Magnificent Bruce
Following a two year absence, Bruce Anstey achieved one of the most popular Mountain Course race wins in recent history in the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race, round 20 of the Duke Road Race Rankings 2019.
The indomitable New Zealander, who has been battling cancer, was cheered all around the course by fans as he dominated the race on his 250cc two stroke Honda and was never headed, eventually clinching the race win – his sixth in the Classic TT and his third in the Lightweight class - by over a minute from his Milenco by Padgetts Motorcycles teammate, Davey Todd.
In the winners' enclosure after the race, an emotional Anstey paid tribute to the Padgetts team: “It’s awesome to win. I can’t believe it. Everyone – the team, Clive (Padgett), my family have just been awesome. I was right in the zone but on the last lap I was really nervous and just short shifted – I was not trying to go fast – just get it to the end. The last two years have been really tough. If it wasn’t for Anny (his partner) I wouldn’t be here.”
Todd had the honour of leading the field away but it was Anstey who lead on the clock at the opening checkpoint at Glen Helen from James Hind - a MGP newcomer in 2018 - the second fastest qualifier, with Todd a further two seconds back in third.
John McGuinness won the opening event of the Classic TT, the Senior race from Stefano Bonetti with Jamie Coward third, however two days later in the Junior Classic Yorkshireman Jamie stood on the top step of the podium achieving his first race victory on the Mountain Course after three runner-up places. Michael Rutter and Dominic Herbertson filled the remaining podium places.
The Classic Superbike TT looked like a Michael Dunlop benefit, that was until Hillberry on the last lap when his machine faltered and his was forced to retire less than two miles from the flag, which was taken bay Australian David Johnson, also taken his maiden TT Course victory.
There is no change in the top three of the Duke Rankings, with Dean Harrison still leading from Michael Sweeney and Derek Sheils although Derek has closed to within 11 points of his fellow countryman after his excellent second place in the Classic Superbike TT.
Jamie Coward moves into fourth, up from sixth, likewise Dominic Herbertson also climbs two places to ninth.
|
1
|
|
Dean
|
Harrison
|
1
|
No Change
|
|
1493
|
|
2
|
|
Michael
|
Sweeney
|
2
|
No Change
|
|
1363
|
|
3
|
|
Derek
|
Sheils
|
3
|
No Change
|
|
1352
|
|
4
|
|
Jamie
|
Coward
|
6
|
Up 2
|
|
1259
|
|
5
|
|
Peter
|
Hickman
|
4
|
Down 1
|
|
1220
|
|
6
|
|
Derek
|
McGee
|
5
|
Down 1
|
|
1199
|
|
7
|
|
Lee
|
Johnston
|
7
|
No Change
|
|
949
|
|
8
|
|
Barry
|
Davidson
|
8
|
No Change
|
|
756
|
|
9
|
|
Dominic
|
Herbertson
|
11
|
Up 2
|
|
742
|
|
10
|
|
Conor
|
Cummins
|
10
|
No Change
|
|
736
|
|
11
|
|
Michael
|
Dunlop
|
9
|
Down 2
|
|
710
|
|
12
|
|
Vinny
|
Brennan
|
12
|
No Change
|
|
595
|
|
13
|
|
Tommy
|
Henry
|
13
|
No Change
|
|
572
|
|
14
|
|
Davey
|
Todd
|
16
|
Up 2
|
|
566
|
|
15
|
|
Paul
|
Jordan
|
14
|
Down 1
|
|
540
|
|
16
|
|
Neil
|
Kernohan
|
15
|
Down 1
|
|
525
|
|
17
|
|
James
|
Hillier
|
19
|
Up 2
|
|
516
|
|
18
|
|
Richard
|
Ford
|
17
|
Down 1
|
|
491
|
|
19
|
|
Darryl
|
Tweed
|
18
|
Down 1
|
|
487
|
|
20
|
|
Kevin
|
Fitzpatrick
|
20
|
No Change
|
|
419
|
|
21
|
|
Andy
|
McAllister
|
21
|
No Change
|
|
414
|
|
22
|
|
Ed
|
Manly
|
22
|
No Change
|
|
409
|
|
23
|
|
Michael
|
Browne
|
23
|
No Change
|
|
397
|
|
24
|
|
Brian
|
Mateer
|
24
|
No Change
|
|
389
|
|
25
|
|
Rob
|
Hodson
|
29
|
Up 5
|
|
388
|
|
26
|
|
Darryl
|
Anderson
|
25
|
Down 1
|
|
387
|
|
27
|
|
Paul
|
Williams
|
26
|
Down 1
|
|
387
|
|
28
|
|
Ian
|
Thompson
|
27
|
Down 1
|
|
381
|
|
29
|
|
Rhys
|
Hardisty
|
30
|
Down 1
|
|
380
|
|
30
|
|
Thomas
|
Maxwell
|
28
|
Down 2
|
|
377
|
|
31
|
|
Gary
|
Dunlop
|
31
|
No Change
|
|
351
|
|
32
|
|
Michael
|
Rutter
|
34
|
Up 2
|
|
351
|
|
33
|
|
Kevin
|
Baker
|
32
|
Down 1
|
|
320
|
|
34
|
|
Dermot
|
Cleary
|
33
|
Down 1
|
|
298
|
|
35
|
|
Andy
|
Farrell
|
35
|
No Change
|
|
281
|
|
36
|
|
Forrest
|
Dunn
|
36
|
No Change
|
|
278
|
|
37
|
|
Philip
|
Shaw
|
37
|
No Change
|
|
274
|
|
38
|
|
Christian
|
Elkin
|
38
|
No Change
|
|
272
|
|
39
|
|
Freddie
|
Stewart
|
39
|
No Change
|
|
271
|
|
40
|
|
Eoin
|
O'Siochru
|
40
|
No Change
|
|
269
|
The Manx Grand Prix followed the Classic TT, full details of the Duke Road Race Rankings can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DukeRoadRaceRankings
Photo: Bruce Anstey (250 Honda/Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles) at The Bungalow during the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT race. PICTURE BY DAVE KNEEN.
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