TT hero Ian Hutchinson targets Macau after successful Cadwell test
Thursday 29 September 2011
TT
Isle of Man TT history-maker Ian Hutchinson is targeting November’s Macau Grand Prix for his return to racing.
Hutchy, who won all five solo races at the 2010 TT, suffered terrible leg injuries towards the end of last year’s British Supersport Championship.
He has been unable to race since the crash at Silverstone last September, but after his first post-crash test, Hutchinson said ‘it’s looking good for Macau’.
At the Cadwell Park shakedown, the eight-time TT winner rode a Swan Yamaha R1 with a specially-constructed gear-shift system, which allows him to swap cogs with his right leg. The system, built by SMR Performance, uses a shaft from the right side of the bike, which goes through the swingarm pivot and connects to a knuckle, which then joins the left-mounted quickshifter as usual.
The Bingley star said he had no problem with it, but had the left-mounted rear brake disconnected while he waits for a thumb-brake to be installed.
Hutchy added:
“Being on the track felt surprisingly good to be honest. It’s a bit strange but after a couple of laps you’re soon back into it.”
“It wasn’t like I expected to be missing apexes or anything like that and you don’t forget what you’ve spent all that time learning. Obviously, I’m not pushing hard and getting on the throttle early, but I’ve got some good lines and really enjoying being back out there.”
“We’re using the Superstock bike because it is closer to a road bike and easier to ride than a full-blown Supersport race bike, you don’t really have to chase it around the track as much. There’s a lot more torque to go a little slower and find my way back into riding really.”
He continued:
“The gearbox is quite easy actually, it’s still in race-shift and I’ve not got it wrong yet, but I did go for the back brake over the mountain but then remembered it isn’t there. I need to get a thumb brake on it as I am used to that on a Superbike, which will stop me thinking about it.”
“My leg feels really good, I’ve got another operation on it later this week to try and release some scar tissue to get my ankle working again. I’m still having physio, but it’s looking good for Macau in November. We will swap the gearshift back if the operation is a success, but I’m not going to stop racing because I have to use the right side to change gears.”
SMR team owner Shaun Muir said:
“It’s great for Ian to be able to finally get back on a bike again after all this time. The team is over the moon with the progress he has made and he was very comfortable on the R1 today.”
“It good for us all to see a way forward now and we can look at 2012 with renewed confidence.”
Isle of Man Government TT and Motorsport Manager Paul Phillips added:
“Everyone on the Isle of Man is delighted for Ian. He has shown incredible strength of character to put himself in a position to be competing again in such a short space of time and we look forward to seeing him back at the TT races in 2012.”