TT races are the ultimate test for a racing motorcycle tyre and Dunlop engineers left no stone unturned in the quest to provide McGuinness with the products to do the job. Apart from the ultra-fast, abrasive road surface, there are no fewer than 264 bends in a single lap of the 37.73 miles long circuit.
Success for the 33 year-old began on the opening Saturday of race week with a stunning victory in the Superbike race. McGuinness was unstoppable for the entire six-lap, 226.38 miles race and not only won the race in record time but set a new record on the opening lap. This was merely a signal, because on lap two, he posted a sensational lap speed of 127.933. He crossed the line 39 seconds ahead of Stobart Honda’s Ian Lougher to make it a Honda one-two.
This was victory number nine for McGuinness and his impressive performance promised more to come later in the week.
Monday’s Superstock race was less of a joyride for McGuinness and fight as he might; the best he could manage was fifth at the finish. He was perplexed and disappointed. “I’m puzzled, this is the same bike I use in the British Superstock Championship and I’m lying third at the moment. Maybe it is set up for short circuits and didn’t suit the Island,” said the Lancastrian. “Still, we’ve got the Junior and Senior yet and the Dunlops are working well here.”
The Junior TT is for smaller capacity 600cc bikes and McGuinness is a proven force in this capacity class. His reputation held good, as did the Dunlop Sportmax D209 race tyres used in the class.
The four-lap race saw McGuinness set a new lap and race record yet again to win by nine seconds from his nearest rival. The tyre battle in this class is always fierce, with Pirelli mounting strong challenges on the roads and the short circuits. The Dunlop rubber stood the test well and McGuinness chalked up victory number 10.
Satisfaction was complete with the epic Senior TT victory to crown a fantastic week for McGuinness. The final race on the programme is always regarded as “the big one” and the one to win but in McGuinness’s case, he achieved his hat trick in style with yet another fastest opening lap, race lap record and fastest race time.
The final word came from the man himself. “This feels fantastic. Everyone has worked so hard and when I was young, to win a TT was my dream and now I have eleven of them. To be up there with Ago and the greats is beyond my wildest dreams. Thanks to Honda for a great bike and to Dunlop who found some magical tyres for me.”
