MCGUINNESS REIGNS SUPREME WITH 18TH ISLE OF MAN TT RACE WIN John McGuinness won his 18th TT today when he took victory in the Dainese Superbike race at the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. The Honda TT Legends rider overcame an early challenge from Australian Cameron Donald. He was helped by two incredibly slick pit stops and extended his lead of six seconds at half race distance to 18 seconds and he was able to ease off slightly on the final lap to take the chequered flag his 7th Superbike/Formula One race win by 14 seconds. Donald put in his first 130mph+ laps to take a good second and New Zealand’s Bruce Anstey came home third after Guy Martin faded in the second half of the race with rear tyre problems. The morning started in cool, cloudy conditions and a 15-minute delay was required before the race got underway at 11.15am and, when it did, it was McGuinness who led at Glen Helen, the Honda TT Legends rider holding a 1.3s advantage over Donald with Martin a further 0.66s back. James Hillier was going well in fourth with Michael Rutter and Bruce Anstey completing the top six. At Ballaugh, Donald had reduced the lead to a mere 0.15s and by Ramsey it was almost the same, 0.35s the gap between the pair. Martin was still in third, the same margin adrift as he had been at Glen Helen, with Gary Johnson now edging out Padgetts Honda team-mate Anstey for fourth. It was clear that there wasn’t going to be much between the leading trio at the end of the first lap and, sure enough, with all three posting 130mph+ laps, only 0.98s split them however, it was Donald who now led by just 0.2s. Johnson, Anstey and Hillier completed the top six but Rutter was reported to have gearbox trouble and dropped out whilst Ryan Farquhar also pulled in to make adjustments. McGuinness’ team-mate Simon Andrews was also out having crashed at the Graham Memorial with the Honda Legends rider later reported to have a cracked shoulder, a broken wrist and a broken ankle. McGuinness, who later admitted he was slightly cautious on the first lap, regained the lead with the fastest lap of the race, 130.382mph on the second lap. As he came into the pits for his first stop, the lead was 2.16s. Martin was a further three seconds back and after a superb pit stop, McGuinness’ lead shot up to 6 seconds. Anstey regained fourth from Johnson and William Dunlop held onto sixth. Donald wasn’t going to roll over though and reduced the gap back to 3.8s at Glen Helen whilst news came through that Dan Stewart, Davy Morgan and Luis Carreira were just some of the riders to be penalised 30s for speeding in the pit lane. Throughout the third lap, McGuinness maintained his lead over Donald but Martin was dropping back and at the end of the third lap, McGuinness led Donald by a now ominous looking 6.2s, Martin’s challenge seemingly over as he was now 21 seconds behind Donald. Anstey, Johnson and Dunlop completed the top six with Hillier, Ian Hutchinson, a flying Dean Harrison and Michael Dunlop completing the top ten. Farquhar called it a day as three of the newcomers Jimmy Storrar, Karl Harris and Jamie Hamilton all posted their first ever 120mph laps. By two thirds race distance, McGuinness was back in familiar territory, controlling affairs from the front, and with his lead extending at each timing point, he came into the pits at the end of lap ten seconds clear. With yet another superb pit stop, the lead was increased further still to 13 seconds but Martin was now in danger of losing third to Anstey. A rear spindle problem meant the Tyco Suzuki team couldn’t change the rear tyre and so he had to ride four laps on the same tyre. Stewart was again penalised 30s and that dropped him down the order to 12th. There were no such problems for McGuinness though and with a lead of almost 17 seconds at Ramsey on the final lap, he was able to ride to his signals and come for his 18th TT win, 14.86s clear of Donald, the same 1-2 as twelve months ago. Anstey took over third on the fifth lap to make it a Honda 1-2-3 as Martin ended up 20s behind in fourth. Johnson and Dunlop were secure in fifth and sixth to make it five Hondas in the top 6. Hillier held onto seventh with the returning Ian Hutchinson in eighth but, without doubt, one of the rides of the race was by Dean Harrison. In just his second TT, the 23-year lapped at over 126mph to take a brilliant ninth, with Michael Dunlop completing the top ten on his Kawasaki Superstock machine. Harrison got maximum points in the race for the Privateer’s Championship whilst Karl Harris was the best of the newcomers in a fine 21st place. More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist: Majestic McGuinness makes it TT win number 18 Morecambe’s John McGuinness made it TT win number 18 when he clinched victory in Saturday’s 6-lap Superbike race. The Honda TT Legends ace had to overcome an early challenge from fellow Honda