Isle of Man TT
June 9, 2015
RL360 Superstock TT Race Results:
1. Ian Hutchinson (Kawasaki), 1:10:05.298, 129.197 mph
2. Michael Dunlop (BMW), 1:10:22.437, 128.673 mph
3. Lee Johnston (BMW), 1:10:30.677, 128.422 mph
4. James Hillier (Kawasaki), 1:10:30.947, 128.414 mph
5. Peter Hickman (BMW), 1:10:50.444, 127.825 mph
6. David Johnson (BMW), 1:11:00.805, 127.514 mph
7. Guy Martin (BMW), 1:11:10.217, 127.233 mph
8. John McGuinness (Honda), 1:11:35.129, 126.495 mph
9. Bruce Anstey (Honda), 1:11:47.731, 126.125 mph
10. Conor Cummins (Honda), 1:11:50.172, 126.053 mph
35. Mark Miller (EBR), 1:16:14.107, 118.741 mph
Best Lap: Michael Dunlop (BMW), 17:17.392, 130.932 mph
More, from a press release issued by Isle of Man TT Press Office:
HUTCHINSON AT THE DOUBLE AS HE TAKES HIS SECOND TT WIN OF THE WEEK WITH SUPERSTOCK TRIUMPH
Ian Hutchinson won his second race of the week at the 2015 Isle of Man TT races, fuelled by Monster Energy, when he took the RL360 Superstock race on Tuesday afternoon obliterating Michael Dunlop’s race record by 32 seconds. In a stunning race the top four – Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop, Lee Johnston and James Hillier were all inside the old mark.
Hutchinson’s PBM Kawasaki rider took control at the half race distance point and the ‘Bingley Bullet’ eventually ran home victor by just under 20 seconds from early leader Michael Dunlop. Lee Johnston nipped in for the final podium place, his first TT podium finish, after getting the better of James Hillier in a thrilling final lap.
Dunlop set the early pace and he led at Glen Helen by 1.1s from Hillier with Hutchinson in third and Guy Martin in fourth ahead of Johnston and Gary Johnson. By Ramsey, the Northern Irishman still led and had added a second to his lead with Hutchinson now relegating Hillier to third.
An opening lap of 130.932 gave Dunlop the lead from Hutchinson by 1.6s with Martin now up to third, 3.3s behind. All three were over 130mph with Hillier, Johnston and Hickman completing the top six.
The gap remained the same for the first half of the second lap but Hutchinson started to reel Dunlop in, getting the gap down to 0.8s at Ramsey. However, the MD Racing BMW rider responded and as they came into the pits, his lead was back up to 1.9s. Martin had dropped back and was now eight seconds adrift with Johnston, Hillier and Hickman maintaining their top six positions. Johnston posted his first 130mph lap of the Mountain Course at 130.285.
At the pit stop, Hutchinson changed his rear tyre whilst Martin lost a significant amount of time when the Tyco BMW refused to fire. However, the change in rubber worked wonders for Hutchinson and with more grip, he shot into the lead at Glen Helen, his margin over Dunlop now 2.7s.
Indeed, as the lap wore on, he continued to pull away and his advantage was almost ten seconds going into the final lap. Martin had dropped all the way down to seventh and it was Hillier, circulating on the road with Dunlop, who was now up into third ahead of Johnston, Hickman and David Johnson.
Hutchinson wasn’t to be denied his second win of the week and he increased his lead all the way round the final 37.73 miles to eventually cross the line 17.2s clear for his tenth TT victory. Dunlop had to settle for second but the battle for third went all the way to the chequered flag and it was Johnston who grabbed it from Hillier by just 0.270s after a stunning final lap of 130.851.
Hickman took a brilliant fifth in just his second TT with fellow BMW riders Johnson and Martin following him home in sixth and seventh. The three Hondas of John McGuinness, Bruce Anstey and Conor Cummins completed the top ten.
More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:
Record Breaking Superstock TT Victory For Hutchy And PBM
Ian Hutchinson gave the Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport Team their first Isle of Man TT race victory since 2000 when the Bingley rider won this afternoon’s RL360 Superstock TT race in record breaking style coming home over 17 seconds ahead of Michael Dunlop to score his tenth TT victory.
It was Dunlop who set the early pace but his lead over Hutchy’s PBM Kawasaki was only 1.6 seconds at the end of the first lap with both riders lapping close to 130mph. Second time round and Dunlop increased his lead to two seconds but the PBM Team had an ace up their sleeve and changed the rear wheel of the ZX-10R in super fast time at the solitary pit stop.
