TT 2016: Rare McGuinness display marks 20th anniversary

A unique collection of machinery raced by Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness has been put on display to mark the Morecambe man's 20th anniversary of competition on the Mountain Course.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th May 2016, 13:02 BST
Updated 30th May 2016, 14:08 BST
A special exhibition of machinery raced by John McGuinness is open to the public this year to mark his 20th anniversary of racing at the Isle of Man TT.A special exhibition of machinery raced by John McGuinness is open to the public this year to mark his 20th anniversary of racing at the Isle of Man TT.
A special exhibition of machinery raced by John McGuinness is open to the public this year to mark his 20th anniversary of racing at the Isle of Man TT.

TT fans are in for a real treat, with the ‘John McGuinness Collection’ including 12 bikes, all personally owned by the 44-year-old, on view to the public at Nobles Park.

McGuinness said: “Having the display is something I’ve been thinking of for a while and it was a conversation with Mark Sears of Dunlop earlier this year that kick-started everything.

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“Sadly, Mark lost his life in an accident earlier a couple of months ago but we’ve seen the project through as I wanted to give something back to all the TT fans and share my 20-year journey with them.

“What’s nice about the collection as there’s a real variety in there including two-strokes, four-strokes, singles, 400s, electric bikes and each and every one of them has a story to tell.

“I can still remember my first practice lap of the course and it was wet, cold, foggy and sunny and I’m still tearing round the place today,” he added.

“The TT means so much to me and it’s been an incredible journey so far, a journey that the fans have all been part of so come down and have a look.”

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The display is backed by Dunlop, Bennetts and Motul and the line-up includes the 250cc Paul Bird Honda on which 23-time winner McGuinness made his debut in 1996, finishing 15th in the Lightweight race.

A very special bike is the famous 250cc Vimto Honda that John rode to his maiden TT triumph in the 1999 250cc race and the two-stroke machine takes pride of place in his collection.

Also featured is the Chrysalis AMDM on which McGuinness achieved his second win in the Singles race in 2000, plus the iconic ValMoto Triumph he raced in the 2003 Junior 600cc race.

McGuinness claimed his maiden TT hat-trick in 2004 and all three machines, the IFS Yamaha R1 Superbike, IFS Yamaha R6 and the RLR400 Honda, are also featured in the display.

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One of the greatest highlights of the English star’s career was his record-breaking victory in the Senior race during the 2007 Centenary TT, when McGuinness set the first ever 130mph lap with a speed of 130.354mph on the HM Plant Honda Fireblade, and the machine is sure to generate plenty of attention.

The final three bikes on display have been raced by John in the last two years and include the 2014 Mugen Shinden, his Valvoline Padgett’s Honda Supersport machine from 2014 and the Honda Racing Fireblade on which McGuinness won last year’s Senior, setting a new outright lap record of 132.701mph.

The display is also home to McGuinness’s Superstock effort and visitors will be able to see his team preparing his EMC2/Bet Victor Honda Fireblade.

Related topics:John McGuinnessMorecambe