TT legend Ian Hutchinson seals road racing deal with Synetiq BMW

Road racing may be on pause at the moment, but Ian Hutchinson will be competing with the TAS Racing-run Synetiq BMW team when action does eventually get underway, it has been confirmed.

The 16-time Isle of Man TT winner is one of the modern era’s most successful road racers, highlighted by his famous run to five solo victories during the 2010 edition of the classic event.

Since then his career has been hampered by a series of injuries, most notably a serious leg break during a British Supersport round just months after his TT success, but has still gone on to notch up more victories on the Isle of Man in the years thereafter.

Though the 2020 road racing season has been rocked by the coronavirus – leading to the cancellation of the Isle of Man TT and the postponement of the North West 200, among others – Hutchinson will be ready to ride BMW machinery when action does eventually get underway again. 

“Putting this deal together with Philip and Synetiq BMW to do the International Road Races is perfect for me really, I was secretly hoping that would be the case all winter if I’m honest.

“I had great success and a lot of fun the last time I rode the S1000RR for TAS Racing and having prepared so well in January and February I’m ready to race when all this lockdown is over.”

Hutchinson competed with TAS Racing (formerly known at Tyco BMW) in 2016 and 2017, finishing second on the Senior TT to Michael Dunlop in the former and scoring a win in the Superbike TT in the latter. However, his hopes of winning the Senior TT in 2017 were scuppered when he fell and broke his femur on the climb to Snaefell Mountain.

Hutchinson is also set to compete in the National Superstock 1000 Championship aboard a BMW in a team set up between himself and Shaun Muir Racing, which runs the manufacturer’s factory WorldSBK effort.

Synetiq BMW will run Taylor Mackenzie and Bradley Ray in the 2020 British Superbike Championship.