Bruce Anstey

Bruce Anstey MNZM (born 21 August 1969 in New Zealand) is a professional motorcycle road racer. He is a former lap record holder on the world famous Snaefell Mountain Course with a time of 17 minutes 6.682 seconds, at an average speed of 132.298 mph (212.913 km/h) set during the 2014 Superbike TT Race. Widely regarded as one of the most consistent of racers, Anstey is currently signed to race for the Padgett's Honda Racing Team having previously ridden for TAS Suzuki Racing, Valmoto Triumph and DTR Yamaha. His quiet and unassuming demeanor makes Anstey tremendously popular amongst fans of motorcycle racing.

Said to have been inspired to take up a career as a motorcycle racer after watching Mike Hailwood's comeback victory at the 1978 Isle of Man TT Races, Anstey made his competitive debut on Boxing Day, 1990, at the Whanganui Circuit in his native New Zealand, competing on a Suzuki RGV250.

Bruce Anstey thunders down Bray Hill on his way to victory in the 2015 Superbike TT.

Isle of Man TT

Yamaha (1996-2002)

1996

Anstey made his Isle of Man TT debut at the 1996 event. Riding a Yamaha he finished in 29th place in the Lightweight TT before retiring in the Senior TT.

1996 TT Results

1998

Due to illness Anstey did not participate at the 1997 TT, with his next appearance being at the 1998 races. Again featuring in the Lightweight and Senior races, Anstey took his Yamaha TZ250 to a 26th-place finish in the Lightweight and followed this by taking 20th in the Senior TT, being the third 250cc mounted rider to finish behind Gavin Lee and his fellow New Zealander, Shaun Harris.

1998 TT Results

1999

Campaigning in the same classes as the previous year and riding the same Yamaha TZ250, Anstey's form continued to improve in 1999, with him securing his first top 10 finish by claiming 7th in the Lightweight and following this up with 24th in the Senior.

1999 TT Results

2000

The 2000 Isle of Man TT saw Anstey gain his first podium place at the event, finishing second behind Joey Dunlop in the Lightweight TT. The second race of his week saw him again riding the DTR Yamaha TZ250 in the Senior where he took the Denis Trollope machine to the highest place of any 250cc machine in the race, 14th.

2000 TT Results

2002

The 2001 Isle of Man TT was cancelled as a precaution against the Foot and Mouth Outbreak reaching the Island. Racing resumed in 2002, with Anstey being entered in five races. He retired in the week's curtain raiser, the Formula 1 TT, however his fortunes improved as race week progressed. In the Ultra-Lightweight TT Anstey took his DTR 125cc Yamaha to 10th place and then followed this with 3rd place in the Production 1000cc class. He then secured his maiden victory at the TT taking the honours in the Lightweight TT on a DTR 250cc Yamaha. Anstey then recorded a 2nd-place finish in his final race of the week, the Production 600cc.

2002 TT Results

Triumph (2003)

2003

At the 2003 meeting, Anstey competed in four categories. Opening his account with the runner up position in the Production 1000cc race, he followed this up with a victory in the Junior TT aboard the Valmoto Triumph Daytona, giving Triumph its first TT win in twenty seven years. In the Production 600cc class, Anstey managed an 8th-place finish for Triumph and completed the racing programme with 7th place in the Senior aboard a 1000cc Suzuki.

2003 TT Results

Suzuki (2004-2010)

2004

Signed by TAS Suzuki in 2004, Anstey's reputation for consistency saw him finish on the podium in all the races he entered at the TT. A 3rd place in the opening Formula 1 was followed by victory in the 1000cc Production race. A trio of 2nd-place finishes then followed as Anstey took the runner up spot in the Junior 600cc, the Production 600cc and the Senior TT respectively.

2004 TT Results

2005

Again Anstey was entered in five races at the 2005 Isle of Man TT, producing mixed results. Problems with his TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike saw him retire in both races in which the machine featured. On the plus side Anstey took victory in the Superstock TT cementing his reputation in the class. Following this he took 4th place in the opening Supersport race but retired in the following one. Anstey's week ended with his retirement in Friday's Senior.

2005 TT Results

2006

In the 2006 TT practices, Anstey achieved the unofficial current top speed record for the Mountain Course of 206 mph (332 km/h) at the end of Sulby straight on a Suzuki 1000cc machine. This speed value was registered by the on-board datalogging equipment and so cannot be considered as an official record.

