Road racing legend John McGuinness has signed for the Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki team to contest this season’s Isle of Man TT and North West 200 events.
McGuinness, who celebrates his 30th year of racing in 2020, will ride Ninja ZX-10RR machinery in the Superbike and Superstock classes at both events and will head into both among the favourites for podium honours. And he will join Alastair Seeley on the team’s Supersport bikes.
“I’m delighted to announce my plans for the 2020 road racing season and equally delighted to be riding for Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki,” said McGuinness.
“Their record on the roads with James Hillier, in terms of both results and reliability, along with their reputation within the bike industry, speak for themselves and with it being such a family-orientated team, it’s the perfect fit for me.
“It’s a highly reputable, professional team who have achieved great things on both the roads and the circuits and, for me, they tick all the boxes.
“Pete drove all the way up from Bournemouth to Morecambe to meet me and put the offer on the table and it didn’t take much for me to sign – it was an easy decision.
“Everything made perfect sense and we’ve put together a good plan that will put us in the best position possible for the TT and North West 200. After my performances at Macau, I really got my mojo back and, with my leg now 100 per cent, I feel like I’m as riding as well as ever.
“Joining Kawasaki and Pete’s team and riding the Ninja ZX-10RR is a new chapter for me, one I’m excited about and really looking forward to.”
it will be the first time McGuinness has ridden a Kawasaki at either event but the now 47-year old has previous experience on the roads for the manufacturer having taken a close second place on a Hawk Racing Kawasaki in the 2004 Ulster Grand Prix Superbike race, finishing just 0.083s behind Kiwi Bruce Anstey.
International road races are what McGuinness become synonymous with in recent times and he can now boast a superb total of 23 wins at the Isle of the Man TT, a figure only bettered by the late, great Joey Dunlop, while his tally of 47 podiums is the highest figure of all time.
He was also the outright lap record holder around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course from 2004-2013, regaining the accolade in 2015 when he lapped at a personal best speed of 132.701mph.
His record at the North West 200 is also to be admired with six wins and 21 podiums and both he and Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki head into 2020 with the sole focus of getting back onto the podium at the TT and NW200.
