IOMTT: Hutchinson wins Superbike TT, his fifteenth

What was expected to be a brawl between Michael Dunlop and Ian Hutchinson turned out to be a game of pitstops between Hutchinson and Peter Hickman, also on a BMW. 

Michael Dunlop threw down the gauntlet with a 131.135mph (211.041kph) lap from a standing start, but on the second lap his Bennetts Suzuki cut out, leaving him stranded. Hutchinson then went on to take the lead from Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Kawasaki) on lap four, climbing up from fourth place after a great pitstop by the Tyco BMW crew. Peter Hickman on the Smiths BMW, meanwhile, was flying through his later laps, coming to within 1.6 seconds of Hutchinson at one point. However, those great pitstops meant that the lead from first to second went back up to five seconds. 

This marks Ian Hutchinson's 15th win at the Isle of Man TT. A full week of racing at the Isle of Man remains - watch this space! 

Photo: MCN