2006 TT Results

2007

At the Centenary TT of 2007, Anstey failed to finish in the opening Superbike Race, but swiftly made up for it by claiming victory in the Superstock event winning by 40 seconds over John McGuinness. Anstey missed out on a podium place in the Supersport race finishing 4th, which was followed by another retirement in the highlight Senior TT.

Two of Anstey's race bikes displaying his No 5 plate.

2007 TT Results

2008

In 2008, Anstey opened his account by claiming the runner up spot in the Superbike race. This was followed by an initial victory in the opening Supersport only for Anstey to be subsequently stripped of the 1st place. Having defied a heavy cold to win the race, he 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 Anstey swept to victory in the second Supersport Junior race in which he was involved in a thrilling dice on corrected time with Ian Hutchinson. Following over 150 miles of racing, Anstey came 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. The Senior TT again proved a disappointment for Anstey, with him posting a retirement.

To celebrate his Supersport Junior TT win, Suzuki released a GSXR-600 K8 replica of Anstey's Relentless by TAS Suzuki race bike.

2008 TT Results

2009

Anstey's campaign at the 2009 Isle of Man TT proved particularly frustrating. A 2nd place in the second Supersport race being the highlight with retirements in the other four races.

2009 TT Results

2010

The 2010 meeting again provided a mixed bag of fortunes for Anstey. Finishing just outside the top 10 in the opening Superbike race, he failed to finish in either the opening Supersport or the Superstock races. An 8th place followed in the second Supersport race and, comparatively, the meeting ended on a positive note with Anstey securing the final place on the rostrum after a hard-fought Senior.

2010 TT Results

Anstey pictured at the TT Grandstand

Honda (2011-Present)

2011

Anstey had switched teams for the 2011 season, and compared with the previous two seasons an upturn in fortune was evident. Although he failed to finish in the Superbike TT, he enjoyed a win in the opening Supersport race, followed by a further retirement in the Superstock. A 5th place in the second Supersport was followed by Anstey again taking 3rd in the finale race, the Senior TT.

2011 TT Results

2012

At the 2012 Isle of Man TT Anstey took a well earned 3rd place in the Superbike race followed by victory in the opening Supersport race. A brace of 4th places followed in the Superstock and second Supersport races.

2012 TT Results

Anstey approaches Ramsey on his Superstock Honda Fireblade at the 2013 Isle of Man TT.

2013

Anstey achieved a commendable list of results at the 2013 Races, where he secured an 8th place in the opening Superbike race, followed by taking second place on the podium in the first Supersport. A 5th place in the Superstock was followed by another 2nd in the second Supersport race. Anstey rounded off the week's racing with 3rd place in the Senior.

2013 TT Results

Bruce Anstey on board the Team Mugen Shinden San at Parliament Square, Ramsey.

2014

Anstey's renowned consistency was particularly evident at the 2014 TT. He posted a 4th place in the Superbike race, followed by 2nd in the Supersport and 3rd in the Superstock. The 2014 TT also saw Anstey's debut in the TT Zero Class in which he finished in 2nd place to John McGuinness on an identical Mugen Shinden San. Another 2nd place followed in the second of the Supersport events and the week was rounded off with 4th in the Senior.

In the Superbike TT, Anstey set a new outright lap record for the Mountain Course. In addition to his haul of six silver replicas, Anstey was also awarded the prestigious John Williams Trophy for the fastest lap in the Superbike TT Race and the Jimmy Simpson Trophy, which is presented to the rider who has achieved the fastest lap of the meeting.

2014 TT Results

Anstey crests Bray Hill on the sixth lap of the 2015 Superbike TT

2015

On Sunday June 7, 2015, Anstey achieved the highlight of his career, winning the Superbike TT. Lying in second place behind race leader Ian Hutchinson Anstey took the race lead following the pit stops at the end of lap four. Astride a Padgett's Honda Anstey began to extend his lead, claiming victory by 10.97 seconds on corrected time following 226 miles of racing. Added to the victory, Anstey also set a new race record and the fastest lap of the race on his sixth lap at an average speed of 131.977 mph. Anstey's 2015 campaign continued when he took a 2nd place behind the rejuvenated Hutchinson in the first of the Supersport races and followed this by finishing 9th in the Superstock. Riding for the Mugen Shinden team, Anstey then competed in the TT Zero, his second year competing in the class, taking his electrically powered machine to second place behind Mugen team-mate, John McGuinness. In the second Supersport race of the week Anstey continued his run of podium positions, again finishing 2nd to Ian Hutchinson.

