the late, great Joey Dunlop on the
all time winners’ list.
Adrian Archibald came through from a first lap 14th
to a strong 6th, also consolidating his tag as the fastest
ever Irishman around the Mountain Course with a final
lap of 128.883mph. Ian Lougher, competing in his 100th
TT, took seventh ahead of leading privateers Carl Rennie,
Dan Stewart and John Burrows.
As well as Cummins, Michael Rutter also retired when
he was back flagged at Ramsey with a broken gear lever
whilst Keith Amor was another high profile retirement.
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