With increased rear grip, the 35-year-old Yorkshireman took control and by Glen Helen, on lap three he’d overturned the deficit into a 2.7 second advantage, a lead he continued to increase over the course of the 37.73-mile lap. Indeed, going into the final lap, the gap to Dunlop was almost ten seconds and with a stunning final lap of 130.924mph, Hutchinson was able to claim victory over Dunlop by 17.2 seconds. Such was his pace; his four-lap time was some 32 seconds inside the old lap record and gave the team their first TT victory since Joey Dunlop won the Formula One race in 2000.
Ian Hutchinson: “In the four years I’ve been out, Michael’s been the man to beat so to win today and get the better of him makes the win extra special. I’ve worked really hard and all the time I’ve spent in the gym over winter getting fit has paid off although I was a bit unsure about our chances when the team told me about the wheel change. Every rider will tell you that having a wheel change is an incredibly scary thing but fair play to Sam Neate, he did a mega job and it gave the initiative I needed. It was always going to be the hardest race of the week but the team did a fantastic job and there was no panic or drama as far as that was concerned. I was worried as I started running low on fuel at the Bungalow on the last lap so I drafted John McGuinness down the Mountain to conserve it and I was also on the path at Bedstead one lap so it wasn’t all plain sailing.”
Paul Bird, Team Owner: “I’m chuffed to bits with today’s win and especially pleased for Ian. It’s a big ask for the Kawasaki going against the BMW in Superstock-spec but we worked things out and thought changing the tyre would give us the advantage we needed. Ian kept in touch with Michael in those first two laps and the new tyre was a big factor in the win. Full credit to the boys in the team and after all the effort Ian’s put in to get back racing competitively, no-one deserves it more.”
Hutchinson will be in action on the PBM Kawasaki in the PokerStars Senior TT over six laps on Friday. For further information please visit www.pbmuk.net and www.pbmuk.net
More, from a press release issued by RC Express Racing:
Lintin excels in Superstock race to claim brilliant 14th place
Ivan Lintin and the RC Express Racing team enjoyed an excellent day of racing at the Isle of Man TT races on Tuesday when the 30-year old claimed a brilliant 14th in the 4-lap Superstock race.
Riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R Kawasaki, the Bardney-based rider got the race underway in stunning fashion when he posted an opening lap of 127.316mph, his best ever lap of the 37.73-mile course, to slot into 14th place. With his second lap being only slightly slower at 126.704mph, he was able to maintain his position as he came into the pits for his solitary stop.
As well as refuelling, the team opted to change the rear wheel as well and although he remained in 14th for the rest of the race, the riders that finished ahead of him were all TT winners and podium finishers as well as being with teams with a lot bigger budget. The race was also the fastest ever in the history of the Superstock class so there’s no doubt it was one of Lintin’s finest rides around the Mountain Course.
Ivan Lintin: “I really enjoyed the race today and to record a personal best lap in excess of 127mph was really pleasing. I had to be a bit creative with the fuel conservation as it was spluttering into the pit stop and I decided to take it a bit steady on the final lap to make sure there weren’t any issues. The new rear tyre made the bike feel better too especially when the fuel load went down although I also had to recalibrate the brain as I’d got used to the bike spinning up. To add almost 2mph onto my best ever lap speed and to finish 14th in such a highly competitive field is another good TT result so thanks to the whole team for giving me a great package.”
Ben Constable, Team Co-Owner: “We were one of the few teams to make a tyre change and although Ivan was having to be careful with the fuel, despite it being brimmed to the roof both times, it paid dividends and we’ve finished with another mega result. He’s set a personal best lap by some distance and both he and the team are continually moving forward. We’ve never stood still and it’s all about progress, progress, progress. We can’t complain one bit and Ivan’s on it so we’re really looking forward to the next three races.”
Ivan’s next outing comes on Wednesday with the second 4-lap Supersport race.
More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist:
Two more top eight TT finishes for McGuinness
Morecambe’s John McGuinness continued his 2015 Isle of Man TT Races campaign on Monday and Tuesday with the 21-times winner taking seventh and eighth respectively in the Supersport and Superstock races.
