Friday 9th June 2023: In what was an incredibly close battle for seventh place throughout the RL360 Superstock TT Race 2, John McGuinness MBE finished just 1.094 seconds behind James Hillier to record yet another top-ten finish in eighth position. In doing so, he adds another silver replica trophy to his vast trophy cabinet.
John McGuinness MBE: Race weekend
Near-perfect conditions, albeit with stronger winds than in previous races this year, provided the backdrop for yet another sensational Isle of Man TT race. John set off once more from number three on the road and instantly put his head down and set about chasing down the riders in front of him. Heading into the race his fastest Superstock lap this year was 128.952 mph, set during the first Superstock race earlier in the week. John’s opening lap from a standing start, as he dived into the pits for the one and only mandatory stop of the race, was a new personal best of the meeting at 17:27.994 with an average speed of 129.608 mph.
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As has been the case throughout this year’s races, the Honda Racing team once more produced a flawless pit stop and gained valuable time on their competitors. As John flew through the timing beam at Glen Helen on his second lap, he was just 1.2 seconds behind two-time BSB champion Josh Brookes in sixth and 0.4 seconds ahead of James Hillier in eighth. The battle for sixth was heating up.
Over the course of lap two, the gap between the three riders flying around the Snaefell Mountain Course would remain extremely tight. John would end the lap in seventh as he screamed past the grandstand just 3.7 seconds behind Brookes and 2.4 seconds ahead of his sparring partner Hillier. At this stage of the race four Honda Fireblades occupied positions within the top ten and Michael Dunlop, aboard his MD Racing Fireblade had flown through the speed trap at 197.260 mph, a top speed that would not be topped by the end of the race.
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Lap three underway, the only flying lap of the race, and John’s lead over Hillier began to reduce as he raced around the 37.7-mile course. Come the end of the race and managing a slipping clutch, John would finish just over a second behind Hillier to chalk up an eighth-place finish and yet another finish in what is already a remarkable career. His final pass of the grandstand also resulted in a new best Superstock lap of the meeting, averaging 129.879 mph.
Not only did he set the highest speed through the Sulby speed trap, but Michael Dunlop would finish the race in second position, the highest Honda finisher. There were also celebrations in the Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles camp as Conor Cummins, returning from illness, would finish in an impressive fourth position aboard his Superstock Fireblade.
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The Honda Racing team and John McGuinness now turn their attention to the prestigious six-lap Senior TT scheduled for Saturday 10th at 12.15.
In the Team’s words
“I’m still feeling pretty fresh, happy days, these 3 lappers are a little bit easier! It’s weird to stop on the first lap because for years and years you always stop on the second, so I kept telling myself ‘pit, pit, pit and don’t go past!’”
“It was a faster pace for me than the first race, and we are improving you know. The two leaders passed me a little later in the race this time, so you know we are going quicker! I had a little bit of clutch slip at Greabe Bridge, which is only half a dozen miles into it, So straight away without damaging the clutch I wound some free play into the lever and brought the bike home.”
“I saw that P7 was on the cards and we were in a battle with Hillier and he just pipped me, he’s a good pedaller and it is what it is. For eighth, we get a silver trophy for the cabinet, I’m more than happy and I did my best lap so far.”
“It was also a mint pitstop, cannot knock the boys for that pitstop it was mint! One more to go, six laps to go and then we can go and celebrate!”
#3 John McGuinness MBE
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International Road Racing 2023: Isle of Man TT, RL360 Superstock TT Race 2
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