Manx Grand Prix: Race favourite John McGuinness ruled out of Senior Classic event after engine woe with Winfield Paton

McGuinness was due to ride Roger Winfield’s Paton in the three-lap race on Saturday (5.15pm) and had topped the times in practice at over 109mph.

The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner was bidding to win the race for a third time in a row after back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019.

However, a terminal engine failure is understood to have ruled the 50-year-old out of the race.

In his absence, Northern Ireland’s Lee Johnston and his Davies Motorsport team-mate Dominic Herbertson will be among the favourites on their TX500 Yamaha machines.

Rob Hodson (Ruthless Racing 500 Honda), Jamie Coward (Ted Woof/Craven Manx Norton) and James Hillier (CSC Racing 500 Honda) are also likely contenders for the rostrum.

The Dunlop Lightweight race and MGP Junior races are also scheduled on a busy Saturday.