Michael Hutchinson on his way to the elite title last night. He said he felt a number of riders would beat him and that winning the title was a an unexpected bonus (Photo: Stephen McMahon - Sportsfile)
By Brian Canty
Michael Hutchinson has said he would have been happier if Ryan Mullen was awarded the elite title at the National TT Championships last night after the 19-year-old set the fastest time on the night by a whopping 46 seconds.
Hutchinson, who was winning his third elite title in as many years, said Mullen is the real deal and that winning the elite was a “bonus” for him, given he was comprehensively beaten by the An Post Chainreaction man.
While Mullen recorded the quickest time in the field, because he is an U23 rider he was awarded that title. And the elite title went to Hutchinson, who was second quickest on the night but fastest of the elites in the race.
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“It’s a slightly funny event because Ryan got the ride of the evening and I’d be far happier if he went off with the elite jersey as well as the U23 because he deserved it,” said a very humble Hutchinson.
“I know it’s the way the rules work, but I’m pleased to get the jersey. Second place behind a quality rider like Ryan; I’m more than happy with that as a result, so to actually get the title is a bonus.”
Asked how good Mullen is, Hutchinson said; “He’s already a very good rider and if he keeps improving and getting better he could be an extremely good bike rider.
“For a guy who’s so young, he’s got enormous horse power; rides really cannily. He squeezed the most out of it last night. The places he took time out of guys was where he should’ve been taking time from guys.”
To beat Martyn Irvine (Unitedhealthcare) and Matt Brammeier (Synergy Baku), not to mind the flying Colm Cassidy (UCD CC), was not an insignificant result either.
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Hutchinson is from Co Down but has lived in England since university. He has been one of the very best time trial riders of his generation. He began racing under an Irish licence three years ago and has won the Irish elite time trial crown three times. He gained selection for the World Championships, above, in Holland two years ago.
“It’s quite intimidating when you look at the start-list because there’s a lot of good guys on it, good riders from decent teams,” said Hutchinson.
“I don’t want to play the age card but most are 10-12 years younger than me. I probably did better than expected because I looked at it and said ‘Ryan would beat me, the other guys, Brammeier and Irvine, one or two of them have to beat me; even if I do well, surely one or two of them will beat me’. So I was pleasantly surprised to do as well as I did.”
He will now turn his attention to the Commonwealth Games where he’ll ride his favoured event once more having been selected on the Northern Ireland team.
“I’ll try to get up to see the course before it; I live in England so it’s not a big deal. It won’t be hard to go up and look at it.
“The course is in and around Glasgow; most of the course learning will be done on the course familiarisation day when they shut it off a day before.
“I know roughly what it’s like. I’m motivated for that now; I’m not a full-time rider anymore so it’s a bit different. I’m going event to event and not working off a grand scheme.
“I’ll start looking at it three or four weeks out. Getting selected was hard enough. It wasn’t like before where I assumed I was getting selected and started planning, I had to make the team first this time. So it’ll be good to get there and I’m looking forward to it.”
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