A TT Legend will be debuting the new CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT as Honda sign McGuinness for the 2022 Road Racing Season. The 49-year-old will partner Glenn Irwin as the Japanese manufacturer celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the 1992 Honda FireBlade.
John McGuiness MBE has amassed 23 TT wins and 47 podiums throughout his career. And that includes claiming 12 of the 20 total victories taken by the Honda CBR10000RR Fireblade, which contributes to Honda remaining the most successful manufacturer in TT history, having accumulated 189 wins over the years. McGuiness first raced at the Isle of Man TT in 1996, taking his first win in the Lightweight 250cc class in 1999.
He’s currently the second most successful rider at the Isle of Man TT with 23 wins across all classes, just three behind the late Joey Dunlop. They’re the only road racers to have collected more than 20 victories. In 2022, McGuiness will be celebrating his 100th TT start at the age of 50. The other riders to have won Isle of Man TT races on the Fireblade are Steve Plater, Ian Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey.
“What can I say really, it’s like coming back home to the family! I’ve been in talks for a while with Neil and Harv and it’s just something that feels right; it’s the 30th anniversary of the Fireblade, I’ll be 50 years old and also celebrating my 100th TT start, so it feels like it’s meant to be. I’ve enjoyed a lot of success on the roads with the Honda and worked with Harv back in the day with HM Plant Honda, so I’m looking forward to getting back into the set-up and getting going. I had a little go on the Fireblade earlier this year and was impressed with it on-track, so looking forward to getting on the roads and seeing how it goes. It’s going to be a special year with everything going on and also just getting back to the North West 200 and the TT and everyone racing there again – I can’t wait to get stuck in!“
Partnering McGuiness will be the four-time North West 200 Superbike race winner Glenn Irwin, whose 2020 Isle of Man TT debut was delayed due to the global pandemic. And he’s already a regular race winner and podium finished on the Honda Fireblade SP in British Superbikes. Irwin will also be part of a four rider Honda Racing BSB team next year, alongside Tom Neave, Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi.
“Finally, I’ll be making my long-awaited TT debut with Honda! We’re now more familiar with the new Fireblade and the team is more familiar; I like to have home comforts as such and continuing with the bike and the same team I think puts us in a better position with frame of mind. We still have no targets set and no expectations for the Isle of Man TT, we’re going there to learn and enjoy. It’s incredible to have someone like John as my teammate on the roads, he’s someone I have looked up to and is probably the second greatest TT rider after another Honda-man Joey! To have that opportunity to be able to learn off him, and able to be part of the team, see everything first-hand and to learn off him experiencing the ‘McGuinness-factor’ is something I am really excited about! On the flip side, we go to the North West 200 where we can work together and I think we can realistically set targets there – I would love to achieve Honda’s first international road race win on the new Fireblade at the NW200 and add to my Superbike wins there. We’re fully aware we’ve not been there in a few years, but like everyone else, we’ll go, and we’ll do our homework. For sure the Honda team are the best to go road racing with, and BSB, and hopefully we can find out feet during practice and if we’re feeling confident look towards adding to the NW200 wins.“
The North West 200 will take place from May 10-14th 2022, with the Isle of Man TT Races running from May 28th until June 11th, 2022. The Honda Racing UK duo will be competing in both the Superstock and Superbike classes at the NW200 and TT, along with the Senior TT.
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