RECORD-breaker Ian Hutchinson is pictured in Yamaha colours after he made the decision to swap from Honda to its Japanese rival for this year's motorcycle racing season.

Hutchy, who became the first man to win five races in a week at the TT last year riding for Padgett's Honda, has signed a two-year deal with Yamaha.

It will run a factory supported team at the TT and it will also compete at the North West 200, the Ulster Grand Prix, Macau Grand Prix and the British Supersport Championship.

Hutchy, who has won a total of eight TT races, is continuing to recover following a career threatening injury in the British Supersport Championship which happened after his clean sweep at the TT last year.

He said: "I've been cycling on a turbo-trainer since mid-December. Initially I struggled to do five minutes, now I can do 40 and get my heart rate up to 192, with an average of 184.

"That was all I could do before the accident."

Shaun Muir will run and manage the Yahama team which will benefit from a full works spec R1 Superbike as well as a Superstock and R6 Supersport bike.

Marketing manager for Yamaha Motor UK Ltd Simon Belton said: "The TT races has been a huge part of Yamaha's development as a company over the last 50 years and we are delighted to have Ian onboard to spearhead our  challenge in 2011 as he has proved himself to be one of the leading TT riders."

Economic Development Minister Allan Bell MHK said: "We are delighted that Yamaha has increased their commitment to the TT races and it is a sign of the event's growing strength that we now have factory supported teams from all four leading Japanese manufacturers as well as many other leading European brands."