68 Facts About Bruce Anstey

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.

Bruce Anstey did however ride a parade lap on board a Honda RC213V-S during the 2018 Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling in late August.

Bruce Anstey made his Isle of Man TT debut at the 1996 event.

Again featuring in the Lightweight and Senior races, Bruce Anstey took his Yamaha TZ250 to a 26th-place finish in the Lightweight and followed this by taking 20th in the Senior TT, being the third 250cc mounted rider to finish behind Gavin Lee and his fellow New Zealander, Shaun Harris.

Bruce Anstey retired in the week's curtain raiser, the Formula 1 TT, however his fortunes improved as race week progressed.

Bruce Anstey then secured his maiden victory at the TT taking the honours in the Lightweight TT on a DTR 250cc Yamaha.

Bruce Anstey then recorded a 2nd-place finish in his final race of the week, the Production 600cc.

Again Bruce Anstey was entered in five races at the 2005 Isle of Man TT, producing mixed results.

At the Centenary TT of 2007, Bruce Anstey failed to finish in the opening Superbike Race, but swiftly made up for it by claiming victory in the Superstock event winning by 40 seconds over John McGuinness.

Bruce Anstey missed out on a podium place in the Supersport race finishing 4th, which was followed by another retirement in the highlight Senior TT.

In 2008, Bruce Anstey opened his account by claiming the runner up spot in the Superbike race.

An 8th place followed in the second Supersport race and, comparatively, the meeting ended on a positive note with Bruce Anstey securing the final place on the rostrum after a hard-fought Senior.

Bruce Anstey had switched teams for the 2011 season, and compared with the previous two seasons an upturn in fortune was evident.

At the 2012 Isle of Man TT Bruce Anstey took a well earned 3rd place in the Superbike race followed by victory in the opening Supersport race.

Bruce Anstey achieved a commendable list of results at the 2013 Races, where he secured an 8th place in the opening Superbike race, followed by taking second place on the podium in the first Supersport.

Bruce Anstey rounded off the week's racing with 3rd place in the Senior.

Bruce Anstey's renowned consistency was particularly evident at the 2014 TT.

Bruce Anstey posted a 4th place in the Superbike race, followed by 2nd in the Supersport and 3rd in the Superstock.

On Sunday 7 June 2015 Bruce Anstey achieved the highlight of his career, winning the Superbike TT.

Bruce Anstey concluded a highly satisfactory week's racing by taking 8th place in the restarted race.

Still evidently feeling the effects of the injuries sustained during the Practice Week, Bruce Anstey managed to hold station within the top 10 for the first two laps of the opening Supersport 600 race.

Bruce Anstey formed up on the Glencutchery Road with the Honda RC213V-S, having by the standards of the week, enjoyed a reasonable qualifying period.

Bruce Anstey took the RC213V-S across the line in 8th place on corrected time at the end of lap 1 involving himself in a close tussle with Conor Cummins and Michael Rutter.

Bruce Anstey made a steady start lying in 11th place by the end of the opening lap.

Progress was made during lap 2 with Bruce Anstey edging into the top 10, having moved up to 9th place at the pit stops at the end of the lap.

Bruce Anstey suffered disappointment in the Superstock race, retiring at the pits at the end of the opening lap.

Whilst featuring on the podium at the 2003 North West, Bruce Anstey failed to secure a win.

Bruce Anstey went on to win the two Supersport events, and the Superstock event as well.

Opening his account with a 6th place in the first Superbike race in 2010, Bruce Anstey continued to suffer from misfortune in the subsequent races, posting a retirement in the opening Supersport 600cc race which was followed by a further retirement in the Superstock before recording 10th in the feature Superbike race and concluding the meeting with 3rd in his second Supersport outing.

Only one race was able to run before the programme was curtailed and in which Bruce Anstey claimed 3rd place in a rain sodden Supersport 600cc race.

Bruce Anstey came home in 7th place in his first outing in the Supersport category, followed with a 6th place in the Superbike race.

At the 2016 North West 200, Bruce Anstey made a good start from a middle grid position in the opening Superbike Race.

Bruce Anstey continued to cement his position in the field when, towards the end of lap 4, he crashed his Honda Fireblade at Church Corner as a result of running a wider line.

