Racing legend Tony Rutter sadly passes away

His son Michael announced the news on Tuesday.

In a statement, he said: “It is with sadness that after a period of poor health, dad passed away earlier today. I was with him when he died at about 2am and he was very peaceful.

“It makes me smile how dad lived his life exactly how he wanted to and how he got away with so much. He will probably be best remembered for winning the world TT-F2 championship four times on a Ducati, as well as seven Isle of Man TT wins, nine North West 200 wins, and two British championship titles during his 22-year career.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to his carers for taking such good care of him and all his fans and supporters.”

A hugely talented rider, Englishman Rutter made his debut at the Isle of Man TT in 1965 in the Junior race. It was the start of a 20-year association with the world-famous event and he famously finished as the runner-up behind Italian great Giacomo Agostini in the 1972 Junior race to earn a world championship podium, one of five he achieved throughout his career.

His maiden victory around the Mountain Course swiftly followed in the 350cc class in 1973 in the Junior race and he would go on to notch up a total of seven TT triumphs.

Rutter, with his distinctive ‘TR’ helmet design, quickly became one of the best-known riders in the UK as he enjoyed a spell of success in the 70s alongside names such as Mick Grant, John Williams and Charlie Williams.

He was a two-time British champion, winning the 350cc title in 1971 and the 250cc crown in 1973, which was also the year of his first win at the North West 200.

Rutter chalked up a brace in the 250cc and 350cc races and later that year he showed his prowess on the smaller bikes with victory in the Junior race at the Ulster Grand Prix at Dundrod. Another TT win followed in 1974 in the Junior race but Rutter also shone in the premier class as he claimed rostrum results in the Senior and Formula 750cc races.

In 1977, he won the 250cc race at the North West and was famously involved in a dead heat finish in the 350cc race with Northern Ireland’s Ray McCullough – the only such result in the history of the international road race.

He set his fastest-ever lap of the TT Course in 1979 on a Suzuki RG500 at 112.32mph as he finished second behind Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood.

Rutter was a rider in demand and he was signed by Italian manufacturer Ducati. And how he delivered, winning four world titles in the Formula Two category between 1981 and 1984. He also added to his tally of TT wins, claiming four victories on the 600cc Ducati in a five-year spell.

More success followed at the North West in 1982, where he won the 350cc race before triumphing on the same machine at the TT.

In 1985, Rutter achieved the last of his seven TT wins before he was seriously injured in a crash at Monjuich Park in Spain after a multiple bike pile-up. He recovered and went on to race at the TT again from 1987 until 1991, albeit without ever hitting the same heights.

His son Michael followed in his wheel-tracks to become a highly-successful racer in his own right in the British championship and at the international road races such as the North West 200 and TT.

Rutter is also the most successful rider ever at the Macau Grand Prix, where he won for a record ninth time in 2019.