rider Cameron Donald but aided by the fastest lap of the race, 130.483mph, John was able to consistently edge away in the second half of the race and he eventually took the chequered flag by 14.86s. With cool, cloudy conditions on the Island, the race got underway 15 minutes later than scheduled at 11.15am and although John led in the early stages, Australian Donald managed to overhaul him. It was close though and at the end of the opening lap, the gap between the two was just 0.2s. It was nip and tuck all the way on the second lap but a lap of 130.382mph allowed John to edge clear and as he came into his first pit stop, he was back in the lead but it was still close, the gap now 2.16s. However, with their now renowned efficiency, the Honda team changed the rear tyre and refuelled the bike in super quick time and John’s lead increased to 6 seconds. On laps three and four, John was really into his stride and by two thirds race distance, his advantage was almost ten seconds, a gap that increased to thirteen seconds after another superb pit stop. From here on in, John was able to ride to his signals and control the race, something he duly did, eventually coming home almost fifteen seconds clear of Donald with Bruce Anstey in third. It was John’s 7th win in the Superbike race and his 18th win and 34th podium in total. Speaking afterwards, a delighted John said; “This feels pretty special. I’ve won a few around here in the past and, to be honest, I never know what to say and going off at number one again, it was just me, the track and the stopwatch. There were a lot of leaves on the track first thing and a bit of mist swirling around over the Mountain so I was a bit tentative on the first lap, just feeling my way into the race. After that though, conditions were good and I felt strong everywhere, so I just read my boards once I’d got the lead.” “Cameron was really on it to begin with it but, after two fantastic pit stops, I had a real good go on laps three and five, hitting all my apexes and concentrating really hard. There was a big crowd out there and I got a bit emotional when I went through the Creg on the last lap as it reminded me of how I used to wave at Joey all those years ago! I’ve had a good start to the season, getting in plenty of races and there’s no substitute for track time. I’m not getting any younger but I’m really happy with everything at the moment and am enjoying my racing as much as ever. I’ve got to say a big thank you to all my team and family – I’ve got a great group of people behind me and to be sitting here with 18 wins is just incredible.” The next race day takes place on Monday with the 4-lap Supersport and Superstock races where John will be out on the Padgetts Honda’s. More, from a press release issued by Honda: McGuinness on a mission as he claims 18th TT victory Honda TT Legend John McGuinness took his 18th Isle of Man TT victory today in a thrilling Superbike opener that saw the Morecambe man tackle the six-lap, 226-mile race with poise and control. Having started from the number one spot, McGuinness dropped briefly into third place on lap one before regaining the lead ahead of World Endurance team-mate Cameron Donald in second and Guy Martin in third. He proceeded to widen the gap with every lap, aided by two slick pit stops by the Honda TT Legends crew. By the end of lap five, McGuinness has built up a lead of over 14 seconds on Donald, while fellow Honda rider Bruce Anstey had passed Martin to take third. The final lap went smoothly with no change to the line-up, leaving McGuinness to cross the finish line first, claiming his 18th Isle of Man TT win and his seventh in the Superbike class (formerly the Formula 1 class). Today’s victory takes Honda’s tally of TT wins to 161 58 of which have been won by the Louth-based team behind the Honda TT Legends. McGuinness was joined on the podium by Donald (Wilson Craig Racing) and Anstey (Padgett’s MMCG Racing) to make up a Honda 1-2-3. Simon Andrews suffered a high speed crash on lap one of the race. He was conscious and taken to hospital where x-rays showed a cracked shoulder, a broken wrist and a broken ankle on his previously injured right leg. The 2012 Isle of Man TT races will continue on Monday with the Supersport and Superstock races. John McGuinness We’ve been doing a lot of testing and riding in the lead up to this race, including the Bol d’Or 24-hour, so we’ve done a lot hours on the bike. We came here off the back of a great North West 200 and we just hit the ground running. I set off number one, I had a clear road and there wasn’t anybody there to trip me up. I got stuck in from the start and when I saw that Cameron was in front of me at the end of lap one I just knew I needed to dig deep. Our crew in the pits are fantastic they seem to have a magic wand that gets me out of there five seconds faster than anyone else so this is big credit to