John McGuinness Thirty years of TT livery unveiled.
Riding a Honda RS250R and sponsored by long-time friend, Paul Bird, 24 year-old bricklayer from Morecambe, John McGuinness entered the 1996 Lightweight TT with six years of club racing on short circuits and three years of campaigning at the NW200 under his belt.
McGuinness came into the TT with no expectations or pressure but immediately felt at home, finishing the race in 15th position with a lap time of 109.57mph and winning the award for best newcomer in the class along the way.
That first TT race was possibly the last time that McGuinness would go unrecognised on the Isle of Man, a podium followed in year two and again in year three. The first of 23 incredible wins came a year after that in 1999.
Regarded now as one of the greatest road racers of all time, John McGuinness MBE owns some iconic moments in modern TT racing history. Breaking the 130mph lap barrier in 2007 is a standout, as is the dominant return to victory in the Senior race in 2015, setting his fastest ever lap of the 37 ¾ mile circuit along the way at 132.701 mph. With wins on 250, 400, 600 Superstock and Superbike Hondas in his tally, paying tribute to where John’s Isle of Man TT racing journey began is a fitting way to honour the relentless pursuit of road racing excellence that John has followed so passionately.
Team Principal Neil Fletcher
John’s performance in practice week at the TT races this year is vintage McGuinness. Always smiling, always with time for the huge line of fans that forms every time he stands still and still fast and smooth as silk on track. I’ve always said that a happy rider is a fast rider and John looks happy whenever he’s at the TT races. The 30 years of TT racing Fireblade looks amazing, the perfect nod to where it all began for John but at the same time looking like it’s ready to reach for the top step on the podium. You only have to look at the little details like the Akrapovic exhaust to see that all of our partners and sponsors were more than happy to get onboard with the idea and I’m grateful to everyone for getting involved. I hope John and all of his fans around the track enjoy watching him put on a show.
John McGuinness MBE
What a joyous looking bike the team has helped put together for me to ride. Alpinestars stepped in and made me a replica suit to match my old one too. Technology has moved on a bit for leathers as much as it has the bikes. I’ve enjoyed riding the Superbike in practice all week and hope that Birdy is smiling down on me in the race today.
The paint takes me all the way back to that first journey off the boat and into a race that changed my life. The first time I raced here I drove my own van, my RS250 was strapped down in the back next to half a Wickes kitchen and some jerrycans of diesel that I’d borrowed from Becky’s dad’s fishing boat. I came home with the fastest newcomer in the lightweight race and within two years I was riding for the factory Honda team.
I’ve said it before but sometimes people forget how proud I am to be able to wear the number one plate and ride for the factory Honda race team. Back in 2013 I was lucky enough to pay tribute to Joey Dunlop wearing his paint and leathers, to be here honouring my own career feels quite surreal. I’ll just go out and enjoy my racing like I always do, hit my spots and ride the best race I can.
