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Bruce Anstey back on top at the Isle of Man TT

© Trevor Burgess
By TT reporter June 7 2008
Just two days after being stripped of the win in the first Relentless Supersport Junior TT race, Bruce Anstey put the disappointment behind him to roar to victory in Wednesday’s second Junior TT. The New Zealander enjoyed a nip and tuck battle with AIM Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson on lap one, but pushed home his advantage over the next three laps to storm to victory by more than 34 seconds over Hutchy.

Anstey was clearly enjoying the Relentless by TAS Suzuki Supersport, taking the lap record on the second circuit with an average speed of 125.359mph.  He had broken the lap record on lap two of Monday’s Supersport race, but lost that along with the win when he was excluded for a technical infringement.

A further 14 seconds back in third was Ryan Farquhar, followed by Ian Lougher and Gary Johnson, who put in a fantastic last lap to finish ahead of Guy Martin.  There was early disappointment for the winner of Monday’s race, Steve Plater, who coasted to a halt on the Mountain section.

Keith Amor, who finished third on Monday, also retired, as did Anstey’s team-mate Cameron Donald, already a double winner at the 2008 TT.  Plus, John McGuinness, who finished Monday's race in second place, had to stop with mechanical problems.  After retiring in the pits at the end of lap one, McGuinness took a popular turn in the Manx Radio TT commentary box.

Speaking afterwards, Anstey said claiming his seventh TT win was the best way to deal with the disappointment of Monday.  He said: “After Monday I wanted to put all that behind me, put my head down and show people we could do it.”  He added: “The whole thing ran perfectly to the end.  The bike was faultless.  I am just pleased for me, pleased for the whole team.”

Second placed Hutchinson, winner of the sole Supersport Junior TT last year, said a podium finish made up for the bad luck he has suffered so far in 2008.  He said: “I am just thankful that we have got a race finish now.  It starts to eat away at you when you have lots and lots of bad luck.  The TT can be cruel when it is going wrong and a mega place when it it is going right.”

He admitted fearing a repeat of the mechanical problems experienced in Monday’s race.  He said: “These bikes, you’ve got to ride the wheels off them, but I had to ride the wheels off it gently!  I could not have not finished again.”

Farquhar, who parted company with the McAdoo team on the eve of the TT, was delighted.  He said: “This means probably more to me than any win.  I am going home happy now, no matter what happens during the rest of the week.”

Supersport result:

1 Bruce Anstey, Suzuki GSX-R600, 123.041 mph
2 Ian Hutchinson, Yamaha R6
3 Ryan Farquhar, Kawasaki ZX6
4 Ian Lougher, Yamaha R6
5 Gary Johnson, Honda CBR600
6 Guy Martin, Honda CBR600
7 Conor Cummins, Yamaha R6
8 Michael Dunlop, Yamaha R6
9 Adrian Archibald, Yamaha R6
10 Daniel Stewart, Yamaha R6

 

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