them. To compete in the TT and to finish a TT is incredible; to win one is amazing but to win 18, well I’m just lost for words. Neil Tuxworth That is the 18th win for John and the 58th win for our team on the TT circuit in the last 22 years, so we’re over the moon. What’s even more pleasing is that it was a Honda 1-2-3 and there were five Hondas in the top six, which proves what a great race machine the Fireblade is. From John’s point of view, he just controlled the race. I knew after the first two laps that we had nothing to worry about because he knows how to win a TT. He started increasing the lead and he was totally in control as always. Another excellent TT win from John. It’s a huge shame for Simon that his TT is over but we are all pleased to hear that he is alert and chatting with his chief mechanic from hospital. We’ll bring updates on his situation as we get them. More, from a press release issued by Dan Kneen/Marks Bloom Racing: Solid TT start for Kneen Dan Kneen got his 2012 Isle of Man TT Races campaign underway with a solid 11th place in the opening 6-lap Superbike TT race. Despite having a fraught few weeks leading up to the event, which saw him building the Superbike GSXR1000 Suzuki right up until the first night of practice, Dan was able to post a series of 125mph+ laps and pick up yet another silver replica. The result also saw him finish 2nd in the TT Privateer’s Championship. With conditions towards the end of practice week not ideal, Dan had only actually managed one lap on the Superbike machine during the entire week and with Friday’s session being cancelled due to an oil spillage he came into Saturday’s race somewhat blind with his settings. However, a good opening lap of 125.977mph allowed him to sit in 12th place at the end of the first lap and with another 125mph lap, he moved up to 11th at the conclusion of the second lap as he came into the pits for his first stop. A good stop enabled him to maintain 11th but a strong lap of 125.934mph saw him move up to tenth at two thirds race distance. Michael Dunlop pushed him back to 11th a lap later and although the sixth and final lap was his quickest – 126.072mph – he ended the race just 3.25s behind the Irishman after almost two hours of racing. Speaking afterwards, a satisfied Dan said: “After only managing one lap in practice on the Superbike race, I’ve got to be pleased with 11th today. With a lack of time on the bike, I hadn’t managed to get a setting I was totally happy with so I took it steady on the first lap as I needed to get the brake pads bedded in and all sorts. The gearing was too tall and the wheelbase too long so the bike wasn’t close to where I wanted to be and it was very much a high speed practice session for me. Having said that, I learnt an awful lot about the bike and if I can do a 126mph lap when the bike’s not right, I’m sure we can find a fair bit more speed when it’s dialled in more. Obviously, I would have liked to have gone quicker today and finished higher up but it’s a solid start and one from which we can build on. Monday should be a good couple of races for me so I’ll be aiming for higher then.” Dan will be in action next on Monday when he’ll contest the 4-lap Supersport and Superstock races. More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Tyco Suzuki’s Guy Martin produced a standing-start opening lap of 130mph in today’s Dainese Superbike TT at the Isle of Man, but a number of small problems forced him outside the podium positions in the final two laps that saw him eventually finish fourth on his GSX-R1000 Superbike. His team-mate Conor Cummins was withdrawn from the first race of TT week on safety grounds after consultation between the Manx rider, Team Manager Philip Neill and the Scott physiotherapy team. The hand injury he sustained at the North West 200 a fortnight ago is still causing the affable Manxman considerable discomfort and will be re-assessed prior to Monday’s Supersport and Superstock races. Martin did make the start and was very much in the thick of the action on the opening lap of six, with eventual winner John McGuinness and second-placed Cameron Donald with less than a second covering the trio after 38 miles of racing. At the end of lap two Martin was still holding third place on the new GSX-R1000, five seconds down on Donald and a further two behind leader McGuinness. Unfortunately the second stop was for fuel only due to a rear wheel spindle problem, which prevented a wheel change; forcing Martin to complete his final two laps on the already over-used rear Pirelli tyre. Instead of retiring, he continued valiantly but was unable to hold off Bruce Anstey for third place, but accumulated vital information for Friday’s Senior TT. Guy Martin: “On those first two laps we’d no real problems worth mentioning but after the pit stop we had a couple of small issues that dropped us off John and Cameron’s pace. By