By 2026 Classic TT racing kicked off this evening with the brought forward, trimmed to two-laps Historic Junior encounter.
At 5:30 PM action commenced with John McGuinness MBE (Steadplan Racing – Honda) first to get the tap on the shoulder.
Seven times TT winner Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof – Honda) had the initial edge at Glen Helen only for Michael Browne (Melbray Racing – Honda) to take control at Ballaugh Bridge.
Next timing point, Ramsey Hairpin saw Browne continue to lead by an expanded advantage of 10.949 seconds over new second place holder Michael Evans (Ken Rutter Racing – Honda).
Opening sector leader Harrison had gone missing from the timing screens and was soon a confirmed race retirement, stopping at Ballaugh.
Stefano Bonetti (Speed Shadow Racing Team – Yamaha), Paul Cassidy, Russell Roebury joined Harrison on the retirements list.
TT wins record-holder Michael Dunlop MBE and former Duke Road Race Rankings Champion Michael Sweeney were non-starters.
Out front Browne, setting from a standing start, a new category lap-record of 105.322 mph, was 27.246 seconds ahead of good friend, new second place carrier Paul Jordan as lap one wrapped up.
With the Ken Rutter Racing duo of Evans and Joe Yeardsley both dropping out before lap two began, Dominic Herbertson, McGuinness MBE moved up to fourth, fifth respectively behind class winner from 2019, Jamie Coward.
More-drama would arise in the early stages of the second and final lap with runaway race leader Browne not making Ballaugh, thanks to of all issues, a puncture!
Then even more drama, four times TT Privateers Champion, new second place occupier Coward would retire before Ramsey.
At Ramsey, third different race leader Davies Motorsport’s Jordan led by a gargantuan 1 minute 19.015 seconds over fellow ‘130 Mph Club’ TT member Herbertson.
Ultimately Jordan (final lap speed – 104.926) would emerge victorious, retain the Historic Junior Classic TT title.
Jordan’s race winning margin was close to one minute 38 seconds (1:37.307 – to be exact).
Herbertson netted second, McGuinness MBE took third with Sidecar TT great Dan Sayle besting top non Honda speedster Will Loder for fourth.
Post Race Reaction:
Paul Jordan:
“Got my first board at Ginger Hall first lap, was P5 and I didn’t know what was going on to be fair because I was riding hard.
Just kept chipping away and seen the board coming down, obviously there was retirements and what not but at the end of the day to finish first you have-to finish but happy that’s the fastest ever lap I’ve done round here on a Junior Classic.”
“First one was special, second one was even more special because the fact that John McGuinness was standing on the podium with me after all my years watching him road race, it’s really special to spend time on the podium with John.”
2026 Historic Junior Classic TT – Race Result:
1st – Paul Jordan
2nd – Dominic Herbertson
3rd – John McGuinness MBE
4th – Dan Sayle
5th – Will Loder
6th – James Chawke
7th – Andy Hornby
8th – Phil McGurk
9th – Kyle Parkes
10th – Jeffrey Vermeulen
11th – Ben Birchall
12th – Chris Moore
13th – Simon Collins
14th – Andrew Guy
15th – David Glover
16th – Jeff Smith
17th – Shelley Pike
18th – Russell Brook
19th – Adrian Skaife
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
