Michael Rutter smashes course record at Isle of Man
Michael Rutter turned back the clock and put in one of the rides of his life to win his fifth TT at the Isle of Man – smashing the race record in the process.
The 45-year-old Brierley Hill-born star reacted better than the rest to the damp conditions on the island to claim a win in the lightweight class, finishing the four-lapper seven seconds faster than anyone before.
Rutter, starting number four on the road, soon started reeling everyone in and was left to battle it out with Martin Jessop for top spot.
But his Paton had the pace to keep edging further and further ahead around the 37.73-mile course and he took the chequered flag 8.8 seconds ahead of Jessop, with Peter Hickman in third, during yesterday’s afternoon race.
Rutter, who claimed his first victory on the island in the Junior TT back in 1998, has claimed three TT Zeros wins in between on electric bikes.
“It’s brilliant to win another TT race, especially as I’m getting on a bit now!” he said.
“I got my head down on the first lap but lost a bit of time at the pit stops so I had to dig deep to pull Martin back and once I’d caught him, we had a lot of fun.”
Rutter had ridden his Bathams/SMT Superstock machine to a strong fourth-placed finish during the Superstock TT.
He now turns his attention to the six-lap Senior TT.
