John McGuinness achieved his third win at the 2004 TT Races

The Morecambe rider had already won the Formula One plus the lightweight 400 race, and his latest success was his sixth career win at the TT.

McGuinness, on a Yamaha, had a winning margin of 17 seconds over the TAS Suzuki machine of Production Race winner Bruce Anstey from New Zealand.

Jason Griffiths (Yamaha) was third ahead of Richard Britton (Honda).

Ian Lougher crashed out at Union Mills while lap record holder Ryan Farquhar had to retire with engine trouble.

McGuinness also celebrated setting a new lap record of 18 minutes 25.4 seconds while his his average race speed of 120.57mph was a new benchmark.

McGuinness dominated proceedings, claiming the early advantage and went close to overhauling Adrian Archibald after having made up the best part of 20 seconds on the way to setting a his first lap record of 18:29.6.

Further behind

McGuinness then overtook Archibald on his second lap to grab the lead on the road as well as on corrected time as he circulated in the new best lap time of 18:25.4 which was set despite a refuelling stop.

By the halfway stage Anstey's Suzuki GSX-R was 21.2secs in arrears and the Kiwi fell further behind after an extended fuel stop.

At three-quarters race distance Anstey found himself 27 seconds adrift and McGuinness made use of the comfort zone by throttling back on a last lap which saw Archibald forced to retire at Rhencullen because of mechanical difficulties.