NW200: Hutchinson vows to repay Swan Yamaha team

Battle-scarred Ian Hutchinson is longing to repay his Swan Yamaha team for their unswerving loyalty with a rostrum finish at this week's Relentless International North West 200 in Northern Ireland.

The 32-year-old says that the unwavering support provided by Swan Yamaha team owner Shaun Muir has been a cornerstone of his against-the-odds fightback to fitness after his latest injury setback in February.

'Hutchy's' misfortune has been well documented, with the Bingley star's stellar season in 2010 ending in the most unimaginable circumstances when he sustained severe injuries to his left leg in a British Supersport crash at Silverstone.

The double North West 200 winner's career was put in jeopardy when doctors considered amputating his shattered leg, but Hutchinson had other ideas and incredibly returned to action at the Macau Grand Prix last November, where he finished on the podium in third place.

However, the eight-times TT winner's cruel luck was far from over and he re-broke the same leg - albeit in a different place from the initial break in 2010 - during a freak accident at the ExCel Motorcycle Show in London.

His participation at the North West and TT this year was back in doubt, but once more Hutchinson's steely determination has won through and the quiet English star will commence his TT preparations at the North West.

Hutchinson paid this tribute to Muir and his Swan Yamaha colleagues, vowing to give his all in an attempt to reward the team for their patience with some big results at the North West and TT.

"It would be amazing to be running in the top three at such a big event like the North West straight off again, but we'll take it as it comes and I have to look at a much bigger picture [Isle of Man TT], which I've got to keep in mind, but it would be nice to get those bikes up there for the team," said Hutchinson.

"They've put a lot of work in over the last couple of years without too much reward from me.

"The biggest part of my recovery has been down to the fact that I've not had any worries about having good bikes when I became fit again.

"Those bikes are the best motorcycles out there and I've got the best team behind me, so if I'd been wondering about what bikes I'd be riding or about having to start over again with a another team it would have made it far harder for me," he told the Belfast News Letter.

"But Shaun (Muir) has been so supportive and there's never been any question that I'd be on his bikes as soon I was fit again.

"That made me so determined to get back and repay them for all that they've put into me."

Hutchy will compete in Thursday's Superstock race plus both Superbike and Supersport events on Saturday, May 19 and the second Superstock race.

Practice for the event gets underway on Tuesday.