Bruce Anstey
Encyclopedia
Bruce Anstey is a professional motorcycle
road racer
. He is now signed to race for Padgett's Honda, having previously ridden for Relentless Suzuki
which is based in Ireland
. He made his Isle of Man TT
debut in 1999, he completed his first race in the Lightweight 250 class, finishing 7th. His first podium came a year later in the same race, where he finished 2nd behind Joey Dunlop
. He achieved his first victory in the 250 cc class in 2002, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Simon Smith. In 2003 he had a win in the Junior 600 aboard the Valmoto Triumph Daytona, giving Triumph its first TT win in twenty seven years. In 2004 he finished on the podium in all the races he entered, including a win in the Production 1000 (now Superstock) class. He won the Superstock class in 2005 ahead of Ian Lougher, and in 2006 ahead of Ian Hutchinson. In 2007 he dominated the same race, winning by 40 seconds over John McGuinness
, a feat in itself.
At the North West 200
, Bruce has gathered up 9 wins from 2002 to 2007. In 2002 he won the Production race, and in 2004 he won the 600 Supersport race and the Production race. He was leading the Superbike race until the final lap when he crashed. In 2005 he won the rain affected Superbike event, and in 2006 he won the first Supersport race and the Superstock race. In 2007 he had his best year to date, winning a hat-trick of races that could have been more, had he not crashed out of the first Superbike event. While running in 2nd on the third lap, Bruce "highsided" at York Corner, and he was placed 2nd in the results because they were taken from the last completed lap. He went on to win the two Supersport events, and the Superstock event as well. He may well have increased his tally, but was unable to race in the main Superbike event, as his bike was damaged from the previous crash.
He has also had numerous successes at the Ulster Grand Prix
, winning five times. In 2003 he won the Production race, and in 2004 he enjoyed a hat-trick of successes in the Superbike, Production 600, and Production 1000 classes. In 2005 he did not win any races, but had 2 podiums. In 2006, Bruce was victorious in the Superstock class once more.
On 2 June 2008 Anstey was disqualified and stripped of the Supersport Junior TT title in the Isle of Man race meet. The Kiwi, riding for Relentless Tas Suzuki, had defied a heavy cold to win the race, but was disqualified following an inspection of his machine, which found the exhaust cam did not meet regulations. However just two days later on Wednesday 4 June 2008 Anstey swept to victory in the second Supersport Junior race coming home in a time of 1'13:35.71 at an average speed of 123.041 mph. On his second lap he also broke the lap record for the race with an average speed of 125.359 mph.
To celebrate his Supersport Junior TT win Suzuki GB released a GSXR-600 K8 replica of Anstey's Relentless by TAS Suzuki race bike.
He won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix
in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph, making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
. He is now signed to race for Padgett's Honda, having previously ridden for Relentless Suzuki
Relentless Suzuki
Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing is an International road racing team based in Moneymore, County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The team is the former TAS Suzuki, and from the 2007 season onwards Relentless energy drinks, a product of Coca-Cola, has teamed up with TAS...
which is based in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He made his Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
debut in 1999, he completed his first race in the Lightweight 250 class, finishing 7th. His first podium came a year later in the same race, where he finished 2nd behind Joey Dunlop
Joey Dunlop
William Joseph "Joey" Dunlop, OBE , was a world champion motorcyclist from Ballymoney in Northern Ireland, best known for road racing. Referred to throughout the sport as "Joey", in 2005 he was voted the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever by Motorcycle News...
. He achieved his first victory in the 250 cc class in 2002, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Simon Smith. In 2003 he had a win in the Junior 600 aboard the Valmoto Triumph Daytona, giving Triumph its first TT win in twenty seven years. In 2004 he finished on the podium in all the races he entered, including a win in the Production 1000 (now Superstock) class. He won the Superstock class in 2005 ahead of Ian Lougher, and in 2006 ahead of Ian Hutchinson. In 2007 he dominated the same race, winning by 40 seconds over John McGuinness
John McGuinness (motorcycle racer)
John McGuinness is an English professional motorcycle racer. McGuinness races for the HM Plant Honda team in road races like the Isle of Man TT and the North West 200, and on the short tracks in the British Superstock 1000 series.-2006:TT 2006 proved to be the best ever for McGuinness...
, a feat in itself.
At the North West 200
North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
, Bruce has gathered up 9 wins from 2002 to 2007. In 2002 he won the Production race, and in 2004 he won the 600 Supersport race and the Production race. He was leading the Superbike race until the final lap when he crashed. In 2005 he won the rain affected Superbike event, and in 2006 he won the first Supersport race and the Superstock race. In 2007 he had his best year to date, winning a hat-trick of races that could have been more, had he not crashed out of the first Superbike event. While running in 2nd on the third lap, Bruce "highsided" at York Corner, and he was placed 2nd in the results because they were taken from the last completed lap. He went on to win the two Supersport events, and the Superstock event as well. He may well have increased his tally, but was unable to race in the main Superbike event, as his bike was damaged from the previous crash.
He has also had numerous successes at the Ulster Grand Prix
Ulster Grand Prix
The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe...
, winning five times. In 2003 he won the Production race, and in 2004 he enjoyed a hat-trick of successes in the Superbike, Production 600, and Production 1000 classes. In 2005 he did not win any races, but had 2 podiums. In 2006, Bruce was victorious in the Superstock class once more.
On 2 June 2008 Anstey was disqualified and stripped of the Supersport Junior TT title in the Isle of Man race meet. The Kiwi, riding for Relentless Tas Suzuki, had defied a heavy cold to win the race, but was disqualified following an inspection of his machine, which found the exhaust cam did not meet regulations. However just two days later on Wednesday 4 June 2008 Anstey swept to victory in the second Supersport Junior race coming home in a time of 1'13:35.71 at an average speed of 123.041 mph. On his second lap he also broke the lap record for the race with an average speed of 125.359 mph.
To celebrate his Supersport Junior TT win Suzuki GB released a GSXR-600 K8 replica of Anstey's Relentless by TAS Suzuki race bike.
He won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix
Ulster Grand Prix
The Ulster Grand Prix is a motorcycle road race that takes place on the Dundrod Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first races took place in 1922 and in 1935 and 1948 the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme gave it the title Grand Prix d'Europe...
in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph, making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world.