Isle of Man TT: Sick Bruce Anstey Junior Supersport victory and race lap record

Bruce Anstey has made it a hat-trick of wins for the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team by winning this afternoon’s Junior Supersport race at the Isle of Man TT.

The New Zealander, who’s been suffering from flu symptoms had considered not racing as he had to retired from this morning’s Superstock race as he felt so unwell, but having decided to race he put his head down and broke the lap record for the Supersport race on his way to victory.

Guy Martin started the race on the number one Bike Animal Hydrex Honda and Relentless by TAS Suzuki’s Bruce Anstey also decided to race despite suffering from flu symptoms in the Superstock race, which he retired from at the half way point.

But it wasn’t long before Martin suffered once again and was forced to retire as he did on Saturday in the superbike race. This time he pulled over at the Highlander.

At the first time zone at Glen Helen Conor Cummins was leading on the road but it was Anstey who was already in the lead on time and had a 1.71sec lead on Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson with John McGuinness third.

But by Ballaugh Bridge McGuinness was second, but he wasn’t going to have it all his own way as he battled for the second spot with Keith Amor. On lap two McGuinness was back in second by the Ramsey Hairpin but was 23.31secs behind Kiwi Anstey.

As Ian Hutchinson’s race was over with a blown engine at Sulby, Amor was back in second by Cronk ny Mona and all this was just before the end of lap two and that also signalled a new lap record for the Supersport race as Anstey shot past the Grandstand to post a lap of 125.372mph and a time of 18:03.40.

With McGuinness back in second at the end of lap two it was time for the pit stops. Anstey made a cracking stop and gained 16 seconds on McGuinness heading into lap three.

Lap three saw Keith Amor signalled as the fastest man past the Sulby Speedtrap on his Honda CBR600.

Connor Cummins was the next high-profile retirement as he stopped at Windy Corner while up front Anstey had built a 21sec lead going into the final lap of the 37.73 mile Mountain Course.

As the final lap developed Steve Plater was on a charge on his Yamaha R6 and slowly moved up the placings to then challenge McGuinness for second. Going towards the Bungalow, Plater was up to second place and here he stayed to take his first podium spot of the 2008 Isle of Man TT while John McGuinness’ third saw him take his 27th podium of his TT career.

After the race winner Bruce Anstey said: “I was so disappointed this morning, I wasn’t sure about going out in the 600. I got a good two laps in and just enjoyed the rest of it.

“I really enjoyed myself that last lap. There was fog on the mountain, the first race was damp but the second was almost dry.”

And third placed John McGuinness revealed after the race that he’d been riding with a broken steering damper so was just glad to get a podium finish.

McGuinness said: “The steering damper exploded at some point so there was oil everywhere, it was affecting my vision and was all over the screen. I just wanted to bring it home safely so bring on Wednesday.

“I don’t know where it happened there was oil after the pit stop and there was more and more oil coming out of it so to get on the podium with a broken steering damper is brilliant.”

Lap watch

Lap one:

Bruce Anstey, Keith Amor, John McGuinness, Ryan Farquhar, Ian Hutchinson, Ian Lougher

Lap two:

Bruce Anstey, John McGuinness, Keith Amor, Ryan Farquhar, Steve Plater, Ian Lougher

Lap three:

Bruce Anstey, John McGuinness, Keith Amor, Steve Plater, Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lougher

Lap four:

Bruce Anstey, Steve Plater, John McGuinness, Keith Amor, Ryan Farquhar, Ian Lougher

See a full list of results here