John McGuinness warns Isle of Man TT rivals: “I’ve got no secrets…”
Johꦦn McGuinness "not too worried about showing anybody around"
John McGuinness insists he’s happy for less experienced riders to follow him around t♚he Isle of Man TT.
The 23-time winner is back on the Mountain Course at the age of 53 t♏his week.
After a weather-hit first few days, Honda rider McGuinness was able to puꦓt some lap times on the board on Friday.
But it was Paul Jordan following him closely w💖hich caught the eye - but McGuinness welcomes the close att𝔍ention.
“Paul might get my job! You never know,” he teas🅷ed.
“I hadไ a steady first lap, but he was right there. I thought: ‘Do you know what, I’ll have a go on the second lap…’
“He followed me all the way around. I’m not too worried about showing anybody around here 👍anymore!
“I’ve got no secrets, really.
“He’s a good rider, a professional ride🌞r in a good team.
“We’ll bring these riders on, if we can.”
McGuinness insists that being back at the TT conjurℱes up similar feelings to many years ago.
“I am rꦛeally, realꦏly nervous. I always do,” he said.
“It’s the big #1 plate on the Honda. There is expectation. Not f✨rom the team, but I put a bit of pressuꦇre on myself.
“That’s the Isle of Man.”
Dean Harrison shining at Isle of Man TT
McGuin꧂ness was eighth-fastest in Superbike qualifying with a 128.3ℱ86mph lap.
But McGuinness’ teammate Dean Harrison 𝔍has ♔stolen the show so far.
Harrison set the fastest-ever qualifying lap on Wednesday, then on Friday cont𒐪inued his red-hot form.
He was fastest in the Supersport class on a Honda, and in the Superstock class🌳 on a BMW.
Harrison✤ said about his Supersport bike: “I ride this bike week-in week-out so I know it well.
“We’re making changes to make it steer un🌳der drive. We have mad꧅e big changes. Made a massive step.
“The condition😼s are good, I thought it would be💝 damp. I got a nice lap on Lap 2 which gave us a good direction.”
In the Superbike💦 class, he was seventh, marginally faster than McGuinness. The top Honda was Na📖than Harrison who didn’t get a factory Honda ride this year.
Dean Harrison admitted: “The 600cc is such♊ a different thing it’s hard to have a transition.
🍎“The big bike is the most difficult at the moment, it’s a bit lively. John has had a similar thing.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade coꦚvering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