Bruce Anstey descends Bray Hill during the 2015 Supersport TT

The Senior TT was red flagged mid-way through lap 2, following an incident involving Jamie Hamilton. A restart followed with the race reduced to 4 laps. Anstey concluded a highly satisfactory week's racing by taking 8th place in the restarted race.

Following his success in the Superbike race Anstey also claimed the John Williams Trophy for the second year in succession.

2015 TT Results

2016

Remaining with Honda for 2016, it was announced that Anstey was to ride a Honda RC213V-S at the TT, specially prepared by the Valvoline Racing by Padgett’s Motorcycles Team. Various adjustments had to be made to the machine in order for it to withstand six laps of the punishing 37.73 mile Snaefell Mountain Course with such parts as the wheels, the forks, the rear shocks, the brakes and the radiator guards all having to be specially made.

Anstey was enjoying a reasonably successful qualifying week until he came off his Honda Fireblade, CBR1000RR Superbike at Keppel Gate during qualifying on Thursday June 2, as a result of which he received various injuries. After a check up at Noble's Hospital, Douglas, he was passed fit to compete in the opening Superbike race on Saturday, June 4. Despite his injuries, Anstey came home in a respectable 8th place on board the Honda RC213V-S. Still evidently feeling the effects of the injuries sustained during the Practice Week, Anstey managed to hold station within the top 10 for the first two laps of the opening Supersport 600 race. However, following the pit stops at the end of lap 2 he subsequently retired on lap 3 at Ballacraine. Later on June 6, Anstey lined up on the Glencrutchery Road for the afternoon race, the Superstock TT. Again riding in significant discomfort he retired at the TT Grandstand at the end of the opening lap.

Astride the Honda RC213V-S, Anstey prepares to start the 2016 Senior TT

A rest day during race week combined with a spell at the Isle of Man's hyperbaric chamber paid dividends for Anstey. Notably improved form followed when he took 5th place in the Junior TT, followed by victory in the TT Zero, his first triumph in that particular category. Although trailing at Ballaugh Bridge to Mugen team mate John McGuinness, Anstey took the lead after McGuinness had stopped to make adjustments, leading home William Dunlop and Jamie Hamilton.

A further day's recuperation continued to aid Anstey prior to the Senior TT. Following a delayed start due to poor visibility, Anstey was lying in 4th place by the end of lap 1 having lapped at an average speed of 131.086 miles per hour (210.962 km/h). With the retirement of Peter Hickman, Anstey moved up to 3rd place at the pit stop at the end of lap 2, until he was displaced by John McGuinness at the end of lap 3. Anstey was then overtaken on corrected time by Dean Harrison following the second round of pit stops at the end of lap 4, holding 5th place until the end of the 6 laps.

2016 TT Results

North West 200

Anstey at the 2007 North West 200

At the North West 200, Anstey had 10 wins between 2002 and 2014. 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 finished runner-up to Ian Lougher in the Superstock race. In 2006 he won the first Supersport race and the Superstock race. The 2007 meeting proved to be 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, he "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. At the 2016 North West 200 Anstey made a good start from a middle grid position in the opening Superbike Race. Dicing for a position within the top three, Anstey set a new absolute top speed record on the run to Coleraine at 209.8 mph (337.6 km/h). Anstey continued to cement his position in the field when, towards the end of lap 4 he crashed his Honda Fireblade at Church Corner as a result of running a wider line. As a consequence of the crash the race was red flagged.

Anstey pictured taking victory in the second Supersport 600 race at the 2007 North West 200.

Ulster Grand Prix

Anstey has also claimed numerous successes at the Ulster Grand Prix, winning ten 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, he was victorious in the Superstock class once more. In 2014, Anstey won the opening Supersport race and then went on to win the blue riband Superbike race and was named 'Man of the Meeting'.

He won the Superbike race at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2010, setting a new lap record of 133.977 mph (215.615 km/h), making him the fastest rider on the fastest motorcycle racing circuit in the world. At the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix Anstey took the honours in the associated event, the Dundrod 150 as well as taking victory in the main event, in controversial circumstances. The feature event, the Ulster Grand Prix was red flagged following an incident towards the end of lap 7. The race organisers decided to give the victory to Anstey, who had been leading at the end of lap 4, citing they could not take the standings after the fifth lap because some riders had not completed it when the red flags went up. Anstey secured victory over Ian Hutchinson who had been leading the race at the end of lap 5 (two-thirds distance).

The 2016 Ulster Grand Prix was a meeting dominated by Ian Hutchinson, however Anstey also enjoyed a respectable meeting.This saw him taking the runner up spot behind Hutchinson in the both Superbike races and victory in the opening (red flagged) Supersport event. Anstey concluded the meeting by taking 4th spot in the second Supersport race.

