- The 23-time TT winner confirms his intention to keep racing in 2027
- It would be his 37th racing season; the 36th is currently under way
- At Oulton Park he crashed for the first time in around six years
For many Tourist Trophy fans, the question of when John McGuinness will end his career has long been a permanent companion. The Briton nicknamed McPint has been answering it with the same calm for years, and nothing has changed there now either. After a race weekend that ended with a rare crash, he stated that he wants to carry on. The only open questions are in what role and with which team.
Why is John McGuinness’ future for 2027 still open?
The decision is not his alone. McGuinness has made it clear that he wants to continue, but he first has to agree it with Honda. The manufacturer is his current employer, and without joint planning there is no fixed programme for the coming season.
He described the situation to TNT Sports like this: „It’s my 36th season of racing and I don’t want to retire yet. I think just keep going while we’re enjoying it and having fun, and that’s where we are at the minute, we’re having a lot of fun with it all.“
He was equally specific about the next steps: „We’ll have to get around the table with Honda; we’ve got a discussion to make about where we’re going to go next year. I’m going to say nothing, we’ll get around a table, make a plan and whatever happens, I will always be in the paddock; I love the people, love the industry and I’m not hanging my boots up just yet.“
How did the race weekend at Oulton Park go?
The weekend ended with a retirement. McGuinness competed at Oulton Park in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship on his Honda Racing UK CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP and finished the first race in 17th place. In the second race on Sunday he was running 15th when he crashed at the Knickerbrook section of the circuit.
What stands out is how well the weekend had gone until then. Shortly before the crash he had set his fastest ever lap at Oulton Park, and the sector times were showing green, meaning he was running quicker through that stretch of track than in his previous best lap. Competing in the national Superstock series is not a one-off appearance for him but has been part of his programme alongside the road races for several years. At Brands Hatch, for example, he recently scored points and set personal best times.
The second Superstock race was won by Scott Swann on an SMR Performance-supported BMW M1000 RR, his first outing on the new machine. He beat David Allingham into second place, the rider who had dominated the first five meetings of the season with five wins from seven races. Allingham still leads the championship going into the round at Thruxton, 49 points clear of Luke Mossey.
When did John McGuinness last crash?
The retirement at Oulton Park was his first crash in around six years. He made that clear himself when he said after the race: „That’s the first time I’ve crashed a bike for about six years.“
For a rider who has been racing since the 1990s, that is an unusually long run. While some rivals hand back damaged machinery almost every weekend, riding errors that end in a crash are the exception for McGuinness. Even his most serious accident was not down to a riding mistake: in practice for the North West 200 he suffered a complicated leg injury and fractured vertebrae, caused by a technical failure.
His verdict after the race was correspondingly relaxed. He explained: „As disappointing as it is, the weekend and the race were going well up until that point. I’d put my fastest ever lap at Oulton Park together and was enjoying my racing. Green sectors prior to the crash showed that I was running at a good pace. I’m okay and the bike is okay, we’ll dust ourselves down and go again. I’m grateful to Honda Racing UK for putting the bike under me and to my crew for running it so well all weekend.“
How fast was McGuinness at the 2026 TT?
Despite his age he is not getting slower on the Mountain Course, but faster. At this year’s TT, McGuinness set his personal fastest time over the full six-lap race distance in the Superbike race.
That is remarkable in two respects. On the one hand, TT wins are now out of reach for him, as the field at the front has noticeably got younger in recent years. On the other, a personal best over six laps shows that both pace and fitness remain at a high level. Six laps of the Mountain Course mean well over 200 kilometres on closed public roads, a format that ranks among the toughest in motorcycle racing both physically and mentally.
What kind of career stands behind the name McGuinness?
His path began as anything but spectacular. He finished his first tarmac race in 1990 in last place. What followed turned him into one of the most versatile British racers of his generation.
Over the years, McGuinness scored points in both the Motorcycle World Championship and the Endurance World Championship. His real strength, however, showed on road circuits. At the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man he won 23 races, putting him third on the all-time list. The father of two is thus one of the few active riders whose career spans several generations of racers.
What role does the Classic TT play this summer?
The Classic TT becomes the highlight of his current season. Later this month McGuinness is among the most prominent entrants at the event, where alongside his races he will complete a special parade lap.
The reason is obvious. Earlier this year he marked his 30th anniversary at the TT. The parade lap is therefore less a sporting contest than a tribute to a career that has helped shape the character of race week for three decades.
What continuing in 2027 would mean
If McGuinness really does carry on, he would go into his 37th racing season. His comments after the weekend point clearly in that direction, even if the formalities are still missing.
Within the 2026 season, which had its sporting focal point at the TT in June and is now moving into the phase of classic events, the question of his future is one of the topics likely to hold attention beyond the winter. By his own words, an announcement will only come once the talks with Honda are concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Is John McGuinness retiring in 2027?
No, retirement is not on the cards. McGuinness has said he does not want to retire yet and wants to keep racing as long as he is enjoying the sport. How exactly that happens depends on talks with Honda.
-
How many TT wins does John McGuinness have?
McGuinness has taken 23 wins at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man, which puts him third on the all-time list. This year he also marked his 30th anniversary at the TT.
-
Why is John McGuinness’ crash at Oulton Park notable?
It was his first crash in around six years. It happened in the second Superstock race at the Knickerbrook section while he was running 15th. Shortly before, he had set his fastest ever lap at Oulton Park.
-
Which bike is John McGuinness racing in 2026?
He competes on a Honda Racing UK CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP. He most recently rode that machine in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship at Oulton Park.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
