Classic TT: John McGuinness reacts to first road racing win since 2019
John McGuinness says his Winfield Paton was “absolutely singing”, as he claimed a dominant win for the first time in seven years at the Classic TT.
Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness was the star of the show at the Classic TT on Monday, as he powered his way to victory in the Historic Senior race.
Without a victory in seven years, the 54-year-old topped one of the Historic Senior qualifying sessions last week, which ultimately proved to be a preview of what was to come.
But with the class featuring a stacked line-up including 36-time TT winner Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison, Mike Browne, Jamie Coward, and Conor Cummins, foreseeing a McGuinness victory solely off his qualifying performance was by no means a guarantee.
Both Dunlop and Harrison retired from the race, and had they not, the order at the head of the field likely would have looked a lot different. That being said, McGuinness looked untouchable from the outset, building a lead of over 20 seconds by the end of lap one.
The victory will be a memorable one for McGuinness on multiple fronts, not least because he’s celebrating 30 years of racing at the Isle of Man in 2026. Celebrations of his glittering career have been in full flow throughout the Classic TT, which ends today with a special parade lap in his honour.
Reacting to his first win in seven years, a jubilant McGuinness told Manx Radio:
“Honestly, I love that feeling, getting waved into that enclosure. The bike was flying, she was bouncing off the limiter in top [gear]. Up the mountain she was pulling and pulling - lovely!”
McGuinness also said that despite the reduced power compared to a superbike, the Paton is the only race bike he needs to wear earplugs for. McPint added:
“But when she’s going, she’s absolutely singing. It’s a really lovely, lovely bike to ride. Talking about singing - my ears are ringing! It’s the only thing I wear earplugs on. On a Superbike, I don’t. But on this, I tried it and it’s impossible. Lovely three laps out on the Mountain Course. I love it. I wish I was 24, not 50. But the bike’s never really missed a beat all week.”
The 2026 Classic TT wraps up today with the four-lap Senior race, although McGuinness is not featured on the start list. Dunlop, Harrison, and Peter Hickman will take part as they look to close out the event with a win.
Rob Hudson will also feature in today’s race following his victory in the inaugural Junior 600 Classic TT class on Monday.
Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com
%20(1)_0.jpg?height=270&format=webp)
After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
