Classic TT: Bruce Anstey roars to record-breaking Lightweight 250 victory

Flying Kiwi Bruce Anstey set a new lap record for the 250cc class as he powered to a commanding victory in the Sure Lightweight race at the Classic TT on the Isle of Man on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Aug 2016, 19:09 BST
Updated 29th Aug 2016, 18:26 BST
Bruce Anstey won the Lightweight race at the Classic TT, setting a new lap record of 118.74mph on the Padgetts Honda RS250.Bruce Anstey won the Lightweight race at the Classic TT, setting a new lap record of 118.74mph on the Padgetts Honda RS250.
Bruce Anstey won the Lightweight race at the Classic TT, setting a new lap record of 118.74mph on the Padgetts Honda RS250.

Anstey led all the way during the four-lap race on the Padgetts Honda RS250 and shattered the 1999 record set by John McGuinness, raising the bar to 118.74mph on his second lap as he pitted for fuel.

The 47-year-old, who was celebrating his second Classic TT win after his success in the Formula 1 race in 2014, had 64.4 seconds in hand over runner-up Ian Lougher, who was riding a Yamaha TZ250 for Irish team LayLaw Racing.

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Phil Harvey completed the top three places on his Honda, over three minutes down on race winner Anstey.

Anstey said: “Ian [Lougher] was starting behind me so I wanted to make sure I got away from him so he couldn’t see me.

“I just put my head down on the first two laps but it was so windy I was struggling with gearing. I won the last 250 TT in 2002 and now I’ve won this one, so it’s fantastic.”

Northern Ireland’s Davy Morgan and Shaun Anderson were early retirements, leaving Skerries rider Michael Sweeney as the top Irish finisher in eighth place on the second of the LayLaw Racing Yamaha machines. Sweeney won the F2 class to cap a memorable day for the team, which is run by Eddie Laycock’s former sponsor Gerry Lawlor and ex-racer Laycock himself.