Burscough boss Andy Mutch has missed out on a reunion with former Wolves team mate Steve Bull

Jun 18 2009 Skelmersdale Advertiser

A STUNNING fifth place in the Senior TT - the most famous road race in the world - was the icing on the cake for Burscough motorcycle race ace Carl Rennie, whose love affair with the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races continues unabated.

The 39-year-old panel beater further enhanced his reputation as the best privateer in the business and one of the top road racers in the world, with four top ten placings and four more coveted silver replicas to add to his growing awards cabinet.

Carl’s impressive week reached its climax in the blue riband Pokerstars Seniors TT last Friday when he registered his best ever TT finish in fifth place.

He completed the punishing six lap 226 miles of the 37.73 mile mountain circuit on the W.A. Corless/Jackson Racing entered 1000cc Suzuki, in one hour 49 minutes 32.85 seconds at an average speed 123.990 miles an hour, his fastest ever race speed in the Senior.

“The bike’s flying, so let’s see what it can do,” said a confident Carl before the start.

It was and, from a 16th position start, he had moved into 10th place at the end of the first lap, moving up to eighth on lap two, seventh at the end of lap four, sixth on lap five and up to fifth on final tour.

Carl was just over two minutes away from a podium place in the race won by Steve Plater (HM Plant Honda).

Race week (Monday) had started on a promising note with Carl taking eighth place in the six lap 226 mile Dainese Superbike TT, in one hour 50 minutes 34.63 seconds at an average speed of 122.506 miles an hour.

But Carl was not entirely happy: “We were 20 seconds a lap slower than during practice so we have quite some work to be done before the Senior.”

However, he was pleased that it was one place up on last year in the same race, and had finished less than four and a half minutes behind race winner and fellow Lancastrian John McGuiness (HM Plant Honda).

Race week (Monday) had started on a promising note with Carl taking eighth place in the six lap 226 mile Dainese Superbike TT, in one hour 50 minutes 34.63 seconds at an average speed of 122.506 miles an hour.

But Carl was not entirely happy: “We were 20 seconds a lap shower than during practice so we have quite some work to be done before the Senior.”