TT 2017: Rutter: 'I never thought I'd win another TT'

Michael Rutter returned to the top step of the Isle of Man TT podium in yesterday’s Bennetts Lightweight TT race, clinching his first petrol TT win since he won the 1998 Junior race.

The veteran racer, who turned 45 this year, dominated the four lap race to take victory for the SC Project Paton team despite losing eight seconds to rival Martin Jessopp in the pits.

“I never thought I’d win another TT,” laughed Rutter, whose other three TT victories came in the TT Zero class from 2011-2013. “I’m well happy with that. On the last lap I heard so many noises, I was convinced it wasn’t going to happen! I’ve led so many races around here, Superbike races, everything, and I’ve had punctures, contact lenses fall out, pistons break, but something went right for once. 

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“It’s so much easier racing the lightweights. That sounds bad, because it isn’t easy! You’ve got to ride them bloody hard, you’re forever folding the front, but those Superbikes and Superstock bikes are like warp factor. These days it’s very difficult to beat people like Hutchy and Michael Dunlop. Give me the North West and I’ll have a go at them but around here, if we can get on the podium in one of those races it’d be like winning.” 

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