McGuinness laps at 130mph then reveals he could have gone faster!
Despite setting a time almost nine seconds faster than anyone else in Wednesday’s practice session, John McGuinness has revealed he had actually been held up and could have gone faster!
The 15-times TT winner and outright lap record holder set a stunning average speed of 129.265mph from a standing start on the opening lap of the 2010 TT’s third timed practice session.
On his second lap he became this first man this week to lap at more than 130mph, with an average speed of 130.242mph.
During the first timed practice session on Monday, McGuinness recorded two laps on his HM Plant Honda Superbike. The quickest, 127.090mph, was the third fastest of the night. Laps of 120.289mph and 124.523mph on the Padgetts Supersport and Superstock machines saw him fourth quickest in each class.
After heavy rain and mist throughout Tuesday, the evening practice session was held in good conditions, although there were damp patches around the 37.73-mile Mountain course.
With the track at less than 100 per cent, McGuinness was cautious, but again posted two laps on the Superbike machine, the best at 125.546mph. He also went out on the Superstock machine, although fuel problems kept him down in 16th place.
For Wednesday’s third timed session, conditions were perfect with the whole of the Isle of Man bathed in beautiful sun.
After setting the fastest lap of the week on his opening lap, McGuinness went quicker still second time around to reassert his authority on the Superbike class.
Two laps on the Supersport machine saw him record a best speed of 123.128mph, the third quickest of the night, whilst a solitary lap of 124.973mph was good enough for seventh in the Superstock class.
Speaking after Wednesday’s session McGuinness said:
“Conditions were pretty good tonight and we made a few improvements to the bike so after having a look round on the first lap, everything felt right to push for a fast lap.”
“I got held up in a couple of places and lost a bit of time from Ramsey to the Waterworks where there were yellow flags out so it could have been a good few seconds quicker.”
“Conditions were good though, the tracks getting a fair bit of rubber laid down now too so it was good to stick a 130mph lap in and get to the top, Practice doesn’t mean anything though so I just used the first couple of sessions to get dialled back in and we’re not a million miles away now.”
“All three bikes are working well so let’s hope this good weather continues and we can finish practice strongly in readiness for Saturday’s first race.”
The next practice session is schedule for this evening, with the first machines due to leave the TT Grandstand in Douglas at 6.20pm.You can follow the action as it happens with TT Live!