Michael Rutter and Cameron Donald will compete at the 2016 Classic TT for the Ripley Land Racing team.
Rutter will be looking to make it two Okells Junior Classic TT Race in a row on-board the same 350cc Drixton Honda machine that he rode to victory in 2015. Rutter also set the fastest lap in last year’s race, with an impressive 102.356mph.
Rutter will also ride Ian Garbutt’s MkII 500cc Seeley G50 Matchless in the Bennetts Senior Race, having ridden the machine for last two years.
Rutter broke the 500cc single cylinder record in his first year on the bike in 2014 with a stunning lap of 109.102 mph and was leading the race and on course for a fairy-tale victory until a minor problem on the third lap caused him to retire on the Mountain Mile.
Problems on the opening lap last year saw him lap at just 60.975mph but he carried on and lapped in excess of 106mph before retiring on the final lap.
Rutter is joined by Donald in the Classic TT race. The Australian was the first and only rider to lap the Mountain Course on a standard frame AJS 7R and was the first GP1 bike over the line.
Speaking about his two new recruits, team boss Garbutt said: “We are really looking forward to the Classic TT with two riders on board who are able to get the very best out of a classic racing machine. The quality of both the machines and riders across the Classic TT continues to rise but we believe that we have what it takes to contest for places on the podium in both the Senior and Junior Races.”
This year’s Classic TT gets underway on Saturday, August 27. Keep checking The Checkered Flag for all the latest news and updates from the road racing event.
