Isle of Man TT history maker Hutchy is Man of the Year
Thursday 10 February 2011
TT
After making history at the 2010 Isle of Man TT, Ian Hutchinson has now joined such motorcycle luminaries as Valentino Rossi, Barry Sheene and Joey Dunlop in being named ‘Man of the Year’.
The Bingley star was backed by thousands of Motor Cycle New readers in the poll, beating stars like 2010 MotoGP World champion Jorge Lorenzo to the accolade.
Hutchy said being named Man of the Year at the Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show in London was ‘overwhelming’.
Hutchinson cemented his place in racing history in June when he took victory in all five solo races at the TT riding for Padgetts Honda. Success at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix, plus some good rides in British short circuit competitions, made 2010 a year to remember for Hutchy.
However, his season ended in disaster during a British Supersport race at Silverstone in September. After a fall at the start of the race, he was hit by another machine and suffered serious leg fractures.
Hutchinson later admitted his recovery had been tough, and he had faced the prospect of losing his leg due to the extent of the injury.
He is now well on the road to recovery, has signed a deal to race for Yamaha in a team run by Shaun Muir at the 2011 TT and has targeted to start of the British short circuit season in April for his comeback.
With a full works-spec R1 Superbike, Hutchinson will lead Yamaha’s TT campaign as the Japanese manufacturer celebrates 50 years of racing at the TT.
Hutchinson received the award on stage at the London bike show, and said:
“I never even thought of myself getting an award like this.”
“When I saw my name in the final 10, alongside Valentino Rossi’s, that was enough for me to feel overwhelmed.”
The MCN award has been to given one outstanding rider every year since 1958, when it went to John Surtees. Other former Man of the Year winners include Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini.
It is the second major accolade for Hutchinson to mark his 2010 season – in January he was handed the International Road Racer Award at the Adelaide Racer Awards ceremony in Belfast.