JOHN MCGUINNESS MOVES CLOSER TO JOEY DUNLOP’S OUTRIGHT RECORD WITH VICTORY IN ROYAL LONDON 360 SUPERSTOCK TT RACE John McGuinness made it TT win number nineteen when he led the Royal London 360 Superstock race from start to finish. After numerous podiums, it was his first win in the class and he beat Michael Dunlop by 7.8s, the Northern Irishman overhauling fellow countryman Ryan Farquhar in the closing stages of the race. The evening start time of 6.30pm saw perfect conditions around the Mountain Course although the sun that had caused problems during practice again proved awkward for riders. McGuinness blasted away on the Padgetts Honda and led through Glen Helen but, as with the morning’s Monster Energy Supersport race, it was again tight and his lead over second placed James Hillier was just half a second. Gary Johnson was a further eight tenths of a second back with Farquhar right on his tail, the gap between the two only 0.03s. As the lap progressed, it was clear it was becoming a fight between McGuinness and Farquhar and as they flashed across the line for the first time, the Morecambe man narrowly led but it was close – the gap between the two a negligible 0.17s. Guy Martin on the Tyco Suzuki was up to third as the morning’s Supersport winner Bruce Anstey, Michael Rutter and Hillier completed the top six. Dunlop, meanwhile, was down in eighth after a slow first lap. At Glen Helen second time around, there was still only 0.3s in it but at Ramsey, McGuinness eked out a 2.88s lead and it appeared that he was just beginning to edge away. However, fuel problems meant he had to nurse the bike home on the run down the Mountain but, nevertheless, a lap of 128.806mph gave him a near four second lead coming into the pit stop. Anstey had now moved into third and, with a 128mph+ lap, Dunlop was up to fourth pushing Martin, who changed a tyre at his stop, down to fifth with Rutter now in sixth. Powering around the third lap, McGuinness’ advantage continued to build and all eyes were now focused on the battle for second. Dunlop had overhauled Anstey and was within eight seconds of fellow Kawasaki man Farquhar. Martin and Hillier were still in fifth and sixth. At Glen Helen for the final time, McGuinness’ lead was up to 14.6s whilst the gap between Farquhar and Dunlop was now down to 5.9s. Indeed, Dunlop was putting a superb lap, which would eventually be 129.253mph, the fastest of the race, and at Ramsey the deficit was down to half a second. With Farquhar suffering an oil leak, he had to slightly reduce his pace and that, combined with Dunlop’s effort, meant that Dunlop edged ahead on the final Mountain climb. McGuinness, wary of the fuel problem from earlier, used his head and rode slightly cautiously over the final few miles to take his second win of the week by just under eight seconds. Dunlop’s 129mph lap saw him get his first podium of the week. It was also the first finish of the week for the KMR Kawasaki man, less than five seconds behind Dunlop. Anstey, Martin and Hillier took the next three places with Rutter, Gary Johnson, Dan Stewart and Cameron Donald completing the top ten. The results mean that McGuinness has gone back to the top of the TT Championship with 63 points to Anstey’s 54 and Donald’s 46. Meanwhile, Stewart was again the lead privateer and he has opened up a healthy lead in the Privateer’s Championship with 63 points compared to second placed Stefano Bonetti’s 36. All eyes will now be on Wednesday’s second Supersport Race and while John McGuinness will not start favourite in the 600cc class, he cannot be ruled out on this form. A number of leading riders currently empty handed will be looking to make their mark on this year’s meeting with Cameron Donald and the Dunlop brothers in particular keen to record their first victories this year while Bruce Anstey will be hoping to add to his Supersport 1 Race victory earlier in the day. More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist: McGuinness makes it win number 19 in Superstock TT Morecambe’s John McGuinness made it win number 19 on Monday evening when he led from start to finish in the Superstock TT. Riding the Padgetts Honda, it was John’s first ever win in the class and he came home 7.8s clear of nearest rival Michael Dunlop for his second win of the week. Earlier in the day, John had finished fourth in the first Supersport TT race and with two wins and a fourth from the first three races, he now holds a 9-point lead in the battle for the overall TT Championship. Considerably later than scheduled, the 4-lap Superstock race got underway at 6.30pm and with an opening lap of 128.055mph, John was leading the race but it was mighty close as Ryan Farquhar was only 0.17s behind in second place. There was still little to choose between the two riders half way round the second lap but, slowly but surely, John began to eke out a bit of a gap and, despite having a scare with a lack of fuel towards the end of the lap, John came into the solitary pit stop with a lead of 3.99s over the Northern Irishman. With his usual rapid pit stop, and a good third lap, John’s lead shot up and going into the final lap his lead over Farquhar was in excess of 12 seconds. Over the last 37.73-miles, John was able to control his lead and, taking extra care on the drop down the Mountain to conserve fuel, he won the race from Dunlop who relegated Farquhar to third on the final lap. Earlier in the day, the 4-lap Supersport TT saw John line up on the 600cc Padgetts Honda and although his opening lap of 124.405mph placed him in eighth place, he was only six seconds adrift of second place! Increasing his pace second time around to 125.099mph, John moved up to 7th place but it was still close with six seconds between the third and eighth placed riders. With Michael Dunlop retiring and Dan Kneen crashing, fortunately without serious injury, John moved up to third and with one lap to go, there was still plenty to play for. John was now involved in a great tussle with Ryan Farquhar and although the Irishman looked like he had fifth place secured, he ran out of fuel with just four miles to go and so John was back up to fifth. However, race leader Gary Johnson also ran out of fuel and so John finished in a good fourth place. Speaking later, a delighted John said: “The Superstock race was really tough but I concentrated really hard and having come close before, I really, really wanted it today. It was close early on and I pushed and pushed as hard as I could but I had a major scare on the second lap when the bike started to run low on fuel. I had to nurse the bike home over the last few miles and I’m surprised I didn’t lose much time. I had a bit of a buffer and was able to ease away in the final two laps and then take it steady over the Mountain for the last time just to make sure we had enough fuel to get home. I was able to use my experience and make sure I didn’t over rev the bike, short shifted where I could and after chasing a Superstock win for a long time, I’ve finally done it and it means a lot.” “It’s the bike I ride in the British Championships and, deep down, I felt that this would be my best ever chance in the Superstock race so it feels fantastic to finally do it. It was certainly tough and the sun was a real issue, especially through Greeba, Appledene and Gorse Lea but we managed to do it and it’s superb. The Padgetts aren’t just my sponsors, their my good friends too so to give them another win is brilliant whilst with a Dunlop 1-2-3, it’s been a good race for all the people I’ve been heavily involved with for a good few years. Earlier in the day, I was pleased with the end result of fourth in the Supersport race but I just didn’t go hard enough in the first couple of laps. I think the first signal I got said ‘P8’ but after the pit stop I picked the pace up although it was a little bit too late. I was happy enough though and with two wins and a fourth so far, the week’s going well so let’s hope it continues.” Race week continues on Wednesday with the second 4-lap Supersport TT