Classic TT

Following changes to the Manx Grand Prix Races in 2013, the Classic TT became part of the newly revamped festival allowing established TT competitors the opportunity to compete on classic and post-classic machinery.

2013

Anstey campaigned a classic bike at the 2013 Classic TT. He failed to finish in the Bennett's 500cc Classic on which he rode a 1961 Manx Norton.

2013 Classic TT Results

2014

At the 2014 Manx Festival of Motorcycling, Anstey was entered in the 500cc Classic TT and Formula 1 Classic TT. Again on board the Manx Norton Anstey took 3rd in the 500cc Classic and notched up his maiden victory at the event when he took a Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 to 1st place in the Formula 1 Classic.

2014 Classic TT Results

2015

Entering in the Motorsport Merchandise F1/F2 Classic TT, Anstey lined up astride the same Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 which he had taken to 1st place in the Formula 1 Classic the previous year. A strong depth of field joined Anstey on the grid as he went head to head with Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter, Ryan Farquhar and Peter Hickman amongst others.

Bruce Anstey astride the Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 during the 2015 Motorsport Merchandise F1/F2 Classic TT.

As a consequence of various delays during the course of the day, racing finally got underway at 5pm with Anstey's Yamaha YZR500 pitted against Suzuki, Kawasaki and Yamaha Superbikes. Tussling with the pugnacious Dunlop at the head of the field, Anstey crossed the line in 1st place at the end of the opening lap with a time of 18:13.707 producing an average speed of 124.190. As the second lap progressed Anstey began to secure the lead from Dunlop taking an increasing advantage into the 3rd lap. However Anstey was then black flagged as he approached Cronk-ny-Mona at the end of lap 3. The result of this being Anstey having to return to the pits with a loose left exhaust.

The Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles team battled valiantly to fix the problem and Anstey rejoined the race, but he’d lost a minute to Michael Dunlop, handing victory to Dunlop on a plate. Anstey had the consolation of clawing back a gap of over thirty seconds on James Hillier on the last lap and with Ryan Farquhar losing time on the Mountain section, Anstey snatched an incredible 2nd place by a second from Farquhar.

2015 Classic TT Results

2016

Anstey was again in attendance at the 2016 Classic TT on the Isle of Man in which he enjoyed success in the Classic 250cc race, leading from start to finish. Campaigning a Padgett's Honda RS250R, Anstey recorded a fastest lap of 118.74mph breaking John McGuinness' lap record which had stood since 1999. Anstey is now the current lap record holder on the Snaefell Mountain Course in both two stroke categories, set at the Classic TT.

Bruce Anstey pictured at Keppel Gate at the 2016 Classic TT.

Anstey failed to make an impact in the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Race. Onboard the Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 Anstey was lying in 8th place at the end of the opening lap behind a rampaging Michael Dunlop, who went on to brake Anstey's lap record for the Superbike class (although Anstey's record for two stroke machinery still stands). Anstey made no impression at the head of the field, and retired on lap 4 at Glen Tramman.

2016 Classic TT Results

Bruce Anstey tends to shy away from un-warranted media attention, although he is not averse to giving interviews. Together with his partner, Anny, he spends his time away from racing at his home in Windsor or in New Zealand.

A popular joke amongst the motorcycle racing paddock surrounds Anstey's propensity for sleeping. It is often referred to that his racing results reflect which time the race occurs - the later in the day, the better.

Testicular Cancer

Anstey's racing career suffered a severe setback in 1995 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Having made his first appearance at the Isle of Man TT Races in 1996, he was forced to miss the 1997 meeting as a consequence of undergoing treatment. Although being declared free of the disease, he has stated that he still feels the lingering effects part of which affect his immune system.

On numerous occasions prior to races, a traditional New Zealand Haka has been performed for Anstey. He also received a Haka following his win at the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix.

Bruce Anstey is contracted to the Arai Helmet Company, his current helmet design is the Arai RX7-RC. It is black in colour, and features a yellow coloured Kiwi on the front.

Anstey was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to motorsport in the 2015 New Year Honours.

Anstey is widely recognized as one of the most laid-back racers in motorcycling and is known by at several nicknames; one being "Smiler," a name bestowed on him by members of his family, and used by motorcycle racing commentator Fred Clarke. Other nicknames by which Anstey is popularly known are "Bruce Almighty," "The Wellington Wonder" and "The Flying Kiwi."