John McGuinness confirmed his place among the TT legends with a stunning victory on the Senior.
The Morecambe rider shattered his own outright lap record, smashing the 130mph barrier, on the way to securing his 13th TT victory. It means he is the thirdmost successful solo rider in the event's 100-year history.
Conditions were ideal at the start of the finale of the Centenary TT Races. Michael Rutter had the honour of being first away in the ‘blue-riband’ event.
Adrian Earnshaw MHK, Minister of Tourism, welcomed the special guests of the day, which included Geoff Duke OBE, John Surtees MBE and Murray Walker MBE before the serious business of racing got underway.
McGuinness was leading on time on the opening lap of six at Glen Helen, and was in front on the roads by Ramsey, completing the first lap in a new absolute record time and speed of 129.883mph. He lead Guy Martin by 9.69 seconds, with John’s teammate Ian Hutchinson third.
The gap at Ramsey as the leaders went through for the second time was 9.62 seconds.
There was an eruption of applause around the 37.73 mile circuit as McGuinness completed his second lap and broke the 130mph barrier with a new absolute speed of 130.354mph.
The gap between McGuinness and Martin at Glen Helen was 20.50 seconds, with Hutchinson a further 13 seconds down. Martin was quickest through Sulby third time round, at 188.00mph, as he pulled the gap down to 17 seconds by Ballaugh. He reduced the deficit to 16.26 seconds by Ramsey, 16.18 seconds at the Bungalow and, but the Grandstand, the gap had increased slightly to 17.03 seconds.
McGuinness responded and by Ramsey on the fourth lap the gap had increased to 18.25 seconds between the first two, with Martin now second on the road.
The leading pair both took 45 seconds to complete their pits stops before leaving for the fifth lap. At the end of that circuit, McGuinness had a 24 second lead. Both he and rival Martin passed the Grandstand at 170.30mph, to commence their sixth and final lap.
The difference was static at Glen Helen at 24 seconds, but at Ballaugh McGuinness had extended the gap to 25.50 seconds. At Ramsey the time difference was 26.76 seconds.
At the Bungalow McGuinness had increased his advantage to 28.80 seconds and came home to take the chequered flag and his 13th TT victory by 32.73 seconds from Martin, with Hutchinson third, yet another Honda 1-2-3.
McGuinness stripped 51 seconds off the former race record to make another piece of TT history.