The “Morecambe Missile,” John McGuinness is an English, legendary Isle of Man TT motorcycle rider. Born 16 April 1972, in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, McGuinness has always been around bikes because his father owned a motorcycle repair shop. However, after graduating in 1990, and due to recession, McGuinness would be forced into cockle fishing with the man that later became his father-in-law. He also had his first taste of racing in 1990, through an endurance road race at Aintree, when he was 18.

McGuinness has featured in several road races like the North West 200 and Macau Grand Prix. Also, he competed in the MotoGP World Championship between 1997 and 2000. However, his greatest motorsport achievements are in the Isle of Man TT, the most dangerous racing event in the world, making his debut in the event in 1996, and finishing 15th. McGuinness’ motorcycle riding career has spanned about 25 long years, and his achievement within that time is nothing short of legendary. Check out these unique details about the iconic rider.

10 Married His Childhood Sweetheart

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via: Reddit

A woman has been beside McGuinness all the long years of his racing career, and that’s his wife, Becky. The two were childhood sweethearts who have been together since their mid-teens. However, from all indications, racing was more important to the love birds than marriage, with Becky accompanying him to all his races.

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Eventually, they got married in 2012 after Becky’s dad, for the fear of passing away due to cancer, urged them to get married while he’s yet alive. They have two children, Ewan and Maisie.

RELATED: Here Are The 10 Isle Of Man TT Racers With The Most Wins

9 Won Best Newcomer Award On Debut

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You can sometimes tell how great an athlete would become by their debut performance. And all the pundits that might have predicted great fortunes for McGuinness as a result of his debut performance will feel justified today.

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McGuinness' 1996 TT debut was a blast. So good, he was given the award of the best newcomer. However, it’ll take him three years after that debut to land his first TT win in the Lightweight 250 category.

8 Competed Against His Racing Idol

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Sports personalities often have people that inspired them to take the trade, people they look up to in their formative years. Their idols. For McGuinness, that person was Northern Irish legendary motorcyclist Joey Dunlop. At 14, McGuinness bought a picture of Joey so he could meet him for an autograph, at the 1986 TT.

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While Joey signed, McGuinness told him they’ll be on the podium together someday. Years after, the dream came true. McGuinness had five years of competition against Joey, from 1996 to 2000.

7 First To Break The 130 Mph Average Speed Barrier

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The 130 mph average speed had been a barrier for TT racers for years, as none could surpass it. However, in 2007, McGuinness achieved the feat in a record-breaking performance which saw him win the Senior race at the Isle of Man TT while at it.

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The Morecambe Missile broke the record in lap two with an average speed that stood at 130.354 mph and a record-breaking total race time of 1 hour 46 minutes 44 seconds. Amazing!

RELATED: The Isle Of Man TT Dates Announced For 2022

6 He’s A Freeman

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Freemen in the UK are people conferred with the “Freedom of the City” title. It’s an honor bestowed on valuable members of a community, or a visiting dignitary or celebrity. The origin of honor can be traced back to medieval times, when respected citizens were granted freedom from serfdom.

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The practice is also observed in the US, Canada, and some other countries. In 2007, McGuinness was given the Freedom of the City of Morecambe.

5 Broke 4 Vertebrae & 3 Ribs In A Crash

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via: ITV

In 2017, while practicing for the Superbike race at the North West 200 event in Northern Ireland, McGuiness crashed and suffered multiple injuries. The preliminary report of the crash revealed that McGuinness had sustained a broken leg.

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However, subsequent reports show that the legendary racer had broken four vertebrae, three back ribs, and has as well fractured his leg. The unfortunate incident ruled McGuinness out of the Isle of Man TT for the 2017 season.

4 Second Most Successful TT Rider Ever

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Inaugurated in 1907, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) races are yearly motorcycle racing events that take place on the Isle of Man, mostly around May to June of the year. Notably, the event is considered by many as the most dangerous race in the world, with over 150 deaths in its 114 years history. It’s so bad that finishing a TT race is even considered to be a victory in itself.

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Hence, having not only to finish countless times, but winning on 23 occasions, McGuinness is undoubtedly a TT icon, and he’s the most successful TT rider after his hero Joey.

RELATED: These Are The Most Legendary MotoGP Bikes Of All Time

3 He Wrote A Book

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In 2017, McGuiness released a book titled “Built For Speed.” An autobiography, the 320 pages book chronicles McGuiness’ career. It detailed all the events from his first club racing days with subpar motorcycles to the present elite level.

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Also, in the book, McGuiness described how he grew up in Morecambe, and how he got his first bike at just 3. The book is quite enthralling, and through it, McGuinness shared his mind about a sport in which fellow racers died in droves, yet, he couldn’t stop.

2 Has An Honorary Fellowship

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In UK Universities, an Honorary Fellowship is often conferred on people from certain industries that the institutions would love to recognize and have collaborations with. Some of the UK schools that award Honorary Fellowships include Imperial College London, London School of Economics, Queen Mary College London, as well as Myerscough College.

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via: Myerscough College

In 2017, Myerscough College awarded McGuinness an Honorary Fellowship “in recognition of his outstanding courage and his achievements in the field of racing motorbikes.”

1 Awarded An MBE

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via: Lancaster Guardian

One of the greatest honors in the British ranks, the MBE is ranked fifth in the classes of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The history of these honors dates back to the era of King George V who founded the Order to plug the holes in the British honor system.

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via: English Bulletin

These honors are given to individuals as a reward for their contribution to arts and sciences, charity, and public service. In 2021, McGuinness was awarded an MBE for his services to motorcycle racing.