Action! The 2019 Classic TT
The undoubted highlight of the Classic TT was Bruce Anstey’s heroic ride in the Lightweight event. After battling cancer for the previous 18 months, the 50-year-old New Zealander came back strongly to record one of the most emotive wins in the history of road racing.
The Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles RS250 Honda rocketed into an early lead of five seconds over teenager James Hind, who made his debut in the 2018 Manx Grand Prix.
By Ramsey the Kiwi was 11.5s ahead with team-mate Davey Todd – having his first race on a two-stroke – another 2.5s down.
Anstey’s pit crew was super-efficient with the fuel top up, helping him gain another 16s advantage over Todd.
Hind suffered a nightmare. The 18-litre tank had over-filled slightly on his Dennis Trollope-supported 250 Yamaha and the extra pressure made it difficult to refit the filler cap. In his haste, the youngster then suffered an additional 30-second penalty for exceeding the pit lane speed limit, dropping him to ninth place at Glen Helen on lap two.
At Ramsey, Anstey had a 51s lead over Todd, with Ian Lougher up to third, 13.5s down on Todd.
Anstey’s lead grew to more than one full minute with half a lap remaining, but teenager Hind had clawed his way back to fourth, 3.4s behind Lougher. By Ramsey he was one second in front of the veteran Welshman and looking strong for a podium place.
Anstey crossed the finish line 1m 09.8s ahead of Todd, while Hind took another nine seconds out of Lougher over the mountain to seal third.
Jamie Coward grabbed fifth, with Rhys Hardisty edging local man Dan Sayle out of the top six on the final lap, in what was the latter’s return to racing on the Mountain Course after crashing heavily in the corresponding race 12 months earlier.
"It’s awesome to be back," said Bruce. “Thanks to everybody for putting so much into this; my team, Clive [Padgett] and my family, Carl Cox and the other sponsors, but especially my partner Anny."