It all started back in 2009 with a pint, a passion, and a local legend: Michael Rutter. We backed him at the Isle of Man TT on a privately entered Suzuki — he came 7th in the Senior TT, and just like that, the racing bug bit hard.
From there, things picked up speed. Bathams have backed Rutter across the British Superbike Championship, Northwest 200, Macau GP and the TT ever since, and in 2018, we made it official. Bathams Racing was born.
Just down the road from the brewery, our very own race team roared to life, run by Rutter himself. That first season? Full throttle. The wins, the wiring, the logistics, the lot. And it didn’t take long for the podiums to roll in.
We welcomed rising star Taylor Mackenzie at the tail end of 2018, and he made his presence known — a win and two podiums in his first three races, including our first ever “double podium” with Rutter right behind him. We also brought 14-year-old Harris Beech into the Bathams fold, racing in the Junior Supersport class (think future TT champion in the making).
What do we race on? The beast that is the BMW S1000RR. 200bhp. Capable of 200mph. It’s everything you’d expect from a bike worthy of a Bathams badge.
2019 was our best year yet. Taylor racked up four wins and nine podiums in the National Superstock 1000, just missing the title but landing second overall — our highest finish to date. Meanwhile, Rutter cleaned up on the road racing circuit: podiums at the Northwest 200, five top finishes at the TT, and a win in the TT Zero on the Mugen electric machine.
Oh — and his 9th career victory at the Macau GP, just casually.
2020 looked set to be even bigger. Official BMW backing. New bike. New rider: two-time champion Richard Cooper. Then the world shut down. No TT. No Northwest 200. No Macau. And to top it off, Cooper broke his leg in his debut race. Racing giveth, racing taketh away.
But there were still moments to remember, like Rutter swapping the team’s iconic black and gold for his late dad’s red and blue leathers at Brands Hatch, a tribute to the legendary Tony Rutter. Eight TT wins, four world titles, and apparently, a soft spot for a pint of Bathams. He passed away in March 2020, and this lap was for him.
By 2021, road racing was off the cards again. But Taylor returned, hungry for the Superstock title, and Rutter stepped in to lead development on BMW’s new M1000RR.
From pub cellars to pit lanes, Bathams Racing is about more than just speed, it’s about family, legacy and going full throttle with heart.
Follow @BathamsRacing on Twitter for the latest.
– originally written by local author John Richards in 1993. It’s worth a look, and we’re proud to keep his work alive.
Serving proper beer since 1877.
Still family-run.
Still local.
Still Bathams.
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