John McGuinness is a name that has become synonymous with the Isle of Man over the course of the last 25 years. The Englishman has claimed seven wins for the blue ribbon Senior TT race, and 23 wins overall to leave himself second on the all-time winners list.
Having been back in the winners enclosure in 2015, this year was marked as the race where he would once again take the fight to Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson.
A crash at the recent North West 200 put an end to any such ambition, and unfortunately for McGuinness and his army of fans, the Honda rider will have to sit out this year’s running of the event.
With a compound fracture of his right lower leg, four broken vertebrae, and three broken ribs there are question marks as to whether McGuinness will make a return to racing in the future, but the legacy he has left on motorcycle racing is almost unique.
Speaking last year McGuinness made clear just what the TT means to him. “I don’t know why I keep coming back, but it’s just got a hold of me, this place is special,” said McGuinness.
“I’ve ridden every type of bike — two-stroke, four-stroke, single cylinder, v-twin, everything — and it’s a special circuit. It’s the oldest track in the world, the longest track. It’s just a beautiful island in the middle of the Irish Sea that produces some spectacular stuff.”
“At the TT, it’s special because you can get closer to the riders. There’s always a die-hard fan as well, who’s been coming for years and years, but in recent years there’s younger kids too.”
“The word’s spread round all over the place how good this is. People just want to get here. When they get here they’re booking the boat for next year straight away. It’s amazing.”
“I’ve raced in Australia, I’ve raced in Suzuka, I’ve raced everywhere, and it’s not long before we’re talking about the TT and people wanting to get over. The atmosphere around the paddock and the professionalism of the paddock all makes it special.”
“It looks proper now these days but the true harshness of the roads is exactly the same as it’s always been. For us to get on it and ride the bikes is exactly the same.”
To go out and ride the same track as his heroes, and follow in their wheel tracks, is something that has never been lost on McGuinness.
His tribute to Joey Dunlop in 2013 was one of the most emotional moments in recent history, and he has never shied away from the history of the event as some riders have done. Being able to be a legend in his own lifetime is something that he understands, but modestly tries to deflect.
“When I was younger, I always wanted to do the TT, but I didn’t know how. I was a big TT fan, and my hero was Joey Dunlop. I first came over when I was ten-years-old, and year after year after year it was something that I always wanted to do.”
“For a long time, I raced both the roads and the short circuits, but the TT was always nibbling away at me. You need some good people around when you come in and you need to grow up a little bit before you’re really ready for the TT.”
“I was 25-years-old, when I first come here as well, so I’ve served my time. I did some British racing, some other bits and pieces and stuff. It was the right time to come and do it. I’d grown up a bit.”
That maturity was why over the last 20 years McGuinness became the man to beat on The Mountain Course.
By missing this year’s edition, it will be the first time in 21 years that his name won’t be on the starters list, but while he had a lucky escape in the North West following a mechanical failure, McGuinness has always been aware of the risks of racing on the roads and willing to accept them.
“The danger is a constant strain. The TT is not fun at times because it can be just aggravation from start to finish. It’s only once you’ve got your visor shut and I’m going on track that it calms. It’s just tough because now my commitments are hideous.”
“I’ll be dragged from pillar to post all day long. It gets on top of you more and more the days go along. You get shorter with people, you get fed up with people. It is difficult to try and balance the family and everything else. There’s two sides of the coin always, but I’ve just got to try and balance, keep all on an uneven keel.”
Keeping it on an even keel will be important during McGuinness’ recovery process. The man that has rewritten the record books of the world’s most difficult race faces his most difficult challenge: recovery.
If McGuinness makes it back to the Isle of Man TT, the event will be richer for it, but his legacy is that of one of the sport’s true greats.
Photos: © 2016 Steve English – All Rights Reserved
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