Conditions were near-perfect for the PokerStars Senior TT and what a spectacle it became with Peter Hickman and Ian Hutchinson swapping the lead on several occasions over the first 60 miles of the race.

A standing start lap of 131.828mph had given Hickman a 1.7 second lead over Hutchinson, with Dean Harrison a close third.

Hutchy had grabbed the lead back at Glen Helen, even though Harrison had produced the faster sector time on the nine-mile stretch from Douglas..

Hutchinson was still leading at Ballaugh, but Hickman was back in front by 0.184s at Ramsey Hairpin, with Harrison another second down in third.

But Hutchinson failed to make the Bungalow and minutes later a red flag situation was implemented across the course.

News eventually filtered through that Hutchinson had gone down heavily at the 27th Milestone, the narrow bridge leading onto the Mountain Mile.

There was then an agonising wait for more information and it was half-a-hour before it announced that the brave Yorkshireman had indeed suffered a broken femur and had been transferred to Noble’s Hospital by airmed for treatment. The good news was that he was conscious.

*UPDATE: Hutchy was later transferred to Liverpool for further treatment.*