Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness enjoys Scarborough run
Tuesday 20 September 2011
TT
Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness enjoyed his 2011 run at Scarborough’s International Gold Cup meeting as much as his Oliver’s Mount debut 15 years earlier.
The 17-times TT winner took three second places during the weekend meeting racing for Padgetts Honda
The Morecambe star was immediately at home around the woodland circuit and was on the pace in both wet and dry, pushing fellow TT winner Ryan Farquhar in each of the Superbike battles.
After taking second in the earlier heat, McGuinness made a brilliant start in Saturday’s opening leg of the Darran Lindsay Superbike Trophy race and led the field at the end of the first of 8 laps. However, on lap 3 the red flag came out due to an incident and the race was re-started over 4 laps.
It was a repeat performance from McGuinness when the lights turned green and he led Farquhar as they swept onto their second lap. Lapping close to a personal best around the undulating road circuit, McGuinness looked like he’d hold on for the win, but Farquhar dived up the inside at Mountside Hairpin and he had to settle for second, just 0.9s adrift.
On Sunday fog hit the seaside venue in the early morning and there were rain showers in the afternoon.
Realising the importance of good starts for the narrow Oliver’s Mount circuit, McGuinness made the perfect getaway in the second leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy and it soon became a two-horse race between him and Farquhar. At the end of four laps, there was just 0.7s between them, but Farquhar was in determined mood and he took over the lead on lap 6 to again force McGuinness into accepting second.
That left the feature International Gold Cup race, one McGuinness won in 1999. It followed a similar pattern as the previous two Superbike races, only this time Farquhar grabbed the holeshot. McGuinness sat on his back wheel in the early stages, but wet-weather specialist Farquhar wasn’t to be denied his first Gold Cup and so McGuinness took his third second place of the weekend.
McGuinness said:
“It was 15 years ago that I made my debut at Scarborough and I enjoyed the 2011 event as much as I did the 1996 one. It’s such a good circuit to come and ride at and it was again great to see a big crowd so, hopefully, we’ve all put on a show for the fans.”
“I was really pleased with my starts this weekend and really thought I had the better of Ryan on Saturday, but he somehow did me on the brakes and there was no way back for me. I was as late as I possibly could be going into Mountside yet he still came by and he had his bike totally under control - it was 100% neat and tidy so fair play to him!”
He added:
“Sunday was a lot harder due to the weather and it was certainly tricky in the Gold Cup race. I enjoyed it though, even though half the circuit was bone dry and half of it was wet through!”
“I had great feeling from the Padgetts Superstock bike and that allowed me to keep Ryan honest in all three of the races and I couldn’t have done anymore. To come away with three second places is very pleasing and it’s been a great weekend for both me and the team so we’re all going home happy.”