John McGuinness MBE scores three strong top 6 results at the North West 200

Race Report Saturday 13th May 2023

Saturday action on the north coast of Northern Ireland kickstarted in glorious sunshine at the 8.9-mile North West 200 circuit for Honda Racing UK’s first race of the day, the 6-lap Anchor Bar Superbike Race.

Although qualifying in 10th position, John McGuinness MBE in fact lined up in 8th position on the grid as a result of other riders withdrawing from the event. He fired his Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP away from the line and was up into 7th position chasing down Michael Rutter on his Honda RC213V-S. He continued to battle hard throughout the race setting a best lap time of 4:29.977 (119.610 mph) on his second circuit. When the red flag was brought out at the start of lap five John was up into 5th position and the result was declared. Fellow Honda rider Davey Todd secured second aboard his Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Fireblade.

The second race of the day for the factory team was the shortened CP Hire Superstock Race, in which John would line up at the start in 6th position. Once again he made a fantastic start to get away with the front runners before engaging in a race-long fight with Michael Rutter and James Hillier for 5th. The race would end with a red flag at the start of the fifth lap and the result was declared with John in 6th position. At the front of the field in the podium positions, Michael Dunlop achieved second with his MD Racing Honda Fireblade.

Back on a Superbike for the final race of the day, John McGuinness scored his best result of the meeting with a fifth-place finish after the shortened race was declared when once more the red flag was flown. He also set his best lap of the entire meeting with a 4:27.509 breaking the 120 mph barrier at 120.714 mph.

All through the week, John showed great pace and stamina to remain competitive throughout. With one eye on this year's TT races he heads into the event with which he is synonymous in great form and well-prepared.

In the day's Supersport race, Davey Todd was once again able to put his Honda CBR600RR on the top step of the podium after arguably the race of the meeting, with just over half a second covering the top four at the finish line.

The Honda Racing UK team will now turn its focus to the upcoming round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for its first visit to Donington Park of the year (19-21 May). The team will then be heading back to the roads for the Isle of Man TT races (29 May - 10 June)

#1 John McGuinness MBE

It’s been a solid meeting with four strong top-ten results right in the mix. I’ve enjoyed the racing, getting into some battles with some old sparring partners. The team has worked fantastic and we’ve all had a laugh, having dinner together and the mood within the team is in a really really good place heading to the TT. I’ll hold my hands up, we didn’t quite have the pace for the front but we were ‘best of the rest’. In the back of my mind I always want to do a good job here but I want to get away safely. Every session we’ve been out we've not had any problem with anything and the whole package is just a really solid package going into the major one.

We are in a better place than last year heading to the TT. I’m in a better place than last year and I understand the bike better. I can just pop my helmet on and go riding. I’ll admit I was nervous all week, I don’t want to let anyone down, I love the bike and I love the people around me and I’m desperate to do a good job and I really feel that we have.

I also want to say get well soon to my teammate Nathan.