Clive Padgett rekindles 'great connection' with Dunlop family as 36-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop confirmed on ex-Bruce Anstey Honda for Classic TT

Isle of Man TT record breaker Michael Dunlop will ride a Honda RS250 for the Milenco by Padgett’s team in the Lightweight race on the Isle of Man, 12 months after winning the race for the first time on his own Crossan Motorcycles-liveried Honda.

The machine 36-time TT winner Dunlop will ride was previously raced by New Zealand’s Bruce Anstey, who won three times on the bike in the Classic TT Lightweight race between 2016 and 2019 and made history when he became the first rider to record a 120mph lap on a 250cc machine around the Mountain Course.

Anstey won the race for the first time in 2016 and raised the lap record to 120.475mph on his return the following year.

He missed the event in 2018 after a cancer battle but made an emotional return in 2019, when he secured his third victory on the immaculately prepared RS250.

Padgett said his team was working hard to prepare the machine for Dunlop ahead of the race on Wednesday, August 26.

“I’m super excited to be working with Michael. We have so many happy memories of working with Robert towards the end of ’93 and into ’94, and it’s a great connection with the Dunlop family,” Padgett said.

“I almost feel like I'm cheating on Bruce a little bit because that bike has been his baby for so long!

“The team are working hard behind the scenes to get the bike ready for the Classic, we’re looking forward to a great week of racing.”

Road racing legend Robert won the 125cc race for the Padgett’s team at the North West 200 in 1994 and topped the leaderboard in practice at the TT. He was also second fastest on the 250cc Honda for the Lightweight TT race.

However, The Ballymoney man was seriously injured in a crash in the Formula One race at Ballaugh Bridge, when the rear wheel of his Medd Honda Superbike collapsed.

As a result of his injuries, Dunlop was restricted to the smallest capacity 125cc machines for the rest of his career.

Son Michael, who is riding a machine for Padgett for the first time, won the Lightweight race at the Classic TT last year by 47 seconds from Ian Lougher, setting the fastest lap of the race at 115.285mph. The 37-year-old had lapped faster during practice week at 116.491mph.

Dunlop will also compete in the Historic Senior and Historic Junior races on Royal Enfield machinery for Flitwick Motorcycles/SMV.

Fellow Northern Ireland rider Adam McLean rode for the Flitwick Motorcycles team at the Classic TT in 2025 and narrowly missed out on victory in the Historic Senior race by only 0.269s to Mike Browne.

Dunlop is competing in the Classic Senior race for the first time since 2017.

He will also ride in the newly introduced Junior 600 Classic TT on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

Practice for the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix is scheduled to commence on Sunday, August 16.

Race week takes place from Monday, August 24 to Friday, August 28.