John McGuinness Shines at Brands Hatch with Personal Best in 2025 BSB Opener
When it comes to proving you’ve still got the magic, few riders do it better than John McGuinnes 23-time Isle of Man TT winner kicked off his 2025 British Superbike Championship campaign at Brands Hatch and walked away with a new personal best lap time – plus a grin as wide as the start-finish straight.
Racing in the National Superstock class, McGuinness qualified 12th on Saturday with a lightning 1:27.946, the fastest he’s ever lapped the Kent circuit. He then converted that pace into a 14th-place finish, bagging his first points of the season.
“I’m really happy to have my personal best lap time at Brands Hatch and to finish in the points at my first BSB weekend of the year,” McGuinness said, clearly buzzing after Race 1. “I got nipped a bit at turn one and thought, ‘This isn’t going to be good!’ But we got away with it. This series pushes you out of your comfort zone, and that’s what makes it special.”
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A True Family Affair
Adding to the feel-good factor was the family effort behind the scenes. McGuinness’ son, Ewan, swapped his regular job for a spanner-wielding role in the garage for the weekend, helping his dad chase lap-time glory.
“Mega fun weekend! Took the weekend off the normal job to spanner for my dad,” Ewan shared on social media. It was a proper family pit crew moment, and judging by the results, the McGuinness garage ran like a well-oiled machine.
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Sunday Progress and a Happy Ride Home
Race 2 on Sunday saw McGuinness mixing it with the younger riders once again, finishing 17th but completing the race in a quicker overall time than Saturday. No wild lunges, no bent fairings—just clean, hard racing and steady progress.
“I went faster over a lap yesterday than I ever have before at Brands Hatch, and today the overall race time was quicker again,” he said. “The bike’s never missed a beat, I kept it upright, and I’m heading home a happy man.”
Team manager Havier Beltran praised the effort: “John has done what he’s been doing all year—breaking his own records and enjoying himself at the sharp end.”
It may not have been a podium, but for McGuinness, the weekend ticked every box: faster laps, points in the bag, and priceless memories shared with family. The legend rolls on.