Racing Royalty

Lap50, day 3

Scottish Motorcycle Show, Ingliston, Edinburgh.
There have been a series of interviews on the Knockhill stage all weekend, but for me, this meeting between two bike racing legends was the most interesting.

for the uninitiated: on the left, asking the questions, is Niall MacKenzie, former Grand Prix rider and multiple British Champion.
On the right, answering, is Ian Hutchinson, the fourth most successful Isle of Man TT racer of all time, with 16 wins including 5 in one week (the only rider ever to achieve this).

In his career Hutchy has suffered not one, but two very serious leg injuries. I won't describe the extent of his most recent injury, just in case any of you are eating, but if you look closely you will see a bulge under his left trouser leg. This is an external fixator cage that is attached to his shin bone, and is used to stretch the damaged bone by 30mm! He told us today that he is still aiming to be fit for this year's TT in May!!

He might look like a nice mild mannered gentleman, but believe me, you are looking at the toughest, bravest, most determined sportsman on the planet.