All the sixes for McGuinness
Wednesday 25 July 2007
TT
It was all the sixes for top TT rider John McGuinness in the latest round of the British Supersport Championship.
At Mallory Park, for the ninth meeting of the season, the 13-times TT winner carried the number six plate on his Padgett’s Honda, lined up sixth on the grid, took sixth place at the end of the 28-lap race and maintained his sixth place in the championship!
The meeting was overshadowed by the death of British Superbike rider Ollie Bridewell and heavy rain on Friday and Saturday, which saw grid positions decided by championship position.
After lining up on the second row of the grid, the Mountain Circuit outright lap record holder had a solid start and maintained his position until lap four, when Billy McConnell relegated him to seventh.
However, racing around the tight 1.41-mile circuit was close and by lap 10, Morecambe’s McGuinness was back up to sixth, overhauling Jamie Robinson.
While the leading three riders were away at the front, the battle for fourth to sixth was extremely tight and, with some strong laps in the closing stages, John only missed out on fifth by just 0.529 seconds.
McGuinness said:
‘Although I got a good start, the front three riders had soon made a break at the front. The bike is working brilliantly though, thanks to all the efforts of the boys in the team, and I was able to run a strong pace right until the very end, so it was another strong race for us.’
‘Another podium would have been great, but I got 10 more points and I've got to be happy with sixth place in the championship at this stage of the season.’
‘With the poor weather and the tragic accident on Friday, it's been a very difficult weekend for the whole paddock and I'd like to pass my sympathies on to the Bridewell family.’
Phil Wain