HISTORIC JUNIOR SEEDED ENTRY PROMISES TIGHT BATTLE FOR PODIUM PLACES AT CLASSIC TT OPENER

Race week for this year’s Classic TT races gets underway with the three-lap Historic Junior race set to take place on Monday 24th August, the entry dominated by the seemingly bullet-proof Honda CB350 K4.

Royal Enfields, Velcoettes, Ducatis, Aermacchis and a Greeves can also be found within the near 40-rider entry so whilst history and the form guide is most definitely in Honda’s favour, anything can happen on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

Last year’s victor Paul Jordan returns with the Davies Motorsport Honda, the Burton upon Trent-based team aiming for their third victory in the class having also come out on top with Dominic Herbertson eight years ago.

Last year’s victor Paul Jordan returns with the Davies Motorsport Honda

Northern Ireland’s Jordan starts at number nine but getting the race underway from number one will be John McGuinness MBE, the Morecambe rider back on board the Steadplan Racing Honda he piloted to 13th last year. The class might not be the one most suited to the 23-time TT winner, but he’ll be giving it 100% as always.

McGuinness is followed by several pre-race favourites all of whom can be expected to challenge Jordan for race honours. The first of those is Mike Browne (Melbray Racing Honda) and he’s followed by last year’s runner up Dean Harrison (Craven Classic Racing/Ted Woof). Both riders can be expected to be running at the sharp end.

That applies too to Harrison’s team-mate Jamie Coward who starts at number four. He has no less than four podiums in the class, including victory in 2019 and third place behind Jordan and Harrison twelve months ago.

Coward, Jordan and Harrison will all be in the podium fight once again

Next to go at number five is Michael Evans (Ken Rutter Racing Honda) and although he failed to finish last year’s race, he was quickest in qualifying at 104.760mph which more than shows the undoubted potential of Evans and the 350cc Honda.

At number six, as always, is Michael Dunlop MBE and he rides the only Royal Enfield in the field. The bike has little form in the Historic Junior Classic TT race but if anyone can propel it to the top of the leaderboard it’s Dunlop and the Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV team.

Ten seconds later at number seven will be 2018 victor Herbertson, on the Nigel Haith Racing Honda. With an absence at number eight, Paul Jordan will set off next at number nine, followed by Joe Yeardsley at number ten on another of the Ken Rutter Racing Hondas. Team-mate to fellow Manxman Evans, Yeardsley lapped at over 102mph in qualifying last year before finishing fifth in the race so it’s clear he’ll be amongst the front runners once more.

Fifth in 2025, Manxman Joe Yeardsley setting off at number 10 will be amongst the front runners

With Derek McGee, unfortunately, a late withdrawal, there’s no one at number 11 so next to go will be another potential podium finisher, Dan Sayle. He finished fourth last year on the John Chapman Racing Honda which more than underlines his credentials.

Number 13 is also empty with number 14 taken by 2024 race winner Harley Rushton (Chris Hughes Racing Honda) and he’s followed by Michael Sweeney on yet another Honda. The Skerries man again lines up for Steve Caffyn’s IMS/CSC Racing team.

The seeded riders are completed by Maurizio Bottalico (AM Chain Honda), the Gran Canaria-based rider having finished a strong ninth last year, Will Loder on the solitary Greeves Oulton, Phil McGurk (Chris Hughes Racing Honda) and Paul Cassidy (Island Fuels Honda).

Just outside the top twenty are Andy Hornby, Stefano Bonetti, Jeffrey Vermeulen, Chris Moore, Tom Snow and Rhys Hardisty, the last two named riders both Velocette-mounted.

Classic TT 2026 Historic Junior Seeded Top 20

1 - John McGuinness | Steadplan Racing | Honda CB350 K4

2 - Mike Browne | Melbray Racing | Honda CB350 K4

3 - Dean Harrison | Craven Classic Racing / Ted Woof | Honda CB350 K4

4 - Jamie Coward | Craven Classic Racing / Ted Woof | Honda CB350 K4

5 - Michael Evans | Ken Rutter Racing | Honda CB350 K4

6 - Michael Dunlop | Flitwick Motorcycles / SMV | Royal Enfield GP5

7 - Dominic Herbertson | Nigel Haith Racing | Honda CB350 K4

8 -

9 - Paul Jordan | Davies Motorsport | Honda CB350 K4

10 - Joe Yeardsley | Ken Rutter Racing | Honda CB350 K4

11 -