the time the rear wheel spindle caused a problem we were out of the race for the win and I just rode it to the finish. The general handling and performance of the new GSX-R1000 is very good. I know I can do the speeds, as we proved on that first lap and the team can do the business, so we’re still in with a chance in the Senior. We’ve come here well prepared, but you can’t test for the TT at Kirkistown or Almeria. The only place you can do that is here on the TT Course so we can use what we learned today and apply it for Friday.” Conor Cummins: “It was the correct decision. I’m obviously gutted but it’s all about giving the hand time. I’ve noticed the change in just one day and it has helped the swelling to go down and the bruising is a lot less. Thanks to the boys in the team for their help and to my Doctor and Isla Scott’s team. Some more Hyperbaric chamber visits and plenty of rest should do the trick. We haven’t given up hope yet. Someone actually said that Guinness is good for medicinal purposes!” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “We’re obviously disappointed to lose out on the podium challenge after suffering a few small problems but there’s nothing wrong with the Guy Martin and GSX-R package. We matched the Hondas of John and Cameron on that first lap but those couple of issues added up and went against us in the end. That’s the TT. The decision to withdraw Conor was the one decision a Team Manager never likes to make. Conor’s a mature lad and understood the need to hold him back that little bit longer and we’re still optimistic his fans will see him Suzuki-mounted this TT.” Dainese Superbike TT [6 laps] : 1 – John McGuinness [Honda] 2 – Cameron Donald [Honda] +16.92sec 3 – Bruce Anstey [Honda] +57.94 4 – Guy Martin [Tyco Suzuki] +1:17.51 5 – Gary Johnson [Honda] +1:33.11 6 – William Dunlop [Honda] +1:50.58 Guy Martin’s Fastest Lap – 17mins 23.75sec [130.135mph] on Lap 1 More, from a press release issued by KMR Kawasaki: Disappointing start for Farquhar and KMR Kawasaki Ryan Farquhar and the KMR Kawasaki team’s 2012 Isle of Man TT races got off to a disappointing start on Saturday when both Ryan and Jamie Hamilton were forced to retire from the opening 6-lap Superbike TT race. Ryan was forced out on the third lap after experiencing handling problems from lap one onwards whilst Hamilton, on his TT race debut, had to stop on the fifth lap with suspected fuel pump problems. After a short 15-minute delay due to low lying cloud, the race got underway at 11.15am but it was soon apparent that all was not well with Ryan. After enduring handling problems during practice, further changes to the suspension failed to cure the problem and after being outside the top ten at both Glen Helen and Ramsey, an opening lap of 124.171mph left him down in 17th place. Such were the problems, Ryan pulled in to make changes before rejoining the race. However, the changes failed to alleviate the problem and, after two more low speed laps, Ryan pulled in at the end of the third lap. After impressing greatly in practice, team-mate Hamilton made his TT race debut and immediately bettered his practice lap times with an opening lap of 120.666mph, his first ever 120mph lap of the Mountain Course. Going even quicker on lap two with a speed of 120.828mph, Jamie moved up to 29th place and this became 26th at half race distance. Sadly, any further progress was thwarted by suspected fuel pump problems and with the problem getting gradually worse, he was forced to stop on the fifth lap. Speaking afterwards, a disappointed Ryan said; “It’s been a really disappointing day and, to be honest, I’ve been chasing my tail a bit. The bike worked brilliantly at the North West 200, straight out of the crate, but it’s been a long way off here. The opening practice night was the best the bike’s been but it still wasn’t ideal and all the changes we’ve made since just haven’t worked and it was a real struggle just to hold on to the bike today. We’ve struggled to make progress and no matter what we try, we just can’t get the high speed stability needed so it’s been incredibly frustrating, particularly with all the amount of time and effort’s that gone in.” “At the end of the day, things could be a lot worse – let’s face it, this time last year I was lying in hospital – but it’s still annoying. As for Jamie, his race was going really well and to lap at close to 121mph on your TT debut is worth applauding. He’s done everything right this week and I’m sorry that his race ended in retirement. It could be the fuel pump or it could be a filter so we’ll strip it down tomorrow and get it sorted for the Superstock race. Today’s been no fault of anyone so we’ll keep plugging away and hope for better fortune on Monday.” Both Ryan and Jamie will line up for Monday’s 4-lap Superstock race whilst Ryan will also contest the Supersport race, held over the same distance.