The following is from Honda…
Ian Hutchinson scorched to an emotional first Isle of Man TT victory at race record pace aboard the HM Plant backed Honda CBR600RR. John McGuinness and Guy Martin completed a Honda 1-2-3 in the Centenary Supersport TT race.
The determined Yorkshire rider, Hutchinson, took charge of the four lap race after a traumatic mid-race pit-stop by Bruce Anstey. He had forged clear, but then struggled to fire up his Suzuki after the mid race stop to refuel.
It was a traumatic time for the popular Kiwi, as he lost vital seconds and was left playing catch-up. Hutchinson, having no worries after his rapid pit-stop, fully exploited the problems of his rival to take charge.
Hutchinson was finally able to dispel the bitter disappointment of his exclusion from the corresponding race of last year when his hard ride into second place came to nothing as a minor breach of the technical regulations, of which the rider knew nothing, was discovered at scrutineering.
“I just want to forget about that – at the time it killed me being disqualified – but now I have set the record straight by winning this Centenary TT race. There are so many people over here this year that have never been to the event before, there has been so much close, safe racing, that the event is on the crest of a wave,” reflected Hutchinson.
Hutchinson had been in contention throughout, although it looked as if he would have to settle for a top three finish as Anstey continued where he had left off from his sixth winning ride on the Island in the previous afternoon’s Superstock race.
Anstey powered in a record breaking 124.055mph opening lap to be two seconds ahead of McGuinness with Guy Martin and Hutchinson disputing third. There was faster speeds to come on the next lap with Anstey again providing the magic as he charged around the 37.73 mile Mountain Course in 18m 06.27secs, a speed of 125.041mph.
That put him almost five seconds clear, but that counted for little as he pushed his bike three quarters of the way along the pit-road before it finally fired up but by then Hutchinson was ahead by a third of a second up on McGuinness.
Martin moved third just ahead of Anstey who was keen to get back in the hunt, but Hutchinson was unaware that the Kiwi had experienced problems. “I didn’t realise it was Anstey until he came past me on the road at Kirk Michael. I thought then, I only have to stay with him now to win,” explained Hutchinson.
He was enjoying being out front and extended his lead over Padgetts Honda rider McGuinness to six seconds although the Lancastrian upped his challenge on the final lap, running at 125.096mph to finish just three seconds down on a jubilant Hutchinson.
American Jimmy Moore finished 15th in today’s Supersport TT.
