Hutchy is back!
Hutchinson set for incredible injury-defying road racing return
Incredible return to race pace for the Bingley Bullet
Ian Hutchinson is set to make a remarkable comeback at next week’s North West 200 after making huge progress with the recovery of his broken leg over recent weeks. The Bingley Bullet still had an external fixator cage on his leg at Honda’s recent Castle Combe test and it was beginning to look unlikely he’d be racing at the TT. However, an X-Ray at the end of the month revealed his leg had strengthened enough for the cage to be removed. The 38-year-old wasted no time in getting back on two wheels, heading out with his new Honda Racing squad at Mallory Park on Friday. Things looked good after their first day on track with Hutchinson completing 78 laps. In need of race signatures for his TT licence, he then entered the East Midlands Racing Association club meeting over Sunday and Monday. He won two races and finished second in another. The 16-time TT winner has spent the last ten months recovering from the broken left leg he sustained after crashing out of the lead in last year’s Senior TT. He had hoped to be back on his feet by Christmas, but the recovery took longer than planned as his bone struggled to heal. Despite the delay, Hutchinson has made huge efforts to stay fit. He’s spent the last four months training in any way he could with the inconvenience of a large metal cage bolted into his leg, including cycling and gym sessions. “This weekend has been about getting signatures and track time,” Honda race boss Neil Tuxworth told MCN. “Ian feels really good in himself, his leg has been fine and he’s not been complaining about anything. He’s been doing a lot of set-up work on the bike and felt pretty relaxed. “He looked good on the bike. I watched him all around the track and he looked confident, safe and smooth. He wasn’t going to do anything outrageous here, it was just a club race but we had to enter races so he can get signatures.” After the test Hutchy told MCN: “I’m happy to have covered 190 laps of Mallory without any problems within a week of having the frame off and fulfilled part of my requirements for the TT course licence. Another test at Cadwell will leave me with a short rest before heading off to the NW200. I’m feeling so lucky to be in this position and all thanks go to my surgeon Mr Krkovic for rebuilding my leg yet again.” Hutchinson now needs just two more race signatures to earn his Isle of Man TT race licence, which he’ll get during next week’s North West with each race day counting earning a signature. Hutchy’s TT comeback will be welcome news to organisers with a number of big names set to miss this year’s races through injury and illness. John McGuinness is looking unlikely to make the grid after a set-back with his broken leg while Bruce Anstey will also be absent as he battles cancer.
Hutchy’s shock North West comeback
‘I did 190 laps without any problems’