The Senior
Earlier in the day, celebrations were somewhat muted after the Senior 500cc race that had been restarted following a red flag incident on lap one at Ballaugh.
Talented road racer Chris Swallow, 37, died instantly when he was unable to scrub sufficient speed off the pace of the Linsdell Enfield on the approach to the humped-back bridge. The bike landed heavily and both the rider and machine careered into the garden wall of a house next to the Karl Gall Memorial.
Chris’ father, Bill Swallow, had started the same race 40 seconds behind him on the road.
When the Bennetts-sponsored event re-started two hours later it was held over a shorter three-lap distance.
All eyes were on the leading two 500cc Patons twins of John McGuinness and Stefano Bonetti. The Italian had been moved up the pecking order to No. 2 (from 22), starting 10 seconds behind the Morecambe man.
Maria Costello was also in the top three, initially on her Beugger Paton; indeed she posted the fastest time through the speed trap on Sulby Straight at 141.9mph.
At Ramsey, McGuinness led by 11 seconds from Bonetti and at the end of the opening lap the advantage was 17.3s.
McGuinness controlled the race from the front, while Jamie Coward moved ahead of Costello on corrected time at Ramsey on lap two with the Craven Manx Norton.
McGuinness led Bonetti by 24.29s with one lap remaining and Coward had edged 8.7s ahead of Costello.
Bonetti lost his gear-change pedal in the closing stages and he had resorted to changing gear with his left hand.
McGuinness crossed the finish line 27.8s clear of Bonetti on adjusted timing, with Coward in turn 13s ahead of Costello.
Alan Oversby and Derek Sheils were the leading Honda riders, completing the top six.
“My toes and my fingers are tingling with the vibration and my ears are ringing with the noise of the twin, but the bike never missed a beat. I could have ridden round there all day,” said McGuinness after his third win on the Winfield Paton in four years.