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Injured TT star Hutchinson targets April return to racing

Thursday 20 January 2011
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Ian Hutchinson on stage at the Adelaide Racer Awards with Stephen Watson

The star of the 2010 Isle of Man TT Ian Hutchinson is determined to be fit in time for the start of the British short circuit season, and says he will ‘definitely’ be back at the TT this year.

Hutchy dominated last year’s races, taking victory in all five solo races on his Padgetts Honda machinery. He also enjoyed great results at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix, as well as a strong run in the British Supersport Championship.

However, his season came to a disastrous end in September when he was involved in a first lap crash at Silverstone and was hit by another motorcycle while lying on the track.

He was airlifted to hospital for treatment to compound fractures to his tibia and fibula in his left leg.

It was hoped he would be able to quickly recover from the broken leg, however the Bingley star has now revealed the extent of the injury was much worse than many thought and he had faced the prospect of losing his leg since the crash.

Despite the severity of the leg injury, Hutchinson said he is now well on the road to recovery and determined to return to racing as soon as possible. He has targeted the first round of the BSB season – at Brands Hatch in late April – for his racing return.

Hutchinson was speaking at the Adelaide Racer Awards in Belfast, where he was named IFS International Road Racer of the Year.

He beat Keith Amor, Michael Dunlop, Ryan Farquhar, Bruce Anstey and Alastair Seeley to the prestigious title, which was decided by a panel which included journalists and racers like Brian Reid and Jeremy McWilliams.

Hutchy, still on crutches, chatted with show presenter Stephen Watson about his injury, the amazing 2010 season he enjoyed and his hopes for 2011.

He said:

“I will definitely be back. It has been a bit up and down. I kept it quiet because there have been times when there was a possibility I was going to lose my leg, but I’m all right now.”

“I just wanted to get back up there and win. I am definitely going to be back. The start of the British championship is what I’m aiming for.”

Hutchinson added he was it was ‘unbelievable’ to have been part of the record-breaking team which dominated the TT last year.

It is still to be confirmed what team Hutchy will be with in 2011.

During the awards ceremony Ryan Farquhar, who finished on the podium twice during last year’s TT, was handed the prestigious Geoff Duke Trophy after dominating the 2010 Duke Road Race Rankings. The rankings award points for selected national and international road races throughout the year, recognising riders who concentrate on the roads.

Farquhar was presented with the trophy by Duke managing director Peter Duke, who confirmed that after topping the rankings for the third year in a row the Dungannon rider would now keep the trophy.

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