John McGuinness provided a scorching climax to the Isle of Man Centenary TT Festival as he won the prestigious Senior race at record breaking pace for Honda as the Japanese marque repeated their 1-2-3 finish of the opening Superbike race. Riding the HM Plant liveried Honda Fireblade McGuinness was 30 plus seconds ahead of Hydrex Honda rider Guy Martin at the finish with Ian Hutchinson third for HM Plant Honda.
Lancastrian McGuinness had ridden brilliantly around the 37.73 mile Mountain Course, setting a furious pace from the off as he blasted his HM Plant Honda into the opening lap, increasing his own outright record in the process, although there was better to come from him with an astonishing second lap at an average speed of 130.354mph.
Making that all the more incredible was that McGuinness had to ease off somewhat, as he slowed down to pit, and take on fuel and have a rear wheel change. He was running rampant, rejoining the action and increasing his lead, mile by mile, as he shrugged aside the challenge of Guy Martin with Ian Hutchinson running a, by now, distant third.
McGuinness confirmed his mastery of the Mountain, opening up his advantage mile by mile on his high-speed dash around the Island, to take the victory by 32.73 seconds from Martin who had been slowed a little in the final third by the drive chain jumping on the sprocket.
"Absolutely unbelievable. To beat the 130mph mark is just fantastic. It's just amazing. The bike was perfect throughout and I gave it everything all of the way. I was trying really hard, and I had a great team around me, and they delivered the goods with the pit-stops," enthused McGuinness who had won, and elevated the outright record a century from the pioneering first Senior race victory taken by Charlie Collier at a more leisurely 38.22mph.
"People say to me, you've got the best bike, but you have still got to ride it and get the best out of it. I really enjoyed the race and I am so proud to have won this special race. It's been great. The Superbike race win meant a lot, this one even more," add the race winner.
"When I was an apprentice bricklayer I never thought that I would be racing here, let alone being here to win 13 races. It is just an incredible feeling - the job's a good one."
McGuinness however is considering his future in the event. "I might just hang up my leathers - I've got the same feeling that I had last year after winning these two races. What else do I have to prove?
"I've been coming here eleven times but enjoy riding the course. We'll just have to see but I am thinking about not coming back - I've ridden my heart out all week, finishing in the top three in all races." He had capped a remarkable week, in which he had also taken second placings in both the Supersport and Superstock events.
Martin, a distant second, vowed for better things next year, as he finished well clear of Hutchinson, aboard the second HM Plant Honda and Stobart Honda rider Ian Lougher.
Martin said: “I learned a lot from the first race this week and I was able to hold my own. On the fourth lap the chain was jumping the sprocket a little and I thought it would be better when I changed wheels at the end of the lap. Unfortunately the chain had stretched too much. After that I concentrated on getting my braking points and gear changes correct. Anyway its been a good week and I have to thank my team for that. I’m probably not ready to win a TT yet. I have a great respect for John McGuinness and for my team.”
Ian Hutchinson completed a successful TT with another fine podium place in the Senior race. He said: “I’m pleased to have finished on the podium in every race. I’ve struggled a bit with the Superbike I’d like to thank Honda and the team for giving me the opportunity to race some special bikes and it’s great we achieved another Honda 1-2-3. I am very pleased to have been part of this Centenary TT festival.”
Adrian Archibald finished fifth giving the Relentless Suzuki team some reward, as their other rider Bruce Anstey had pitted after the first lap complaining of handling problems. Local rider Conor Cummins, riding Yamaha, took sixth place, ahead of top newcomer Steve Plater. Michael Rutter, Ian Armstrong and James McBride completed the top ten.
The race was marred by an incident on the final lap at Joeys, on the Mountain section in which a rider and two other people received fatal injuries. The race organisers will not provide any other details until all next of kin have been informed.
Results Senior TT, Friday 8th June 2007:
Total No. of Completed Laps – 335 Total Mileage - 12639.55
1 / JOHN MCGUINNESS / 2007 HONDA FIREBLADE 1000CC / H M PLANT HONDA RACING / 01 46 44.23 / 127.255
2 / Guy Martin / 2007 Honda 1000cc / Hydrex Honda / 01 47 16.96 / 126.608
3 / IAN HUTCHINSON / 2007 HONDA CBR 1000CC / H M PLANT HONDA RACING / 01 48 04.60 / 125.677
4 / Ian Lougher / 2007 Honda CBR 1000cc / Stobart Motorsport / 01 49 08.12 / 124.458
5 / Adrian Archibald / 2007 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Relentless by TAS / 01 49 21.61 / 124.202
6 / Conor Cummins / 2007 Yamaha YZF R1 1000cc / Team Millsport / 01 49 47.86 / 123.708
7 / Steve Plater* / 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / AIM Racing / 01 50 21.67 / 123.076
8 / Michael Rutter / 2007 Kawasaki ZX10 R 1000cc / MSS Discovery / 01 50 42.22 / 122.695
9 / Ian Armstrong / 2004 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Canteen Smithy / 01 51 56.08 / 121.346
10 / James McBride / 2007 Yamaha R1 1000cc / 01 51 59.14 / 121.29
11 / Chris Palmer / 2005 Yamaha R1 1000cc / Solway Slate & Tile / 01 52 10.23 / 121.091
12 / Ian Pattinson / 2006 Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Martin Bullock Racing / 01 52 34.07 / 120.663
13 / Gary Carswell / 2007 Kawasaki ZX10R 1000cc / Bolliger Kawas / 01 52 44.30 / 120.481
14 / Mark Buckley / Suzuki GSXR 1000cc / Crossan Motorcycles / 01 52 53.42 / 120.319
15 / Les Shand / 2006 Honda CBR 1000cc / Barron Transport / 01 53 35.52 / 119.575
Fastest Lap - 3 John McGuinness 17 mins 21.99 secs 130.354 mph
Photos: Honda Pro Images & Paul Korkus
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