Rutter races to two top-six TT finishes

The Brierley Hill-born rider finished sixth in the opening record-breaking superbike race followed by a fourth on his superstock machine.

Rutter, who broke down during Monday's supersport race, was due back in action today in the second supersport and lightweight races, finishing with the Senior TT on Friday.

He said: "It was a brilliant finish for me and I'm well happy. I'd have been happy with a top 10 so to finish inside the top six is like a win.

"The bike was a little bit loose at the rear and maybe I'd gone too far with the rebound as it was quite lively over the jumps at places like Crosby and Ballacrye."

Rutter was running in the top six straight away during Saturday's opening six-lap race around the 37.73 mile course, opening with an average lap speed of 130.092mph.

A second lap of 129.830mph saw him drop back to seventh but he was soon back up to sixth, circulating with Dean Harrison and Gary Johnson, as James Hillier ran into trouble.

Michael Dunlop went on to win the race setting a blistering new record average lap speed of 133.393mph.

Rutter overcame the disappointment of an early retirement in the supersport race on his Kawasaki ZX-6R to take a brilliant fourth place later that afternoon on his more familiar Bathams BMW S1000RR superstock machine, clocking a personal best lap around the mountain course along the way.

He bolted our of the blocks with an opening lap of 129.874mph, which placed him seventh but just two seconds adrift of fourth-placed Harrison.

Rutter's second lap was slightly quicker at 129.986mph and saw him jump to fifth, saving his best for the final lap of four with a speed of 131.118mph to take the chequered flag in fourth.

He said: "I was a bit gutted with the 600cc race as I was looking forward to a solid ride.

"It looks like the head gasket has gone but it's just one of those things and I was able to get back out in the afternoon for the superstock race.

"Dean came by me at Parliament Square and he actually hit me, which almost had us both off but it woke me up and from there on in I had a good, strong ride.

"I sat behind him until the last lap when I tried to pass him at Parliament Square. There was a backmarker in front of us and I nearly took all three of us down.

"I'm glad I pulled my finger out to pull myself up to fourth and to lap in excess of 131mph is very pleasing."

Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance, backed by Bridgnorth-based Team E-Aide, will be hoping for better luck in Friday's second three-lap sidecar race after breaking down while challenging for a podium during Saturday's opener.