Rutter takes Lightweight TT in style

Fifth success for Bridgnorth rider

There was an emphatic win for Michael Rutter in this afternoon's Lightweight TT.

In the early stages, Paton-mounted Rutter built up an advantage ahead of Stephano Bonetti, also on a Paton, with Martin Jessopp and Ivan Lintin behind them.

He maintained that as the race went into lap two.

In the half-way pits some slick action from Jessop's team stole some eight seconds from Rutter while Bonetti retired at The Creg on lap two.

Rutter's lead was then whittled down to three seconds but with his immediate rival in view, he was able to stretch that margin.

The final winning time for Rutter over Jessopp was 8.8 seconds as he claimed his fifth TT victory. His final lap was 120.1 mph. His race time was one hour 16 minutes 19.324 seconds and that is a lightweight race record.

Second was Martin Jessopp and third Peter Hickman. Another podium for the Lincoln man.