Tributes paid to race legend Tony Rutter

Tony, who also claimed nine North West 200 wins and two British titles during a stunning 22-year career, passed away peacefully yesterday morning, aged 78.

The much-loved motorbike racer, from Wordsley, in the Black Country, won pretty much every title going during his illustrious career.

His son, Michael, 48, from Bridgnorth, Shropshire, who equalled his father's seven TT wins last year, said: "It is with sadness that after a period of poor health, dad passed away.

"I was with him when he died at about 2am (Tuesday morning) and he was very peaceful.

"It makes me smile how dad lived his life exactly how he wanted to – and how he got away with so much!

"He will probably be best remembered for winning the world TT-F2 championship four times on a Ducati, as well as seven Isle of Man TT wins, nine North West 200 wins, and two British championship titles during his 22-year career.

"I’d like to say a big thank you to his carers for taking such good care of him and all his fans and supporters."

Tony, who ran his own bike garage and would often frequent Quatford Café, near Bridgnorth, in retirement, survived a horror 150mph-crash that nearly cost him his life in 1985 when he hit a patch of oil.

It followed a multiple bike pile-up at the Montjuic circuit, in Barcelona, which left Tony in a coma and on a life-support machine for 10 days.

But despite breaking his neck in two places, all the ribs down his right side, smashing his hip, breaking a leg and an arm, and also damaging the nerves in his left eye were damaged – after skidding on a patch of oil while riding in a 750cc world championship race – he managed to return to racing two years later, before retiring in 1991.

During his career, Tony raced against the likes of Barry Sheene, Mike Hailwood and Joey Dunlop on the circuits and roads, and in later life even competed against his son, Michael, who followed him into racing and who has himself enjoyed a very successful 30-year career.