Bruce Anstey remained a member of the Pagett's Honda squad for the 2017 North West 200 races which saw him campaigning a Honda Fireblade in the Superbike category as well as a new Honda SP2 in the Superstock and a Honda CBR600RR in the Supersport race.

Bruce Anstey has claimed numerous successes at the Ulster Grand Prix, taking the top step on the podium on 13 occasions.

At the 2003 Ulster Grand Prix Bruce Anstey took his maiden victory, when he claimed the honors in the 1000cc Production Race.

Again a single victory was all Bruce Anstey was able to secure at the 2012 UGP when he again came home at the head of the field in one of the Supersport races.

Whilst he failed to gain top spot on the podium at the 2013 Ulster Grand Prix, the meeting saw a return of the consistency of which Bruce Anstey is so renowned.

The signature race, the Ulster Grand Prix, saw Bruce Anstey come home in fourth place to conclude a very rewarding meeting.

Bruce Anstey then enjoyed further success when he went on to win the blue riband Superbike race.

At the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix Bruce Anstey took the honours in the associated event, the Dundrod 150 as well as taking victory in the main event, in controversial circumstances.

The race organisers decided to give the victory to Bruce Anstey, who had been leading at the end of lap 4, citing they could not take the standings after the fifth lap because some riders had not completed it when the red flags went up.

Bruce Anstey secured victory over Ian Hutchinson who had been leading the race at the end of lap 5.

The 2016 Ulster Grand Prix was a meeting dominated by Ian Hutchinson, however Bruce Anstey enjoyed a respectable meeting being reunited with the Honda RC213V-S.

Bruce Anstey concluded the meeting by taking 4th spot in the second Supersport race.

Bruce Anstey fared less well when he retired the Padgett's Honda RS250R at the end of the opening lap due to mechanical problems.

The race saw Bruce Anstey dicing at the head of the pack with up to five other riders in which lap records tumbled, and it finally came down to a two-way duel between Bruce Anstey and Hickman on the final lap.

Bruce Anstey campaigned a classic bike at the 2013 Classic TT.

Bruce Anstey failed to finish in the Bennett's 500cc Classic on which he rode a 1961 Manx Norton.

At the 2014 Manx Festival of Motorcycling, Bruce Anstey was entered in the 500cc Classic TT and Formula 1 Classic TT.

Again on board the Manx Norton Bruce Anstey took 3rd in the 500cc Classic and notched up his maiden victory at the event when he took a Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 to 1st place in the Formula 1 Classic.

Tussling with the pugnacious Dunlop at the head of the field, Bruce 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.

However Bruce Anstey was then black flagged as he approached Cronk-ny-Mona at the end of lap 3.

The result of this being Bruce 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 Bruce Anstey rejoined the race, but he'd lost a minute to Michael Dunlop, handing victory to Dunlop on a plate.

Bruce 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, Bruce Anstey snatched 2nd place by a second from Farquhar.

Bruce Anstey enjoyed success in the Classic 250cc race, leading from start to finish.

Bruce Anstey is the current lap record holder on the Snaefell Mountain Course in both two stroke categories, set at the Classic TT.

Bruce Anstey failed to make an impact in the Superbike Race.

On board the Padgett's Yamaha YZR500 Bruce Anstey was lying in 8th place at the end of the opening lap behind a rampaging Michael Dunlop, who went on to break Bruce Anstey's lap record for the Superbike class.

Bruce Anstey made no impression at the head of the field, and retired on lap four at Glen Tramman.

Bruce Anstey returned to the Isle of Man for the Classic TT Races in August, 2017.

Bruce Anstey tends to shy away from un-warranted media attention, although he is not averse to giving interviews.

Bruce Anstey's racing career suffered a setback in 1995 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Bruce Anstey received a Haka following his win at the 2015 Ulster Grand Prix.

Bruce Anstey is contracted to the Arai Helmet Company, his current helmet design is the Arai RX7-RC.

Bruce Anstey was inducted into the Motorcycle NZ Hall of fame on 15 May 2021.

Bruce Anstey is widely recognised as one of the most laid-back racers in motorcycling and is known by at several nicknames; one being "Smiler," a name bestowed on him by members of his family, and used by motorcycle racing commentator Fred Clarke.