Superstock
TT - Tuesday 5th June 2007
Bruce Anstey put behind him the disappointment of the
Superbike race retirement to claim Tuesday’s four-lap
PokerStars Superstock race in record-breaking fashion.
The flying Kiwi shattered the lap record from a standing
start and went quicker still on the second lap to take
command of the race, eventually running out the winner
by 40 seconds. HM Plant Honda riders John McGuinness
and Ian Hutchinson occupied the second and third steps
on the podium.
Anstey made his intentions clear from the start and
had soon overhauled the much fancied MV Agusta of Martin
Finnegan to open up a five second lead over nearest
rival McGuinness. He continued to extend his advantage
throughout the lap and no wonder – he completed
the first lap at an unbelievable speed of 128.297mph.
This gave him a nine second lead over Monday’s
race winner McGuinness with Hutchinson just edging out
Guy Martin for third.
With the Island bathed in glorious weather, Anstey
and his Relentless Suzuki continued to press home their
advantage and he hoisted the lap record to even new
heights on the second lap, a lap of 128.400mph, seeing
his lead grow to a now commanding 23 seconds. McGuinness
was still in second with Martin edging ahead of Hutchinson
by the time they reached the Bungalow. However, it was
to no avail as the Hydrex Honda ran out of petrol at
Creg-ny-Baa, while sixth placed Ryan Farquhar suffered
the same misfortune at Bedstead. Adrian Archibald was
a first lap retirement. Meanwhile Finnegan, Mark Parrett,
James McBride and Conor Cummins were having a tremendous
dice for fifth with the excellent newcomer Gary Johnson
up to 11th. At the front of the pack though it was that
man Anstey who was powering ahead, and he added to his
lead between each and every checkpoint, also leading
the race on the road.
He took the chequered flag at the end of the four laps
40 seconds clear for his third successive Superstock
TT victory and sixth TT win in total. For once, McGuinness
was powerless to respond, but he was still able to take
an excellent second place, the 23rd podium of his now
legendary TT career. Hutchinson was equally comfortable
in third, repeating Monday’s result, with a disappointed
Finnegan doing likewise in fourth. The battle for fifth
went right to the very last lap, but it was young Cummins
who prevailed, with Parrett and McBride taking superb
sixth and seventh place finishes, the latter chalking
up his best ever TT result. Ian Pattinson was another
rider to record a personal best as he came home eighth
with Gary Carswell and Ian Armstrong completing the
top 10.
Carswell’s last lap of 124.621mph was the fastest
ever recorded by a Manxman. Johnson was the best of
the newcomers in 12th with Steve Plater claiming the
last of the silver replicas in 15th. Keith Amor finished
in 18th.
Shaun Harris was taken to hospital after an accident
at Union Mills. He was later reported as critical.
After one lap of practice for both solos and sidecars,
the Lap of Honour, with some of the TT’s most
illustrious names taking part, completed the day. Jim
Redman, Luigi Taveri, Tony Rutter, Mick Grant, Chas
Mortimer, Johnny Rea, Kel Carruthers, Dennis Ireland,
Stuart Graham, Tommy Robb, Trevor Nation, Dick Greasley
and Nigel Rollason were just some of the star competitors
taking part as the Centenary event’s celebrations
continue.
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