Retro Rewind: Flying Kiwi Bruce Anstey's TAS Racing swansong lifted the roof at the 2010 Ulster Grand Prix

Fans’ favourite Bruce Anstey denied Ian Hutchinson a four-timer at the 2010 Ulster Grand Prix as he became the fastest road racer in the world at Dundrod.
By Kyle White
Published 6th May 2020, 13:07 BST
Updated 6th May 2020, 14:05 BST
Bruce Anstey gets a soaking from Ian Hutchinson after winning the second Superbike race at the 2010 Ulster Grand Prix.Bruce Anstey gets a soaking from Ian Hutchinson after winning the second Superbike race at the 2010 Ulster Grand Prix.
Bruce Anstey gets a soaking from Ian Hutchinson after winning the second Superbike race at the 2010 Ulster Grand Prix.

In his final race for Northern Ireland’s TAS Racing team on the Relentless Suzuki, Anstey almost breached the 134mph mark as he held off Hutchinson (Padgett’s Honda) in a thriller, with the top five riders covered by 1.6 seconds at the finish.

Yorkshireman Hutchinson, fresh from his historic five-in-a-week solo romp at the Isle of Man TT, was at the top of his game and it showed, with the Honda rider winning the Superstock, feature Superbike and opening Supersport races to rattle off a quick-fire treble.

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He was narrowly edged out for his fourth win of the day by Scotsman Keith Amor in the second Supersport race as his bid for an unprecedented clean sweep fell short, whilst ‘Flying Kiwi’ Anstey had the last laugh as he prevailed in an epic Superbike finale to end his long association with TAS Racing on a winning note.

Bruce Anstey (Reltentless Suzuki), leads Ian Hutchinson (Padgett's Honda) and Keith Amor (KBMG BMW) at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010.Bruce Anstey (Reltentless Suzuki), leads Ian Hutchinson (Padgett's Honda) and Keith Amor (KBMG BMW) at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010.
Bruce Anstey (Reltentless Suzuki), leads Ian Hutchinson (Padgett's Honda) and Keith Amor (KBMG BMW) at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010.

A fierce battle involving Anstey, Hutchinson, Amor, Cameron Donald (Relentless Suzuki) and Guy Martin (Wilson Craig Honda) raged around the iconic 7.4-mile course in glorious conditions as the fans waited with bated breath to see who would come out on top.

On the last lap, 41-year-old Anstey – who was fourth at Joey’s Windmill on the last lap behind Hutchinson, Amor and Donald – shattered Conor Cummins’ 2009 lap record with a speed of 133.977mph on the GSX-R1000.

He passed Amor and Hutchinson into Wheeler’s and held on for a magnificent win by 0.072s from Hutchy, with Amor snatching third on the KBMG BMW, only 0.3s further behind. Australian rider Donald took fourth ahead of Martin as the first five riders over the line were covered by 1.6 seconds.

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A breathless Anstey said: “I really wanted that one and that last lap just worked out perfectly. I said before today that our bikes were very competitive and while I missed out in the cat and mouse game for victory in the opening Superbike race, I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice.”

New Zealand's Bruce Anstey became the fastest road racer in the world after lapping at 133.977mph.New Zealand's Bruce Anstey became the fastest road racer in the world after lapping at 133.977mph.
New Zealand's Bruce Anstey became the fastest road racer in the world after lapping at 133.977mph.

Runner-up Hutchinson added: “I did all the hard work for much of the race but on the last lap Bruce came past me going up the hill and I made a mistake at the final corner, because I went down one gear too many. I thought I could get him on the final corner but I’d lost too much time by then.”

Today, the very future of the Ulster Grand Prix is sadly in doubt as the organising Dundrod Club faces insolvency over debts in the region of £290,000.

Related topics:Northern Ireland

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