Rutter completes North West 200 double

Michael Rutter won both Superbike races at the Junction One International North West 200 in front of more than 100,000 fans in…

Michael Rutter won both Superbike races at the Junction One International North West 200 in front of more than 100,000 fans in Northern Ireland.

The HM Plant Honda rider was the class of the field over the nine-mile road course in North Antrim and beat his father Tony's record of nine wins in the process.

The Leicestershire rider won his first encounter of the day, the Dewalt Superbike Race, by over six seconds from John McGuinness with Adrian Archibald third.

It was the same story in the Black Horse NW200 Superbike Race, with British Superbike frontrunner Rutter completing the six laps over 18 seconds clear of Ian Lougher with Martin Finnegan completing the podium.

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Rutter, who was forced to retire from two Supersport races today with mechanical problems, said: "It's been a fantastic day for me. I managed to get off the line well in both races and that gave me the advantage I needed in the early stages to pull away and take the double. It makes it all the more special to have beaten my dad's tally of wins at the North West 200 in the process.

"I was determined to break the 200mph barrier and the team was giving me signals to let me know how I was getting on at the end of each lap.

"On lap four I got it just right and was rewarded for my determination. I'd like to thank HM Plant Honda Racing for all their hard work over the past week in preparing such an unbeatable package."