And no wonder, after winning the race he had set his heart on - the Belfast Telegraph Superbike at the Ulster Grand Prix over the Dundrod circuit.

The Superbike was the main event of the day on Saturday and, although it had to be shortened to three laps because of rain, this didn't change Hutchinson's state of mind.

He said: "The organisers were correct in calling it off because of the conditions, but I was delighted with the way I came through to win and this made up for a lot of disappointment I have had from time to time."

Last year, Hutchinson broke the lap record in the big race, but still didn't manage to win, as Lincolnshire rider Guy Martin ended up with a four-timer, and he again gave Hutchinson most to do on Saturday.

"I knew there was someone behind me and close up for the first three laps, but I really didn't know it was Guy," said Hutch.

"Still, I was confident that the further the race went, the bigger chance I had to win, and my pit board signalled to me 'plus two, plus three and plus five'. I knew then I was pulling away."

In many ways, this was a satisfactory win for Hutchinson, in which he believes he put the record straight, for on Thursday night, in the Dundrod 150 back-up race, he reckons he was hard done by not to win.

"I was in the lead on the last lap when Guy Martin took a deep breath and made what I would call a desperation move to pass me. I was run out to the edge of the track and lost the lead. Needless to say, I was a bit miffed when I ended up down the field after this manoeuvre."

That made Hutchinson all the more determined to score on Saturday, and he is convinced that on dry roads, he would have scored much more easily.

"No-one likes conditions like they were on Saturday," he said. "Parts of the tarmac are different throughout most of the track, and the rain can make things a bit dodgy.

"In addition, the visibility wasn't good. I'm not saying I'm glad the race was stopped, for I would ride anywhere, but let's be honest and say that it was the same for everyone, and I know no-one who would have liked to continue."

Hutchinson has now grabbed his first win at the Ulster Grand Prix, and this gives him a "full set" , after having scored in the Supersport races at last year's North-West 200 and this year's Isle of Man TT.

"Of course, it's marvellous to get a Superbike race among this lot, for the competition is fierce," said Hutchinson.

"I'm delighted, because I made up for the fact that I rode at this year's North-West 200 with a torn muscle in my shoulder. In fact, I shouldn't have been there at all. I was just racing in order to warm up for the TT."

Now the 28-year-old Bingley rider has time to redirect his thoughts to the British Supersport Championship, where he has been putting in some good performances.

"I'm fifth in the championship, and I ride at Cadwell Park next Bank Holiday Monday, where I'm hoping to get a few points," Hutchinson added.

The men to watch in this race are Ulstermen Michael Laverty, who leads the Championship, and Ian Lowry, who has been having a marvellous season.

In addition to Hutchinson, the other Dundrod star performer was Martin, who won the Supersport 600 class and was riding in the sort of mood which suggested that he might have repeated last season's four-timer.

As it turned out, he didn't do so, but he was close enough behind Hutchinson in the Superbike to suggest it might have been on the nod had the race gone the full distance.