By Finishing ninth in Road Racing News top ten riders of the 2017 pure road racing season, is Lightweight TT winner and recent Macau GP rostrum finisher Michael Rutter.
Now in his mid 40’s, international roads great Rutter has perhaps surprised some with his consistent array of forthright results throughout 2017.
Bagging four trips to the rostrum at the North West 200, he became the third most successful rider in history on the fabled Triangle course via victory in a gripping second Super Twins encounter, holding off strong challenges from Dan Cooper and Martin Jessopp.
Following his North West exploits, TT 2017 proved also extremely prodigious as ‘Blade’ scored a first TT success since 2011, providing Paton with a famous Bennetts Lightweight victory.
Further Mountain Course success followed at the Classic TT, with a second Junior class title secured aboard the faultless Ripley Land Racing G50 Seeley.
In between his multiple tumultuous feats on the Isle of Man, he also enjoyed a stellar maiden Imatranajo venture, which included securing opening IRRC Superbike race honours as part of a 1-2-3 finish for Penz 13 BMW.
Words by Stevie Rial
