McGuinness helps Team UK to Phillip Island victory

The Isle of Man TT legend raced for the UK as they stormed to victory on the second day of racing, turning around a 12-point deficit to Australia after day one to run out an easy 99pt, 693 to 594, winner.

Across four races on Roger Winfield’s Harris Yamaha, McGuinness was part of a star-studded line-up that included Jeremy McWilliams, Ryan Farquhar, Conor Cummins, James Hillier and Glen Richards.

The balance of power shifted emphatically in Sunday morning’s race three, as seven of the UK riders finished inside the top 10, while it was a disaster for Australia with only two of its team — Jed Metcher and Steve Martin — able to put together some really solid points.

Individually McGuinness finished fifth overall on 133 points with McWilliams and Metcher tieing top spot in the battle for the prestigious Ken Wootton Perpetual Trophy.

McWilliams said: “The team was pretty nervous across the board this weekend after a lack of track time on Friday.

“In the first race on Saturday we simply weren’t up to speed, but race three was where we really turned it on.”

Elsewhere in the team event Ireland, on 421, were third with America, 355, and New Zealand, 289, fourth and fifth.