Hutchinson to Relentless Suzuki?

Rumours of Ian Hutchinson, Michael Dunlop and Keith Amor being courted by the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team for 2011 simultaneously began at Brands Hatch and  Armoy just over two weeks ago.

The rumours gathered momentum at the Ulster GP to the point where it was suggested Padgetts Honda rider Hutchinson had even tested the bikes at Kirkistown earlier.

Both parties vigorously denied the test, which is no surprise since on the roads Hutchinson races on Dunlops, the Relentless team runs Pirellis  – and both parties were still honouring their respective existing commitments.

Hutchinson has also had a phenomenal year on the Padgetts Hondas so it’s hard to see why he would even contemplate change, but he would perfectly fit the bill if TAS were asked by Suzuki to help promote the all-new GSX-R600 road bike (exclusively revealed in MCN August 11 issue) by racing it on both the roads and in the British Supersport series.

But Relentless by TAS Suzuki team owner Hector Neill told MCN: “We talked to Ian last winter but decided to retain Bruce because we believe in loyalty. But there is a possibility we may be looking for a new team line-up in 2011. We can’t be going to back to the TT next year without winning!

“Michael Dunlop’s name came up around the time of the Southern 100 (where, Dunlop suffered a massive crash and wrecked his Honda superbike) but we’ve certainly not had any discussions with him either, although he was in the awning at the Ulster asking about our bikes.”

Hector’s son Philip added: “The Hutchy test thing is just a rumour that’s going about. He’ll be fairly high on any team’s list but he’ll not be backwards in coming forwards for money after his TT success.

“There’s two people I could not entertain, purely on money grounds, and that’s Hutchy and John McGuinness. We just don’t have that kind of budget. If I’m honest, Keith Amor is well worth looking at with the way he’s going this year on his own bikes.”

Between Alastair Seeley winning at the North West 200 in May and Bruce Anstey winning that dramatic second Ulster GP Superbike race two weeks ago, the TAS team were having a lean time with Anstey and Cameron Donald on the roads. And question marks have been hanging over both riders.

But the Neill family has more pressing issues. They still have to secure the budget from main backers Relentless and Suzuki for their BSB and roads programmes before even thinking of chasing riders for next year.

And there’s a suggestion in BSB circles that Suzuki may not be in a position to back two BSB teams in 2011 (TAS and the Worx team run by Crescent who’s owner also happens to front the official Suzuki MotoGP team).

And then there’s the issue of finding a top-level team to run the new GSX-R600.

Philip Neill said: “I’ve no idea of Suzuki’s thinking. If there’s a new 600 coming – though I’m not saying there definitely is – I presume Suzuki would need to race that (TAS won the BSS title in 2007 with Michael Laverty). 

“Regardless of budget, there’s more likelihood of our TT side staying intact (running in 2011 with two riders) than BSB but who knows for certain? There’s a lot of talking to be done.

“Besides, if Suzuki does go with just one team in BSB next year, who says the other would have to quit?”

Neill said nothing more but, by that last comment, the conclusion could be drawn that the TAS team could conceivably switch brands, although long-time Suzuki dealers Crescent have recently opened a Yamaha dealership.

But then again, he could mean his team would revert back to concentrating on the supersport with Suzuki backing. The plot thickens.