Hutchinson takes historic fifth victory

From the Isle of Man TT

Ian Hutchinson made history on Friday when he became the first man to win five TT races in a week after clinching a shortened four-lap Dainese Senior race in what was a dramatic day’s racing on the Isle of Man.

Hutchinson took the lead from the start and when close challengers John McGuinness and Conor Cummins retired and crashed respectively he was able to ease off in the closing stages to come home 37.77 seconds clear of Ryan Farquhar and Bruce Anstey. He beat the record of 11-time champion Phillip McCallen, who was previously the only man in the races' 103-year history to win four races in a week, which he achieved in 1996.

The initial six-lap race got underway under blue skies and beautiful sunshine again and spectators were set for a thriller as Hutchinson, McGuinness, Cummins and Guy Martin went head to head over the first two laps. With all four lapping at over 130mph, there were less than six seconds splitting the quartet after the first pit stop, McGuinness leading the way from Martin, Cummins and Hutchinson.

However, Martin was reported as missing at Glen Helen third time around and news came through that he had been involved in an incident at Ballagarey. With the bike having caught fire, the hedge was also alight and the race was red flagged with the fire brigade dispatched to the scene as the whole Island held their breath in concern for one of the sport’s most popular stars. Fortunately, news filtered through that the 29-year-old was conscious and talking to medics, a later statement confirming that he had bruising to his lungs and minor fractures to his spine, a huge relief to all concerned.

With the race stopped, the circuit had to be cleared before racing could commence again and, when it was, at 3:00pm, it was reduced to four laps. On the restart, Hutchinson again stole the early initiative but it was close and his advantage over McGuinness at Glen Helen was just half a second. Cummins was only a tenth further back in third with Cameron Donald in fourth and Michael Dunlop and Ryan Farquhar in fifth and sixth - just three seconds splitting the top six.

By Ramsey Hairpin, Hutchinson had edged 1.14 secs. clear and McGuinness held a similar advantage over Cummins, the gap between those two 1.5 secs. As the riders flashed across Glencrutchery Road for the first time, Hutchinson led with an opening lap of 131.487mph but it was close with McGuinness only 0.61 secs. adrift, the 15-time winner having clawed back some time over the Mountain. Cummins was still in contention, only two seconds behind in third while Keith Amor was now up in to fourth closely followed by Farquhar and Anstey, both of whom had retired from the earlier abandoned race.

Hutchinson eked out a further two seconds on the second run to Glen Helen but no sooner had he passed the timing beam than McGuinness was out, the HM Plant Honda having coasted to a halt just on the exit of the left hander. This promoted Cummins up to second but he found himself three seconds behind as they reached Ramsey. Amor, Farquhar and Anstey were all promoted up the order with Ian Lougher now in sixth but there was further drama when Cummins had failed to reach the Bungalow. The local hero had crashed at the Verandah although he too was conscious and talking to the medics, reported as having arm and leg injuries.

This allowed Hutchinson’s lead to rocket up to 27 seconds, another 131mph+ lap helping him on his way. Amor was close to his first ever 130mph lap in second with Farquhar, Anstey, Lougher and Michael Rutter now occupying the leading six positions.

After the pit stop, Hutchinson’s lead over Amor had increased but the Scotsman was still trying and he reduced the deficit steadily around the third lap although the Bingley man was seemingly in control of everything, still over 21 seconds to the good as they went in to their final lap.

At Glen Helen, the gap had increased to 31 seconds but Amor’s hopes of a Superbike podium were dashed when, remarkably, he too coasted to a halt after passing through the timing point, joining team-mate McGuinness on the sidelines. Farquhar and Anstey now found themselves in second and third, both looking to end their weeks on a high.

Hutchinson was able to almost cruise round his final lap of TT2010 and he crossed the line standing on the footpegs, adopting a Superman stance for what is truly an amazing feat. Farquhar and Anstey were celebrating too, the former recording his first ever Superbike podium at the TT and the latter ending a difficult week on a positive note.

Lougher completed yet another TT year with a strong set of results, taking fourth in the Senior with Rutter bringing home his Superstock-spec Honda in fifth. Meanwhile, Dan Stewart replicated his sixth place finish of 12 months ago followed by Adrian Archibald, Dan Kneen, Davy Morgan and James McBride.

With five wins from five, Hutchinson was the comfortable winner of the overall TT Championship taking the Joey Dunlop Trophy by a whopping 61 points from Michael Dunlop and Farquhar.

Jenny Tinmouth extended her title as the fastest woman around the course with a final lap of 119.945mph.