John McGuinness MBE will lead the field away from number one in the Historic Senior Classic TT later this month, giving the three-time winner the first starting slot on the Winfield Paton.
The announcement adds another layer to a race that already looks set to be one of the more competitive classic contests on the Isle of Man TT Races schedule. The entry list is a varied one, with Patons, Manx Nortons, Royal Enfields and several other makes represented across the 20 seeded riders.
A familiar front-runner
McGuinness has plenty of history in this event. He won the class in 2016, setting a lap of 113.342mph on his way to his maiden victory, then repeated the feat in 2018 and 2019. He has also held the lap record for a decade, underlining how strong his pace has been around the Mountain Course.
The number one start will put him in the spotlight again, but it also comes with pressure. Recent editions of the race have tended to be tight, and the front of the field includes several riders with proven form on classic machinery.
Returning winners add to the challenge
Dean Harrison is back after winning on his previous visit in 2023, when he recorded the fastest official lap by a British-built single cylinder machine at 111.395mph. Shaun Anderson, meanwhile, returns after defeating McGuinness in a close finish in 2024 to claim his first Mountain Course victory.
Mike Browne also arrives as a recent winner, having taken the race twelve months ago with a 110.737mph lap. That mix of returning winners and experienced contenders is a big part of what makes the Historic Senior Classic TT an appealing race this month.
With McGuinness starting first and the leading names spread through the field, the race has the ingredients for another close-run contest. The machinery may vary, but the same theme keeps coming up: the battle at the front should be decided by small margins.
