MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship veteran, Michael Rutter, will take part in the Isle Of Man Classic TT for the second successive year after re-signing with Ripley Land Racing.
Rutter will compete in both the Bennetts 500cc Classic and the Okells 350cc Classic events for the Guildford-based team.
For the latter, Rutter will be competing on the same 350cc Ripley Land Honda that took Chris Palmer to victory back in 2013.
Following the announcement, Rutter said: “Last year was my first attempt at the Classic TT and I thoroughly enjoyed the event. The G50 Seeley is a lovely bike to ride and was superbly prepared and presented by the team. As for the little Honda, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!”
The 42-year-old made his Classic TT début last year for the team, when he was brought in at the last minute by team owner Ian Garbutt to replace the injured Dan Kneen.
On-board the Mk2 Seeley Matchless 500cc machine, Rutter made an instant impact by breaking the 500cc single cylinder record, reaching a lap speed of 109.102mph.
Rutter was on target for a début Classic TT victory until the Midlands rider suffered from a mechanical issue on the third lap of the Mountain Mile, causing him to retire from the race.
On re-signing Rutter, Garbutt said: “After Michael’s performance in the 2014 race, we are delighted to have him back on board for this year. We will not be subjected to last minute pressure as in 2014, and will be able to spend more time testing with Michael to fine tune the bikes to his exact requirements.”
Practice sessions for the 2015 Classic TT get underway on Saturday 22 August with the racing action beginning one-week later on Saturday 29 August.
