By Road Racing News leading pure road racer of 2015 is …… not just one rider but two! Ian Hutchinson and Lee Johnston.
Hutchy and General Lee have both enjoyed multiple momentous moments, securing between them this year seven international road race victories.
In my opinion they have been the two stand out performers of 2015, recording many a result of the highest quality around the mountain course, triangle, Dundrod, Oliver’s Mount and Frohburg.
Main highlights of Ian Hutchinson’s season have included:
Royal London 360 superstock TT victory
Monster Energy supersport TT victories
TT 2015 Joey Dunlop championship winner
New personal best lap speed around the mountain course of 131.697 mph
Runner up in opening superbike race at the North West 200
Second place finish in feature Ulster Grand Prix superbike race
Main highlights of Lee Johnston’s season have included:
Third place finish in Royal London 360 superstock TT
North West 200 superstock race two victory
Hat trick of victories at the Ulster Grand Prix, including superstock race victory
Open race two victory on his debut around Frohburg
New supersport lap record around Oliver’s Mount, 1 minute 46.540 seconds
Third position in the 500 classic TT
What a year it’s been for Ian Hutchinson. He’s got back to where he belongs fighting consistently for international road race victories.
His hat trick of wins at TT 2015, where for many people the main highlight of what has been a thrilling 2015 pure road racing season.
Embarking on a new challenge with Tyco BMW, could he replicate his exploits from TT 2010 winning five races in a week at TT Races?
It’s going to be tough for the 11 time TT winner, one of his main rivals at TT 2016, is set to be Lee Johnston.
Third place finishes in superstock, TT zero races during TT 2015, where amongst a host of top draw results, for a rider regarded by many as the most improved rider on the roads.
Hat trick of victories at the Ulster Grand Prix, was proof to me, that’s he the complete pure road racer now, established as one of the best in the world.
Lee and East Coast Racing are confident, of more international road race success next year, for me it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a TT winner, he’s ready to achieve this, don’t be surprised to see this happen in 2016.
So there you have it, Lee Johnston and Ian Hutchinson, joint Road Racing News rider of the year.
It’s been an amazing year on the roads, but it has’nt ended yet, the Wanganui Road Races in New Zealand, ends the season on boxing day, the twenty sixth of December.
