KIWI RIDER 05 2020 VOL2 | Page 83

ROAD NEWS HUTCHINSON REJOINS BMW MOTORRAD R oad racing legend Ian Hutchinson has been confirmed to be saddling up once again aboard a BMW with the 16-time TT winner joining Team Principal Philip Neill, to compete in international road races and the British championship under the new banner of SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad. Hutchinson and the BMW S1000RR under the TAS Racing banner proved to be a successful combination back in the 2016 and 2017 race seasons. “I enjoyed my previous spell with TAS Racing on the BMW S1000RR,” said Hutchinson. “Now that I’ve secured a deal to return to the TAS team with Philip Neill at SYNETIQ BMW, I’m really looking forward to getting going again.” Hutchinson joined the BMW Motorrad Motorsport family in 2016 and competed for TAS Racing in road races and the Superstock class of the BSB Championship. Right at the start of the season, Hutchinson won the Superstock race at the North West 200. Next was the Isle of Man TT, at which he not only won the Superstock TT, but also set a new Superstock lap record. Team Principal Neill added, “I honestly thought our racing days with Ian had come to an end after our successful partnership through 2016/17. However, we are clearly delighted that Ian was not only available but extremely keen on a return to TAS Racing. People may differ in their opinions on the various riders but one thing everyone can agree on is the utter determination shown by Hutchy time and time again. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of dedication and effort the man puts into his preparation for racing, and for that reason he is the perfect man to lead SYNETIQ BMW into this new chapter of our racing journey.” While he will be riding under the new SYNETIQ BMW banner, for Hutchinson the core of his previous TAS Racing team remains in the new venture. KIWI RIDER 83