TAS Suzuki are Relentless at Isle of Man TT
Relentless by TAS Suzuki have done it again, but this time Kiwi Bruce Anstey took the top step of the podium.
After retiring from the Superstock race feeling ill, Anstey admitted he wasn’t sure about even starting the Relentless Supersport Junior Race One on Monday afternoon.
However, he took his place on the start line and then blasted around the famous TT circuit – smashing the Supersport record on his way to victory.
After Guy Martin, who started at number one, retired just a short distance into lap one of the four, John McGuinness took the lead at Glen Helen. However, Anstey was on a charge and forced his way into the lead.
Behind him, McGuinness lost his grip on second to flying Scotsman Keith Amor. However, there are few who can keep the outright lap record holder down and McGuinness managed to get himself back into second spot.
On lap two the winner of this race last year, Ian Hutchinson, was forced out with mechanical problems on the AIM Yamaha.
After his race was ruined in 2007 by problems in the pits, Anstey enjoyed a calm stop with the TAS team and, despite a fast stop by the Padgett’s Honda outfit for McGuinness, Anstey maintained a 20 second gap going into lap three.
The advantage was in no small part due to his second lap, which was a new Supersport record – an average speed of 125.372mph and time of 18m 3.4s.
Amor was still lying third, with Ryan Farquhar in fourth following Hutchy’s retirement.
However, all eyes were now on AIM Yamaha’s Steve Plater, who had climbed from seventh to third and was closing on McGuinness.
McGuinness would later reveal his bike was suffering mechanical problems, which helped the charging Plater to catch him. At the line at the end of four laps Anstey took victory by more than 21 seconds, from Plater, who had snatched the runners-up spot from McGuinness by just three seconds.
Behind the leading trio, Amor, Farquhar and Ian Lougher filled the top five, separated by just 3 seconds.
Anstey said:
‘I was so disappointed this morning, I was really struggling to hang on to the Superstock and thought it would be safest to pull in.’
‘I was actually thinking about not going out, I thought I would save my strength until Wednesday. But I thought I have the fastest bike and might as well use it.’
‘I went hard on the first lap and after that I just tried to enjoy myself to the end.’
Second place Plater said:
‘I couldn’t believe it when I pulled up and they put me in second place. It is just awesome, I cannot believe what I have done. I need to go for a walk on my own and let it sink in.’
McGuinness, after taking the 27th TT podium of his career, said:
‘It was great. I made a good start and was in the ballpark until Glen Helen, when Bruce went into second gear!’
‘After the pit stop oil started coming out of the steering damper. It was all over my visor and inside the screen and the bike was a bit of a handful to ride. I had to let it go. I wanted the win, but had to bring the bike home safely.’
‘I did my best, gave 110 per cent. I’ve had two podiums today and I’ve really enjoyed it.’
The next racing is scheduled for Wednesday with the second Relentless Supersport TT and second Sure Mobile Sidecar Race.
You can download the provisional results in PDF format below. The official race report and results will be posted later.
To download the times you will require Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com
