Lee makes his TT dream come true in Classic style
AFTER the trials and tribulations of practice week, racing got underway on the Isle of Man on Saturday and the two races staged produced some great action with two local riders, Lee Johnston and Adam McLean, battling for the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT victory, which Johnston claimed.
and there was also the hugely popular return to the top step of the podium after two years for John McGuinness as winner of the Bennetts Senior Classic TT.
On the opening lap of four for the Lightweight race, McLean was first to Glen Helen on his Binch Racing 250cc Yamaha, less than a second ahead of Ian Lougher with Johnston on the Padgetts Honda a further five seconds back in third.
By the Bungalow, Maguiresbridge rider Johnston had clawed back Lougher’s advantage to move into second spot, some four seconds behind McLean.
Lap two saw Johnston reel in McLean and take the race lead before Ballaugh Bridge, coming in for his re-fuelling stop a second and a half ahead.
McLean had the faster pit stop, reducing Johnston’s advantage to a third of a second at Glen Helen on lap three.
But from there to the chequered flag, it was all about the ‘General’ extending his lead mile after mile and setting the fastest lap of the race at 117.919mph on his final circuit to win by 29 seconds from McLean with Lougher 43 seconds further back in third.
After his second Classic TT win, Johnston said: “The plan was to enjoy the race and win at the slowest possible speed. I always dreamt of winning a TT race on a two-stroke and I just wish I had been born 20-years earlier and this was the TT.
“I have to thank Bruce Anstey for letting me ride the bike he won this race on in the last two years and also Clive Padgett for making my dream become reality.”
Despite his battle with illness, New Zealander Anstey was there to congratulate Johnston and completed a parade lap of the course on the Padgetts RCV Honda he won on at the Ulster Grand Prix last year.
McLean said: “It’s only my second time here, so that’ll do nicely. I really enjoyed it considering I only saw the bike at the start of the week.”
Earlier in the day McGuinness led the Senior Classic from start to finish, set the fastest lap at 110.676mph to win by over a minute on the 500cc Winfield Pa- ton from the Craven Manx Norton of Jamie Coward.
Lee Johnston turned a 14 second deficit to Chris Swallow after his third lap splash and dash to race into third position at the chequered flag.
There were fears McGuinness (46) might never race again after a practice accident at the North West 200 two years ago.
He admitted: “I never ever thought I’d be able to pull back into the winner’s enclosure here again, but I’ve worked really hard for this moment and it feels special. The Paton never missed a beat, but it was hard work out there and it takes it out of you.”
Racing continues this morning with the Junior Classic scheduled for 11am, followed by the Superbike Classic at 2pm and the Manx Grand Prix Newcomers Race A and B from 5.15pm.
Magheramorne rider Scott Swann finished a fantastic fourth in Saturday’s British Talent Cup race at Silverstone, part of the British MotoGP programme.
Scott was involved in a racelong battle with Storm Stacey, winning the fight by a tenth of a second, the race won by Scot Rory Skinner.
The second race yesterday, like the rest of the MotoGP programme, was cancelled due to the weather.