Hutchy makes it two wins after victory in the Superstock race
Hutchy was in top form making this his second victory of this year’s TT and his 3rd win in a row in the Superstock Isle of Man TT Races.
Riders were warned of cross winds at Crosby Hill along with damp patches at Ginger Hall, Ramsey Hairpin and Hillberry prior to the race start, this did not deter a masterful display by Hutchy throughout the race, taking an emphatic race win flag to flag.
The Tyco BMW mounted rider led from start to finish, taking the race win in front of Hickman by 22.4 seconds with Manxman Dan Kneen taking his maiden podium in 3rd place.
Michael Rutter led through Glen Helen on the opening lap by one second from Hutchy; Hickman was only three tenths of a second adrift, although it was disappointment for Hiller when he retired at Ballacraine.
Hutchinson had inched ahead at Ballaugh and rounding Ramsey Hairpin for the first time, his advantage over Rutter was 1.3s. Hickman in third place a further 1.5s behind.
Passing through the grandstand on the first lap it was a 131.109 lap for Hutchy giving him a 4.5s lead over the now second placed man Hickman with Rutter only 0.17 adrift of Hickman iin 3rd place. In front of Kneen, all top four riders lapped in excess of 130 mph. unfortunately Conor Cummins, Bruce Anstey and Gary Johnson retired to the pits.
Hickman pulled a two second lead on Rutter with Kneen in close contention 1.5s behind Rutter, leading on the roads Hutchy was pulling out all the stops and by Ramsey had pulled out a 7.8s advantage over Hickman with Kneen now having overhauled Rutter to take 3rd place.
Hickman would lap at over 130 mph on his way to second place
Coming into the pit stop, Hutchy had lapped at 130.673mph on his second lap, changing his rear wheel and making small adjustments to his front suspension his lead over Hickman was still only 6.7s with Kneen now 5.8s further back. Rutter had slipped to five seconds behind Kneen with Harrison Dunlop still in fifth and sixth.
Hutchy’s lead had now doubled as he went through Glen Helen on lap three, the gap now 13.6s in front of Hickman, ten seconds clear of Kneen but Rutter, in fourth, was coming under extreme pressure from Dunlop, the difference between the two just 0.2s.Dunlop finally passed Rutter but a determined Rutter was having none of it and retook 3rd place.
Going into the final lap Hutchy’s lead over Hickman was slightly down now standing at 12.4s with Kneen holding onto 3rd place and Rutter ahead of Dunlop by 3.5s.
Dan Kneen would place third in the race with an all BMW podium
Hutchy put his fastest lap of the race with a 131.639 lap and taking the victory from Hickman by 22.4s (Hickman taking his 3rd podium from 3 races)Kneen was to cross the line in 3rd place making it an all BMW rostrum, Rutter finally held on to take 4th place with Harrison overhauling Dunlop to take 5th.
Images by Al Smith & Glynne Lewis
Words by Glynne Lewis