The 4-lap Supersport race was delayed until 6.30pm on Monday evening and with a solid opening lap of 124.114mph on the Jackson Racing Honda, John slotted into ninth place just behind team-mate Conor Cummins. John increased his pace second time around to 124.783mph and, aided by a slick pit stop, he overhauled Cummins and moved up into seventh as Dean Harrison retired. With his best lap of the race, 124.944mph, coming on the fourth and final lap he duly came home for seventh and yet another silver replica.
The Superstock race was subsequently pushed back to Tuesday afternoon where John was this time mounted on the EMC2-backed Honda Fireblade. Despite an opening lap at more than 128mph, he found himself down in 11th place and although he recorded another 128mph+ lap he had to settle for an eventual eighth place finish at the chequered flag, the first Honda machine to finish.
John McGuinness: “What can I say, it’s been two hard day’s racing and I’ve given my all. I felt like I was riding well in both races and I really enjoyed the 600cc race. I put in a professional ride and 7th was a strong finish – I couldn’t have given any more that’s for sure but it just wasn’t quite fast enough to get right at the sharp end.”
“In the Superstock race, I again gave it everything I had but I got low on fuel coming out of the Creg so had it not been for that, it may have been another seventh place. It’s an unbelievably competitive field but I rode well, hit all my apexes and was the first Honda rider home. Having put the team together myself with some loyal sponsors and EMC2 coming on board, I wanted to give them all a good result. That’s three finishes from three races so far, all inside the top eight and I’ve three more chances so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.’
John will be back out on the Jackson Racing Honda in Wednesday’s second Supersport race.
More, from a press release issued by Quattro Plant Kawasaki:
Hillier narrowly misses out on second podium at TT2015
James Hillier and the Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki team narrowly missed out on their second podium of the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races when the Hampshire rider finished fourth in Tuesday’s Superstock race, just 0.270s adrift of third placed Lee Johnston.
Like Sunday’s Superbike race, the 30 year-old was in contention throughout and placed second at Glen Helen on the first run to Glen Helen, just over a second behind Michael Dunlop. By the end of the lap he’d slipped back to fourth and, such was the pace of the race, he was pushed back down to fifth at half race distance despite posting his first ever 130mph lap on a Superstock bike.
However, with a superb pit stop, James had jumped up to third by the start of the fourth lap as he circulated on the road with Dunlop. Johnston was putting in a charge though and it was nip and tuck between the duo throughout the final 37.73-miles. The Northern Irishman lapped at 130.851mph compared to James’ 130.254mph and it was enough to see him get the verdict, cruel fortune for the Quattro Plant Muc-Off team.
The result came on the back of another strong ride by James in Monday evening’s Supersport race where a succession of 124mph+ laps enabled him to come home in sixth place for his third top six finish from the three races held so far and his third silver replica.
James Hillier: “It’s frustrating to finish so close to the podium particularly after 150 miles of racing – it’s tough losing a short circuit race by such a small margin never mind a podium at the TT but fair play to Lee. He put in a great ride and if I was to lose to someone, I’d want it to be him as he’s a good lad. I tried hard on the first lap, perhaps over-riding a bit, but once Michael came by I relaxed a bit more. I knew it was close for third and could see Michael was tiring a bit so I re-passed him but it was just a bit too late to halt Lee’s charge.”
“The 600cc race was pretty uneventful as I was riding on my own for the majority of the race but I did a 125mph lap from a standing start and was happy with a top six finish. I’ve finished in the top six of all three races so far and Friday could yet be our strongest day with the Lightweight and Senior so I’m really looking forward to the second half of the week.”
Pete Extance. Team Owner: “James put in a superb ride in today’s Superstock race and we’re all gutted for him that he missed the podium by such a small margin. He did his first 130mph laps on a Superstock bike and was comfortable sitting with Michael Dunlop when he caught up to him. We had a great pit stop and James realised Michael was tiring and also that third place was up for grabs. He re-took Michael and tried to hold off Lee but it wasn’t to be. Nevertheless, it was another fantastic ride by James and again proved that he can run with the best at the TT.”
“He started at number ten, as opposed to two, in the Supersport race and it was always going to be hard work trying to keep up with Ian Hutchinson who started at nine. He put in some consistent laps and rode a good, solid race in what’s not our strongest class to finish in a good sixth place. We’re all eagerly looking forward to the rest of the week now so thanks, as always, to the whole Quattro Plant Muc-Off Kawasaki team.”
James will be back out on the Mountain Course on Wednesday riding the Kawasaki ZX-6R once more in the second Supersport race.