By After dominating qualifying sessions, John McGuinness MBE (Team Winfield Paton), looked nailed on for success within the three-lap Historic Senior Classic TT.
Starting field numbers were modest with only thirty-two riders receiving the tap on the shoulder from Mark Pendlebury.
McGuinness MBE got off to a flyer, opening by Ramsey a lead of 12 seconds over Beugger Racing Paton mounted Shaun Anderson.
Mikey Browne (Peter Lodge Racing – ES2 Norton) held third with Michael Dunlop MBE (Flitwick Motorcycles-SMV – Royal Enfield), Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing-Ted Woof – Manx Norton), Conor Cummins (retired later during lap one – Windy Corner) fourth to sixth.
David Johnson’s challenge came to an abrupt halt at Glen Helen, crashing out, sustaining leg injuries (speedy recovery ‘Davo’) whilst additional early race retirees were Jamie Coward, Joe Yeardsley, Paul Jordan, Russell Roebury and Paul Cassidy.
As lap wrapped up, the top five standings saw McGuinness MBE (standing start lap speed – 113.028 mph) P1, Anderson P2 +20.220, P3 Browne +6.364, P4 Dunlop MBE who retired at the pits +29.432, P5 Harrison +12.311.
Chris Moore, Rhys Hardisty, 2026 Senior TT winner Harrison soon joined the lengthy retirements list, stopping before Glen Helen.
Whilst Harrison’s modern racing team-mate McGuinness MBE appeared without threat for first across lap two, it was not as clear cut for second with Anderson, last year’s race winner Browne evenly matched.
With one lap still to go, Browne surged into second, +2.607 clear of Banbridge ace Anderson.
As McGuinness MBE took victory laurels, Mountain Course win number twenty-seven, the big question was who out of Browne and Anderson, had pocketed P2.
Answer Anderson (final lap – lap speed 112.839 mph) after last lap issues for top non-Paton rider Browne (final lap – lap speed 110.098 mph).
TT Privateers Champion Barry Furber banked fourth with Will Loder, former Historic Junior Classics Manx GP winner Harley Rushton completing the leader-board top six.
2026 Historic Senior Classic TT – Race Result, to follow later.
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
