Michael Rutter (motorcycle racer)
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Michael Rutter (born 18 April 1973 in Wordsley) nicknamed "The Blade", is a British motorcycle racer.
It was a case of natural progression for Michael, as he grew up with motorcycle racing. His father is Tony Rutter, a successful rider himself in the 1970's. He has a reputation for being at his best in wet conditions and his favourite circuit is Oulton Park.
His first season in the British Superbike Championship was 1993, and he finished in the top six every year from 1994 to 1998, coming in third overall in 1997. He spent 1999 in the 500cc World Championship, scoring occasional points but not being among the frontrunners. He returned to the domestic series for 2000, coming second to Steve Hislop in 2002. He spent 2004 and 2005 with the factory Honda team, finishing second and third overall in those two years, which was not enough for the team to retain him. For 2006 he joined the Stobart Motorsport Honda team ran by Paul Bird, he finished third first time out, but only repeated this feat one more time throughout the season, finishing seventh overall and losing the ride after the 2006 season. For 2007, Rutter was the sole rider for the MSS Discovery Kawasaki squad, which moved up from British Supersport to contest British Superbikes for the second time - the first was with Julien da Costa in 2005.
Michael Rutter will be competing in the 2008 British Superbike Championship on a "North West 200" branded Ducati SBK RS08. The aim of the team is to promote the North West 200 event held in Northern Ireland
Rutter is also a very accomplished road racing rider, having won 12 times at the North West 200 festival in Northern Ireland, once at the Isle of Man TT festival, and shares the record of winning the most Macau Grand Prix ever with six wins, shared with another British motorcycle racer, Ron Haslam.
Rutter lives with his French partner and their two young daughters, having homes in Leicestershire and in France.
[edit] Career Highlights
1991
- 3rd Superteen Championship
1992
- 3rd National 250GP Championship
- First Superbike Race
1993
- 7th British Superbike Championship
1994
- 6th British Superbike Championship
1995
- 5th British Superbike Championship
1996
- 4th British Superbike Championship
- 1st North West 200
- 3rd IOM Formula One TT
1997
- 3rd British Superbike Championship
- 3rd World Superbike race at Brands Hatch
- 2nd IOM Formula One TT
- 3rd IOM Junior TT
1998
- 6th British Superbike Championship
- 1st Macau GP
- 1st North West 200
- 1st IOM Junior TT
- 2nd IOM Formula One TT
1999
- World 500 GP Championship (best 11th)
2000
- 9th British Superbike Championship
- 2nd IOM Formula One TT
- 2nd IOM Senior TT
- 3rd IOM Production 1000 TT
- 1st Macau GP (Formula One)
- 1st Macau GP (Senior)
- 1st North West 200
- 1st North West 200
- 1st North West 200
2001
- 6th British Superbike Championship
2002
- 2nd British Superbike Championship
- 1st Macau GP
2003
- 3rd British Superbike Championship
- 1st North West 200
- 1st Macau GP
2004
- 2nd British Superbike Championship
- 1st North West 200
- 1st Macau GP
2005
- 3rd British Superbike Championship
- 1st North West 200
- 1st Macau GP
2006
- 7th British Superbike Championship
- 2nd North West 200
- 2nd Macau GP
2007
- 12th British Superbike Championship
2008
- 1st North West 200
