John McGuinness

Wins Segrave Trophy

Isle of Man TT giant and current lap record holder John McGuinness was presented with the prestigious Segrave Trophy by Britain’s Royal Automobile Club on March 31. One of the most significant awards in global motorsport that has been awarded for the past 85 years for ‘outstanding skill, courage and initiative on land, water and in air, ‘the Spirit of Adventure’, its presentation to McGuinness honours the British rider’s contribution to motorcycle road and circuit racing in the United Kingdom, including setting the outright lap record at the 2015 Isle of Man TT. The Segrave Trophy is named after British pilot and racing driver, Sir Henry Segrave – a man who pushed himself and his machines to the very limit in the pursuit of ultimate speed. He was the first man to hold World speed records on both land and water, though the latter would cost him his life in 1930. Speaking at the award presentation held in the RAC’s plush central London club premises on Pall Mall, Tom Purves, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said, ‘Lady Segrave commissioned the Trophy in 1930, soon after her husband, Sir Henry Segrave died after breaking the World water speed record on Lake Windermere. It was her wish that the Trophy should celebrate and encourage those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding skill and courage, whether on land, sea or in the air. As one of Britain’s greatest motorcycle racers of his generation, John McGuinness’s bravery and sheer speed are the exact qualities Lady Segrave wished to celebrate. It is our honour to salute John’s career and his remarkable success, particularly at the Isle of Man TT where he is the greatest living exponent with 23 victories to his name. He became the first rider to achieve an average speed of over 130 mph and, in 2015, set the current outright lap record of 132.701 mph.” A humbled McGuinness, 43, said he’s delighted to have his name added to a list which includes of many of his heroes. “I’m absolutely honoured to receive this prestigious award. It’s something quite different, and I’m definitely in good company when you look back at the motorcycling greats who have previously received this, with the likes of Geoff Duke, Barry Sheene and Joey Dunlop. The award has been running since 1930, and I have massive respect for everyone who has been a part of its history. I am so proud to now have my name alongside some of my heroes.” Although most frequently awarded to those who have achieved success on four wheels – Formula 1 aces Stirling Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Damon Hill, Jackie Stewart and Nigel Mansell are among the previous winners of the award – the Segrave Trophy has previously been awarded to eight other motorcycle racers since 1930, including: • • • • • • • • Geoff Duke (1951) for winning the 350cc and 500cc motorcycle world championships and the Senior and Junior Tourist Trophy races in the same year; Peter Collins (1976) for winning the World Speedway Championship; Barry Sheene MBE (1977 and 1984) for his career in motorcycle grand prix racing, including being the only man to win World Championship GP races at every capacity from 50cc to 500cc ; Mike Hailwood GM MBE (1979) for his long career in motorcycle grand prix racing, Formula 1 and his successes in the Isle of Man TT including his last, in 1979, at the age of 39, following a successful comeback to the event after an 11-year break; Steve Webster (1991) for winning his fourth FIM World Sidecar Championship title; Carl Fogarty MBE (1994) for winning his first of four Superbike World Championships, the first British rider to do so; Joey Dunlop (2000 posthumously), in recognition of a career of unrivalled achievement on the Isle of Man TT; John Surtees CBE (2012), for his outstanding career in two and four wheeled motor sport, including seven motorcycle World Championship titles, culminating in the unique achievement of being the only man to win a motorcycle and Formula 1 World Championship.