Isle of Man TT
June 8, 2015
Monster Energy Supersport TT Race One Results:
1. Ian Hutchinson (Yamaha), 1:12:10.872, 125.451 mph
2. Bruce Anstey (Honda), 1:12:18.595, 125.228 mph
3. Gary Johnson (Yamaha), 1:12:35.811, 124.733 mph
4. Lee Johnston (Triumph), 1:12:48.591, 124.368 mph
5. Guy Martin (Triumph), 1:12:58.110, 124.097 mph
6. James Hillier (Kawasaki), 1:13:24.531, 123.353 mph
7. John McGuinness (Honda), 1:13:29.156, 123.224 mph
8. Conor Cummins (Honda), 1:13:51.604, 122.599 mph
9. Dan Kneen (Honda), 1:14:12.448, 122.025 mph
10. Michael Rutter (Kawasaki), 1:14:22.389, 121.754 mph
Best Lap: Hutchinson (Honda), 17:44.728, 127.571 mph
More, from a press release issued by Isle of Man TT Press Office:
Bingley Bullet returns to top step at the TT Races with fairytale win in Monster Energy Supersport 1 Race
Ian Hutchinson took a fairytale victory in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race on Monday evening when he came home 7.7 seconds clear of New Zealand’s Bruce Anstey, reversing the result of Sunday’s RST Superbike race, with Gary Johnson in third.
It was Hutchinson’s ninth TT win and completed his comeback from the career threatening leg injuries he suffered at the end of 2010, the year he won all five solo races.
The riders enjoyed perfect conditions for the 6.30pm start and it was Johnson who led at Glen Helen on the opening lap by just over two seconds from teammate Dean Harrison. He in turn was only half a second ahead of Hutchinson who was almost dead level with James Hillier. Anstey and Lee Johnston filled out the remaining top six places.
By Ramsey, Johnson had eked out a further half second but Hutchinson was up to second, half a second clear of Harrison who was leading on the roads having already overhauled John McGuinness. Anstey had taken over fourth from Hillier with Johnston holding on to sixth whilst Guy Martin was on the move and was now up to seventh.
Hutchinson was making a move though and, having closed to within two tenths of a second at the Bungalow, his opening lap of 126.400mph saw him lead Johnson by 0.77s. Anstey was a further two seconds back in third ahead of Harrison, Johnston and Martin, Hillier dropping back to seventh.
Glen Helen on lap two and Hutchinson’s lead was now over two seconds but it was Anstey who was now in second as Johnson slipped back to third albeit only seventh tenths of a second behind. Harrison was out though having retired at Crosby Crossroads with Michael Dunlop, down in 12th after the first lap, doing the same at Kirk Michael.
Hutchinson continued to edge away as Anstey and Johnson almost matched each other all the way round, their times almost equal at both Ramsey Hairpin and the Bungalow timing points. Martin was also increasing his pace as just over ten seconds covered the top four but ninth placed Keith Amor tipped off at Stella Maris fortunately without injury.
At the end of the lap, Hutchinson still led but Anstey had charged over the Mountain and a lap of 126.984mph allowed him to close to within 2.4s of the Yamaha man. Johnson was a further two seconds back in third with Martin in fourth but the latter was then hit with a 30 second penalty for speeding in pit lane, which dropped him down the order. Johnston and Hillier remained in fifth and sixth.
Hutchinson’s team were the slicker at the solitary pit stop and by Glen Helen on lap three his advantage over Anstey had almost tripled to 6.6s. Johnson had closed up on Anstey too with less than a second separating the pair.
The Bingley rider maintained his advantage throughout the lap and going into the fourth and final lap he held a six second lead from Anstey. Johnson appeared to be out of contention seven seconds adrift of the Kiwi but well clear of new fourth placed man Johnston.
Anstey was mounting a last lap charge and got the gap down to five seconds at Glen Helen but Hutchinson responded immediately and was a staggering 2.5s quicker than his Honda rival on the run to Ballaugh which gave him a more manageable lead.
The 35-year old Yorkshireman was able to control the race for the remainder of the lap and, with the fastest lap of the race – 127.571mph – he took the flag from Anstey and Johnson with Lee Johnston securing his best TT finish in fourth. Martin finished in fifth – which would have been fourth had it not been for the penalty – with Hillier having another good ride into sixth.
John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Dan Kneen and Michael Rutter completed the top ten.
Keith Amor was reported to have come off at Stella Maris but and was taken by airmed to Nobles Hospital with facial injuries.
Earlier in the day William Dunlop was taken by airmed to Nobles Hospital and was reported to have broken ribs while in the Lightweight qualifying session Adam Child came off at Guthries and was taken to Nobles with an ankle injury.
