HE DID it! Morecambe now has its very own bona fide major league motor cycle champion in John McGuinness.

After his second place on Sunday - which meant he wins on points overall overall - his main rival Jamie Robinson soaked the 25-year-old Morecambe with quality champagne on the rostrum. If that wasn't enough another racer proceeded to empty a full bucket of champagne over him.

But nothing could wipe the smile off the face of this modest man from Morecambe who won with a replacement engine.

"It was the longest race of my life!," breathed an exited McGuinness after the 17 lap race at Brands Hatch. "The replacement motor wasn't as good as the original and there was a lot more vibration but even so, I could have gone faster had I needed to. I was closing in on Jamie Robinson at the end but I knew had it in the bag so it was a case of keeping an eye on my board and bringing it home."

In fact McGuinness did exactly what he said he'd do and followed Robinson all the way home in the race to prove that it's points that make prizes. But the day didn't start well for him when the team were forced to use a spare engine after the number one unit broke in the morning warm up but everything worked out just fine in the end for the popular Lancastrian.

His Vimto Team Boss Paul Bird was delighted: "That's what we've been working towards this year. I'm delighted for John, for the team and particularly for Honda. We can go to Donnington in a relaxed frame of mind and round it off in style next weekend."

John is supported by one main Morecambe company. House of Anderson backed John all the way. The company on Thornton Road sell windows, bedrooms, kitchens and patio doors.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.