Fresh from shattering the outright lap record at this year’s Isle of Man TT, New Zealand legend Bruce Anstey will line up for the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 Classic TT Race on board an ex-factory YZR500 Yamaha GP bike. The bike will be liveried in the Valvolene by Padgett’s Motorcycles team colours.
Re-affirming the organisers desire to make the event the biggest, most prestigious Classic Race in the world, the Mountain Course will reverberate to the wailing sound of the two-stroke Yamaha which will, without doubt, be one of the most exotic bikes to have tackled the 37 and ¾-mile circuit.
The machine, owned and run by Padgett’s Motorcycles, is identical to the bikes ridden by the likes of Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, John Kocinski, Niall Mackenzie, Juan Garriga and Randy Mamola in the 500cc World Championship and, despite being over 20 years old, produces more than 150bhp. Weighing just 115kg, compared to 170kg for a modern day Superbike, its power-to-weight ratio makes the YZR500 a formidable weapon.
Forty-four year old Anstey has taken no fewer than nine wins at the TT while his 31 podiums have only been bettered by John McGuinness and Joey Dunlop.
Padgett’s are no strangers to running 500cc two-strokes around the Mountain Course either with Jim Moodie having ridden a 500cc V-Twin NSR Honda in the 1997 Senior TT, finishing second and posting a best lap of 121.91mph. Nigel Davies also took a Harris-framed YZR500 Yamaha to sixth place in the 1998 Senior TT.
Ian Lougher set the fastest two-stroke lap around the course, 122.93mph, on a 500cc V-Twin NSR Honda in the 1999 Senior TT.
Padgett’s Motorcycles Team Manager Clive Padgett commented: “We are delighted to be able to support the Classic TT and are looking forward to getting back to the Isle of Man later in the year off the back of another successful TT for our team. To be able to come with something as spectacular as the YZR500 Yamaha has got the whole team motivated including Bruce who, as most race fans will know, made his name on two stroke machinery. The Classic TT was a massive success in its first year and we really want to be part of it going forward.”
Meanwhile, Dean Harrison and Lee Johnston, two of road racing’s brightest young stars, are to join forces at Black Eagle Racing for next month’s Okells 350cc Classic TT Race. The ‘dream team’ will see the pair on board exotic MV Agusta machines.
Harrison and Johnston, both 25 years old, are two of the most exciting new talents on the road-racing scene. Harrison achieved his debut TT podium in the 2013 Lightweight Race before going on to lead this year’s corresponding race from start to finish. He also took second behind Michael Dunlop in the RL 360 Superstock TT and is no stranger to the classic scene, winning the Motorsport Merchandise Formula Classic Race in the inaugural meeting last year. Dean will also ride in the Bennetts 500cc Classic TT Race for Black Eagle Racing.
Johnston made his name on the short circuits, winning the National Superstock 600cc title in 2008, but has focused his efforts recently on the roads, clinching the 2013 TT Privateer’s Championship before going on to claim a double victory at this year’s North West 200. He also recorded his best ever TT finish, fifth, in this year’s RL360 Superstock TT.
Renowned classic racing specialists David and Mark Kay formed Black Eagle Racing in 2008. With their high specification machines, a two-rider effort at the Classic TT is their prime focus for the season and a major coup for the Classic TT.