Michael Rutter wins 350cc Classic TT
After a delay of almost four hours due to technical issues with the communications system between Sector Marshals and Race Control, the second day’s racing at the 2015 Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts finally got underway at 2pm. Conditions were reported as perfect for racing around the Mountain Course with dry roads all round the 37 mile circuit.
The first race of the day, the Okells 350cc Classic TT Race, was cut to three laps from four as a result of the delay which was expected to hand the advantage to the MV Agustas with their greater power as they could now run straight through rather than having to refuel.
However, that didn’t prove to be the case as Dan Cooper, riding the Team Molnar Manx Norton, held a lead of over a second going into the final lap only for the Gloucester rider to retire at Ballacraine with a split fuel tank, leaving Michael Rutter on the Ripley Land Racing Honda with a commanding lead of over a minute and ultimately the race win. Behind the Midland’s based rider, the war of attrition saw only four of the fifteen fastest qualifiers complete the race.
Shortly before the start, Dean Harrison was a late withdrawal leaving Lee Johnston, last year’s race winner and fastest qualifier, on the MV Agusta, as the sole Black Eagle Racing representative. However, the Northern Ireland rider had a poor start, which saw him in 8th at the opening checkpoint at Glen Helen. He was down to 17th by the second checkpoint at Ballaugh and out of contention before retiring shortly after.
Keith Amor on the Tony Dunnell Rig Deluge Manx Norton was first away from the Grandstand followed by Michael Rutter and it was Rutter who was fastest to Glen Helen followed by Dan Cooper almost five seconds back with William Dunlop on the Davies Motorsport Honda in third a further 0.2 seconds back. Jamie Coward moved into third at Ramsey with William Dunlop reported as a retirement in Parliament Square but Coward was then himself forced out on the Mountain Mile.
Rutter opening lap of 100.988mph (22:24.995) gave him a lead of almost 2 seconds from Cooper (100.848mph/ 22:26.848) with Keith Amor (98.429/ 22:59.954)) moving into the top three at the end of the first lap following Coward’s retirement. Chris Swallow was a further five seconds back in fourth with Philip McGurk (97.532/ 23:12.652) completing the top five at the end of the opening lap. However, Swallow’s challenge was effectively ended with a 30 second technical infringement penalty as a result of a reported pit crew infringement, one of four riders to pick up penalties.
Keith Amor was a retirement at Quarry Bends on the second lap, which saw Swallow move into the top three and at the end of the second lap, Cooper remained at the front, (101.229/ 44:43.583) over a second ahead of Michael Rutter (101.176/ 44:44.980).
However with Cooper retiring at Ballacraine on the final lap, Rutter was left to take the chequered flag in a overall time of 1:06.51.993/ 101.566, with last lap of 102.356mph/ 22.07.013 the fastest of the race.
With Cooper retiring, McGurk, the leading privateer, moved into the final podium place but the drama didn’t end there with Chris Swallow retiring at Graham Memorial, McGurk moved into the runner up slot. Nigel Moore was also a last lap retirement when running third, shortly before the chequered flag, leaving Doug Snow to take the final podium place.
Speaking on Monday evening Dan Cooper said, “It’s disappointing not to have finished a race and especially disappointing not to have finished the 350cc race as everything was going so well. I was having a great battle with Michael and there was nothing between us and it was going to be a great final lap for sure. The little bike was flying but towards the end of the second lap, I could feel a bit of fuel leaking onto me and it got worse so I had to stop.”
“I’ve had podiums in the Classic races in the past but to get a win would have been brilliant but it wasn’t meant to be this year. I obviously had a good run at the TT winning the Privateer’s Championship but Classic racing is a lot different and we’ve experienced small issues that have prevented us from getting to the finish. It’s no-one’s fault and just the way racing goes sometimes so we’ll be back next year to give it another go.”
Snow had to be brought back from Parc Ferme to the winner’s enclosure, so close was Moore to the finish line before he broke down. David Madsen-Mygdall (Team Gimbert Racing) and James Hillier Honda/CSC Racing completed the top five with Dave Edwards claiming the Phil Read trophy for the first 250cc machine home.
Appropriately six-time TT Race winner Jim Redman, who claimed four consecutive 350cc World Championship titles from 1962 to 1965, presented Michael Rutter with the trophy.
“I knew the race was close but just kept my head down,” said Michael Rutter afterwards. “I was experiencing a misfire now and again and thought it was going to stop on the final lap but fair play, it kept going. It’s a lovely bike to ride but it’s physically hard work and although I initially wanted the race to be the full four laps, I was glad it was only three!”
“You’ve got to keep these bikes going and if you can do that, you won’t be far away so I kept the revs down and concentrated as much as possible. It’s a long way round and it’s fantastic to win both for myself and the whole team. You can never complain when you’re in the number one spot around the Mountain Course.”
