John McGuinness praise for Irish road racing prospect Mike Browne after TT Mountain Course encounter

McGuinness, the second most successful TT rider ever with 23 victories – three behind ‘King of the Roads’ Joey Dunlop – followed Browne during qualifying at the ‘Manx’ in August.

The Morecambe man later told Browne’s team boss John Burrows that the Cork rider “knows where he’s going”.

Browne won the Lightweight race at the Manx Grand Prix on a TZ250 Yamaha for the Laylaw Racing team, claiming his maiden success around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

He also impressed on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing machines at the TT in June, despite riding injured after breaking both ankles in a crash at the Cookstown 100 at the beginning of the Irish road racing season.

Browne recorded his fastest ever lap of the TT course at 126.679mph in the Senior and secured a best finish of ninth in the second Supersport race, lapping at over 123mph.

He also won the Irish Supersport and Moto3 titles for the Dungannon-based team and former racer Burrows wasted no time signing Browne for a fourth consecutive season in 2023.

“Mike obviously broke his ankles in a crash at the Cookstown 100 and that caused him to miss Tandragee and the North West 200,” said Burrows.

“It was a real pity because we’d been in very good shape going into the start of the season after testing in Spain and doing a few short circuit rounds as part of our preparation.

“It was just very unfortunate but Mike made up for it with his performances at the TT, even though he suffered right through until the very last race.

“But all those miles that he got under his belt are in the bank now, which will only stand him in good stead, and then he went back to the island and won the 250cc Manx Grand Prix.

“I happened to be talking to John McGuinness afterwards and he told me that Mike knows where he’s going on the TT course, so that’s high praise.

“Mike had passed him one evening on the 250 and John was behind him on the Paton, so he was able to follow Mike for a while and he was impressed by what he saw.”

Following a nightmare start to the year, Browne more than made amends after returning from injury and Burrows believes the unassuming Irishman will continue to make big strides in 2023.

“All things considered it was a great year and Mike won the Irish Supersport and Moto3 Championships, so that always keeps the sponsors happy,” he said.

“He just gets on with it and he’s not one for getting involved in any hype, but he’s very determined.

“It’s exciting times and we’re looking forward to seeing what an injury-free Mike Browne can no next year.”

Burrows’ teenage son Jack will again compete in the Moto3 Championship next season in the Ulster Superbike Championship.

He finished third in his debut year in the class on his Moto3 Honda and also won 13 times on his way to clinching the Irish Minibike MiniGP title.