VIDEO: Isle of Man flat-out
I took a blistering route along the back roads to the office today, flying through tall hedgerows aboard my analogue CBR6. And while it felt like I was racing the TT, the reality was significantly slower – and well below the national speed limit.
Nonetheless, the first thing I did this morning was head to YouTube, checking to see how my lines compare to the pros. In doing so, I stumbled across this incredible Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale onboard, with the legendary Michael Rutter behind the bars on the TT course.
Watch as he pushes the 217PS (160kW) superbike to its limits, clocking 185mph on the speedo before it defaults to showing nothing, due to a 186mph electronic limit. The speed with which the scenery flies past is enough to make even the most strong-stomached of us sick, but Rutter still manages to pop wheelies and drag his knees through the infamous bends. At one point, he hits something that appears to have been lying on the track, resulting in a 130mph front-wheel wobble, which he saves deftly with the help of the steering damper.
In just eight short minutes, he covers roughly half of the 37.73-mile course, during a special test for Performance Bikes magazine. It’s an incredible lap, but bear in mind, this was completed under closed road conditions by a professional, so do NOT try it at home.
Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a mid-morning helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Wild Mad Mike FOS helmet‑cam
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Michael Rutter
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