By Seven times Senior TT winner John McGuinness MBE, as for Historic Senior competition, holds the No.1 plate in this month’s Historic Junior Classic TT.
The Morecambe international road racing hero, who first sampled the unparalleled Mountain Course in 1996, Junior class pursuit sees him headline Steadplan Racing’s charge.
Michael Browne, re-aligning with Sportbike TT suitors Melbray Racing, starts ten seconds behind McGuinness MBE.
Start numbers three and four are assigned to the Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof Yorkshire duo of Dean Harrison and category victor from 2019, Jamie Coward.
Senior (750) Manx Grand Prix lap-record holder Michael Evans (No.5), equipped with Ken Rutter Racing Honda apparatus, will be one to watch.
Those with plates seven, nine and ten, will all be eyeing elite results, Dominic Herbertson (Nigel Haith Racing – CB 350 K4 Honda), reigning class winner Paul Jordan (Davies Motorsport – CB350 K4 Honda) and Joe Yeardsley (Ken Rutter Racing – CB 350 K4 Honda).
In front of them on the starting order, TT wins record-holder Michael Dunlop MBE, starts the most likely non-Honda powered racer, to challenge for the rostrum.
Leading Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV’s class foray, the Duke Road Race Rankings Championship leader rides a mid 1960’s, top five Ulster Grand Prix finishing derived GP5 Royal Enfield.
Dan Sayle (John Chapman Racing – CB 350 K4 Honda), Chris Hughes Racing’s Harley Rushton, Michael Sweeney (IMS-CSC Racing – CB 350 K4 Honda) carry respectively start numbers twelve, fourteen and fifteen.
Capping off those attaining seeded rider status are hill climbing doyen, AM Chain supported Maurizio Bottalico, Greeves Oulton 350 pilot Will Loder, the hugely experienced Phil McGurk, amongst the Chris Hughes Racing team umbrella and Island Fuels Honda pilot Paul Cassidy.
2026 Historic Junior Classic TT – First Twenty Starters Re-Cap:
1 – John McGuinness MBE
2 – Michael Browne
3 – Dean Harrison
4 – Jamie Coward
5 – Michael Evans
6 – Michael Dunlop MBE
7 – Dominic Herbertson
8 – No starter at present
9 – Paul Jordan
10 – Joe Yeardsley
11 – No starter at present
12 – Dan Sayle
13 – No starter at present
14 – Harley Rushton
15 – Michael Sweeney
16 – No starter at present
17 – Maurizio Bottalico
18 – Will Loder
19 – Phil McGurk
20 – Paul Cassidy
Photo credit: Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
