The 23-time TT winner has been absent from the event since seriously breaking his leg at the North West 200 in '17, but returned this year with Norton in the SBK and LTW classes, and Padgetts for the Supersport races.
John retired from the SBK and LTW race, and was forced to park up at the Bungalow on the opening lap of the Senior TT when an engine bolt broke, almost causing him to crash.
Reviewing his TT, John said he doesn't “really know what we've done to deserve” the misfortune he suffered – but admits he's “ticked a few boxes” on his return.
“We'd done no practice whatsoever, everyone has been in the same boat. So I'm surprised, shocked and I've just had a chat with the boys and they've all got their head in their hands.
“Stuart Garner [Norton boss], he's got his head in his hands. He doesn't understand really what we've done to deserve it, we should have had a good, clean solid run on the bike and it hasn't happened.
“Surprised, disappointed, it would have been nice [to have gotten a result]. I'm sat at the Bungalow having not even completed a lap, and conditions were good, the boys were flying around enjoying themselves.
“Spectators were eager to listen and enjoy the Norton, and we never did anything really. So a bit disappointing. But we're here, we're safe, we've ticked a few boxes.”
McGuinness did tally up his 47th career podium after securing second in the Zero race, and admits he never thought he would see a TT podium again following his NW200 accident – adding that even to start last week's races was “a win”.
“We had a cool result on the electric bike, kept old Michael Rutter honest. Nearly 121mph lap on the electric bike for me was ace.
“To stand on the podium again, 47th podium, never thought when I was laid there [at the NW200 with my leg] snapped in half I was ever going to stand on the TT podium again.
“Ups and downs really, but big for me to be back. To even stand on the start line was a win. But [it's still] frustrating. That Senior, I just wanted a good, safe, solid result and a top 10 result was on the cards, but it wasn't to be.
“So, disappointed on one side of the coin, but good on the other side if that makes sense?”
John will return to the Isle of Man – mid August for the Classic TT where once again he will be riding for Team Winfield on their rapid 500cc Paton in the Bennetts Senior Classic TT, where he is the reigning champion .
This weekend John(and his family) will be ‘trekking’ over to Durham from their family home in Morecambe to once again support the 25th BikeWise event
John has sponsorship links with local based Hitachi Construction Machinery Ltd (formerly HM Plant Ltd) & in particular CEO John Jones, who has maintained a close link with John for a number of years.
John has visited BikeWise many times and is a true motorcycle enthusiast as well as being a racing legend and it is a unique opportunity for you to meet one of the legends of motorcycling racing.
If you want to see what it's like to travel at an average of 132.701mph on a bike at the TT check out Johns video below :