Bruce Anstey to parade Kiwi superbike at Classic TT
Nine-time TT race-winner Bruce Anstey will display one of his country's most famous icons at the 2013 Classic TT Races - the Britten V1000.
Speaking of the opportunity to ride such an important machine the Kiwi star said 'It's going to be a real pleasure to ride a New Zealand built bike on the Isle of Man. The Britten is one of the country's greatest achievements.'
He added 'I'm really looking forward to taking it round the Mountain Course and I'm sure that fans will really enjoy the spectacle and sound of the machine.'
The hand-made bike was the brainchild of fellow New Zealander John Britten, who designed and constructed ten of them in his home workshop supported by an enthusiastic team of friends.
The historic bike is the only one that is run in parades, and one of just three remaining in New Zealand - the Britten family holds one and the other takes pride of place in Te-Papa - the national museum. The remaining seven are held overseas.
The radical design placed major importance on lightness and aerodynamics and Britten used the engine as a stressed member and utilised carbon fibre for the girder forks, swing-arm and even the wheels. To decrease air resistance the radiator was placed under the seat with air ducts for cooling directed through the petrol tank. A home built programmable engine management computer allowed for adjustment on the move.
The bike has historic resonance on the Isle of Man as Nick Jefferies rode it in the 1994 Senior TT, recording a standing start lap of 118mph. Bruce will parade the machine as part of the Classic TT Lap of Honour on Monday 26th August as part of the inaugural Classic TT Races.
The machine's lucky owner Kevin Grant commented 'Once I'd decided to bring the bike over for the parade there was only one rider that I wanted to ride the bike. It's entirely fitting that a bike so closely linked to New Zealand and the Isle of Man TT should have the country's most successful TT rider Bruce Anstey parading on the Mountain Course.'