page_title: Bruce Anstey
section_title: 2015
hierarchical_section_title: Bruce Anstey / Classic TT / 2015
caption_attribution_description: English: Bruce Anstey descends Bray Hill astride a Yamaha YZR 500 during the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 and Formula 2 Race, 2015.
context_page_description: Bruce Anstey MNZM 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 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. For thirteen consecutive seasons, from 2002 - 2015, Bruce Anstey managed to secure a top three finish at the world's three most prestigious road races; the North West 200, the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix.
  A press release issued on behalf of Anstey on 10 April 2018, stated that due to illness he would not compete during the 2018 racing season. He did however ride a parade lap on board a Honda RC213V-S during the 2018 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling in late August.Anstey announced a return to competitive racing in July 2019 stating he would compete at the Classic TT, and secured a victory in the 250 cc event.
context_section_description: 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.
  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 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 2nd place by a second from Farquhar.
caption: Anstey on the Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 during the 2015 F1/F2 Classic TT
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