In the earlier Sure Sidecar race 1 Tony Thirkell and Dean Kilkenny had an accident at Windy Corner and the teammates were both transferred to Nobles Hospital with reported back pain and leg injuries respectively.
More, from a press release issued by Team Traction Control:
EMOTIONAL VICTORY FOR HUTCHINSON IN OPENING SUPERSPORT TT RACE
Ian Hutchinson celebrated an emotional return to victory in the opening Monster Energy Supersport TT race today (Monday) with an imperious performance to claim his ninth TT win by over seven seconds and a first for Team Traction Control Yamaha.
Hutchinson had joined Team Traction Control just a week ago after it looked like he would miss out on lining up for the Supersport TT this year. The Bingley Bullet had started ninth and had been closing down Gary Johnson and Dean Harrison, before taking the lead at the end of the first lap and gradually building an advantage ahead of the first pit stops.
A focused Team Traction Control crew got Hutchinson back on the road in rapid time and he continued to gather incredible momentum to gap his opposition and maintain his position at the top of the times throughout the final two laps.
Hutchinson’s victory marks an incredible return to the top after recovering from a serious leg injury sustained in a crash at Silverstone in 2010, following his record-breaking TT performance that year that saw him score five solo victories in a week.
Speaking after the race, Hutchinson said: “I was always going to become a TT race winner again someday! The race went really well and the Team Traction Control Yamaha is just a dream to ride – I felt like I was out delivering pizzas or something I felt that comfortable in the race!
“Starting as number nine wasn’t ideal, I think some people didn’t think I would be capable of running at the front again, so I got dropped down the numbers this year but I caught Guy and then I got out behind him in the pit stop, but apart from that it was pretty good. It was so special to hear all the fans around the circuit – people have taken note of me and I am so grateful for everyone’s support and for being behind me.
“The team gave me this opportunity a week before the TT and I hadn’t ridden it before I got here and we did three laps in practice and it has been an absolute dream to ride and thanks to the team for dropping everything to get me out here in this race. Keith Flint will be absolutely starting fires!”
More, from a press release issued by Smiths Racing Team:
Fifth For Martin Despite Pit Lane Penalty
The Gloucester-based Smiths Racing Team completed their second day of racing at the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races today with Guy Martin giving the double British Champions and TT winners their best result so far with fifth place in the opening Monster Energy Supersport race.
Riding the factory-supported Smiths Triumph Daytona 675R, the Lincolnshire rider started steadily but had moved up inside the top six by the end of the first lap and, with a lap of 126.823mph second time round, he occupied fourth position at half race distance.
But just as he was edging ever closer to the podium, all hopes were dashed when he was penalised thirty seconds for a speed infringement during the only pit stop of the race, his speed of 60.9kph was marginally over the allowed limit of 60kph. As a result, it dropped him down the order but he fought back in fine style and with another 126mph lap on the fourth and final lap, he ended the race in fifth place.
Team-mate David Johnson also had a strong ride setting a new personal best lap on a 600cc machine at 124.299mph on his way to claiming 11th place, having been in 18th at the end of lap one. It followed on from the Australian’s excellent showing in yesterday’s opening RST Superbike race where a succession of 127mph plus laps on the Smiths BMW S1000RR saw him secure tenth place for yet another top ten finish.
David Johnson: “I still need more time on the Superbike and it’s still a bit unstable at high speed. I rode it as hard as I could and tenth wasn’t a bad result. The Supersport race was hard going as we’re struggling to get it aerodynamic enough to suit me. I’m quite big and am giving 10mph away to Guy along the straights but every time I get on it, I make progress and to lap at over 124mph on my final lap was pleasing.”
Guy Martin: “I hadn’t been out on the bike for a couple of days and having been on my Superstock bike in the morning I was a bit lazy at the start and I think my first signal said ‘P13’. That woke me up a bit and I started to get my head into the race a bit more and the lap speeds were pretty good. As for the pit lane penalty, what can I say? It’s frustrating to say the least. The limiter was set well below 60kph and it was the same rear tyre that Gary Johnson used last year so we’re not sure why it happened. It’s frustrating like I say but the bike was faultless and we can give it another go on Wednesday.”
Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “We’ve learnt a lot with the Superbike this week and got some great help from Kurt from BMW Germany although it wasn’t until the final practice session that we got it close to where it needed to be. Credit where credit’s due and for David to finish tenth was a great job. In today’s Supersport race, neither bike missed a beat. The crew did two great pit stops and we got two top twelve finishes so it hasn’t been a bad day at all. But for Guy to get penalised was frustrating. The limiter was set at 55kph and we tested it during practice week and it was fine so all we can think of is that the growth of the tyre threw the settings out. I’m gutted for Guy and the team but at least we get another bite of the cherry on Wednesday.”