Hutchy joins Tyco BMW for 2016

Ian Hutchinson has announced he will race for the Tyco BMW team next season.

The Bingley Bullet is making the sensational switch from the PBM Kawasaki squad to campaign S1000RR BMWs for the Northern Ireland based Tyco team in 2016. 

The 11 times TT winner and will ride the German machine in all of the international road races alongside a concerted attack on the British Superstock championship.

“The Tyco team have been road racing for a long, long time and they are the first team that I would look to to give me success on the roads.” Hutchy said after visiting the squad’s Moneymore workshop.

The 36 year old explained that the strength of a team’s links with a manufacturer is important to him.

“With two riders in BSB and me on the roads in the PBM squad (this year) there was lots of feedback for development of the bike.” Hutchy explained.

“That will be the same with Tyco and I will be able to bring more to the team than just riding the bike.”

Hutchinson enjoyed a fairytale comeback in June when he won the Superstock TT on a PBM ZX10R and both Supersport races on Keith Flint’s Team Traction Control R6 Yamaha after a five year fightback from injury. But Hutchy has never ridden a BMW before.

“I have followed enough of the bloody things this year.” he joked.

“I have watched the Tyco bikes all year and it was a huge undertaking for the team to take on a new bike and commit to both BSB and the roads in their first year.” he said.

“That brings pressure but they have had success. Guy (Martin) was competitive at the TT this year and next season will be the team’s second year with the BMW. It is the perfect time for me to get on the bike when it has achieved the competitive level it is now at.”

“I watched Hutchy at the North West this year and I knew that he was going to be a threat.” Tyco boss Philip Neill said.

“I could see it in his eyes. He displayed great determination and single mindedness to achieve what he did this season.”