Morecambe’s John McGuinness was inducted into Motorsport Magazine’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday evening in a glittering ceremony at the Royal Opera House in London.
The renowned British magazine kick-started its landmark 90th anniversary celebrations in style with the twenty times Isle of Man TT race winner joining racing legends Alain Prost, James Hunt and Ross Brawn as the latest inductees to the Motor Sport Hall of Fame. John, of course, took his 20th TT win in the Senior race of 2013, the meeting also seeing him increase his own outright lap record to 131.671mph and his tally of podiums to 41, more than anyone else in the 106-year history of the event.
Having only just returned from the Phillip Island Classic Festival in Australia – where he took four top-eight finishes on a 1200cc Harris Honda for the UK team – the Morecambe Missile became just the third motorcyclist to join the illustrious Hall of Fame club. In 2012 multiple World Champions John Surtees and Giacomo Agostini were inducted and it was the former – the only man to win World titles on two wheels and four – that was on hand to present McGuinness with his trophy.
Speaking about the award, a clearly honoured John said; “I’m nearly 42 and I look pretty average but in my head I feel pretty good. I’ll carry on for one or two more years yet. I felt a bit nervous to be honest, there are so many champions on four wheels and two, but to see my name up there with the greats is a massive honour.”
“There are only two other motorcycle riders in the Hall of Fame and when you look at Giacomo and John, they’re two multiple World Champions and TT winners and two absolute legends of the sport. To be mentioned in the same breath as them and be inducted into the Hall of Fame is an absolute honour and privilege so a big thank you to everyone at Motorsport Magazine for the award. It was a really special night and definitely one to remember.”
Now in its fifth year, the Hall of Fame annually unites a veritable who’s who from the world of motor racing with World champions and race-winners from far and wide attended the glittering 2014 edition in the heart of fashionable Covent Garden. The four new inductees join the eight founding members and 17 past inductees including Ayrton Senna, Enzo Ferrari, Sir Stirling Moss, Michael Schumacher, Sir Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda.