Ian Hutchinson: Sixteen-time TT winner confident of return to racing in 2024 after stroke
- Published
Ian Hutchinson has won 16 TT races during a distinguished road racing career
Sixteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson is confident of returning to competitive motorcycle racing in 2024 after recovering from a stroke.
The Yorkshire rider was forced to sit out the 2023 season after his licence was revoked for a mandatory period of one year, in line with protocols.
Hutchinson suffered the stroke while cycling in Spain during pre-season training in February.
"I'm hoping to get something together in the New Year," said Hutchinson.
The Auto Cycle Union (ACU), who organise the TT and many other motorcycle events, have indicated to the 44-year-old that he is set to receive his licence back once his 12-month on the sidelines is complete after meeting all the necessary criteria.
"I'm still waiting to get my licence back from the ACU in March but I have been doing some instructing and have passed all the tests they wanted me to do," explained Hutchinson, who has also won three North West 200 races.
"They just want me to see out the full year."
Hutchinson holds the record for the most race wins at a single TT meeting, having taken five individual race successes over the Mountain Course in 2010.
A crash at Silverstone later that year left him with a severely broken left leg, but after undergoing several operations he remarkably returned to secure more victories at the TT, racking up a treble in 2015 when he won both Supersport races and the Superstock event.
Another hat-trick of wins followed in 2016 and he added two further triumphs in 2017 to move to 16 wins in total to leave him fourth in the all-time solo winners' list.
In the final race of 2017, the 'blue riband' Senior, he crashed out on the 27th Milestone section while contesting the lead.
He sustained a fractured left femur and subsequently had his left ankle removed as a result of the 130mph accident.
He returned to the event again in 2022, finishing fourth in the Superbike race and seventh in the Superstock and Senior races on BMW machinery.