McGuinness launches 20th anniversary display

John McGuinness is celebrating his 20^th year at the Isle of Man TT this year and to mark the momentous occasion the Morecambe Missile is displaying a wide variety of machines from his iconic career around the mountain course.

Featuring 12 bikes in total, the ‘John McGuinness Collection’ is situated in Nobles Park, just opposite the TT VIP suite.

Leading the line-up is the Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR that saw McGuinness take his 23^rd career victory in last year’s remarkable Senior TT. The display also features the bike on which McGuinness made his mountain course debut 20 years ago, the 250cc Paul Bird Honda he rode to 15^th in the 1996 Lightweight 250cc race.

Another two-stroke machine in the collection is the 250cc Vimto Honda he rode to his maiden TT triumph in the 1999 250cc race, as well as the Chrysalis AMDM he took his second victory on in the 2000 Singles race.

2004 marked the first year McGuinness took a hat-trick around the TT course, and all three machines – the IFS R1 Yamaha, R6 Yamaha and RLR400 Honda – are all on view.

Also on display is the 2007 HM Plant Fireblade McGuinness rode to the first ever130mph lap of the mountain course, as well as his record-breaking 2014 Mugen Shinden 3 electric TT bike and the Padgetts Valvoline Honda he rode in the 2014 Supersport race.

As well as the display, the collection also houses McGuinness’ 2016 Superstock effort for the fortnight and fans can also buy the wide range of official John McGuinness merchandise.

Speaking about the collection, John said; “Having the display is something I’ve been thinking of for a while and it was a conversation with Mark Sears of Dunlop earlier this year that kick-started everything. Sadly, Mark lost his life in an accident earlier a couple of months ago but we’ve seen the project through as I wanted to give something back to all the TT fans and share my 20-year journey with them.”

“What’s nice about the collection as there’s a real variety in there including two-strokes, four-strokes, singles, 400s, electric bikes and each and every one of them has a story to tell. I can still remember my first practice lap of the course and it was wet, cold, foggy and sunny and I’m still tearing round the place today. The TT means so much to me and it’s been an incredible journey so far, a journey that the fans have all been part of so come down and have a look!’