John McGuinness's last podium came at the North West 200 in 2012, before finishing third in the second Superstock race for the 2024 edition.
McGuinness ran fourth for most of the event, but was promoted to third late on after the retirement of Honda Racing UK teammate Dean Harrison. A late battle with James Hillier then went to McGuinness after they went their separate ways around his last-lap deficit, securing McGuinness's first North West 200 podium in 12 years, and 30 years after his NW200 debut.
“Honestly, I never thought I'd be standing on the podium again, so I'm thrilled,” McGuinness said afterwards. “This is a lot of work, and I've been putting in the work, putting in the hours and miles to prepare.
“I had some doubts and some people doubted me, but that's a big motivation for me. To still be here thirty years after my debut and fighting with these young guys is something else.
“I kept pushing and pushing in the race to get on the back of James and yes I had the benefit of a bit of good luck but that's racing. James came on the wrong side of the back marker and that's what he handed it to me.
Although the aforementioned Harrison retired from Superstock racing, he raced one of the week's rounds to remain in contention for the win for most of the final Superbike race, eventually finishing third in a Superstock-spec Honda Fireblade that had to run.
“It was a fast race from the start in the last Superbike race to be honest,” Harrison explained. “I tried to hold on to the back of Davey and Glenn on Stoker for as long as I could and, frankly, I rode as hard as I could in order to hold on to them in case they made any mistakes.
“I rode as hard as I could everywhere and braked as hard as I could to try to make a difference against a superbike.
“I'm extremely excited to put a brand new Superstock bike on the podium in a Superbike race. It's a new bike and we're learning all the time, so I'm looking forward to getting down to Donington next week where we'll learn more at BSB and then on to the Isle of Man. We've shown the bike is strong We will continue to move forward and become faster and faster.
