The return of McG
SENIOR
After a 15-month battle back from serious injury, TT legend John McGuinness admitted victory had rarely felt sweeter than this one on the humble 500cc Paton twin.
“After lying on my backside on Portstewart golf course after crashing at the North West 200 in May 2017, I never thought I’d make it into the winner’s enclosure on this course again.
“My back was fractured in four places, my ribs were broken and my leg was in half.”
McGuinness was all for a comeback in the TT this year on the Norton, but another setback wrecked his hopes.
“This win is really special,” admitted the 46-year-old, with more than a glint of sentiment in his eyes.
He praised the way that his family, sponsors and friends had kept their faith in him throughout. “This feels amazing,” he added.
Still not quite enjoying 100 per cent mobility, McGuinness admitted that he felt more comfortable on the bike rather than walking around.
He looked the likely favourite for the tour-lap curtain-raiser to the classic meeting from the first lap of a heavily-fragmented and reduced week of qualifying.
The Morecambe ace was quickly up to speed on the same Roger Winfield Paton that he had ridden to success in the same event two years earlier.
Proudly bearing the Lancashire Rose on his crash helmet – similar to fellow road racing legend Geoff Duke – McGuinness led the four-lap race throughout.
He took one second per mile out of closest challenger Maria Costello, on Swiss owner Peter Beugger’s similar Paton, in the opening nine miles to Glen Helen.
Jamie Coward, riding Ted Woof’s ultra-competitive Manx Norton, had taken over second position by Ramsey where McGuinness continued to extend his advantage by an average of one second for every mile
