A host of top road racing talent are preparing to turn back the clock on the Mountain Course for the Classic TT.
One of the names sitting right at the top of the bill will be the fastest man ever around the 37.73 mile course, Bruce Anstey. The Kiwi will team up with fellow countryman Ken McIntosh for his second attempt at the Classic Senior TT.
Anstey competed in the 2013 event and was running in second place in the second before a piston failure ended his race early on the second lap. Last year’s Classic marked the first time Anstey rode a classic bike, surprising himself with just how precise the bike was and finding himself learning his old ‘250’ lines, using every inch of the road possible.
McIntosh will bring two identical 1962 Manx Norton replicas for Anstey, allowing the race bike to remain fresh and give him his best shot at victory.
“It was a major blow to be the fastest single cylinder bike in all the practices and never miss a beat all week and then fail to finish when lying in second place,” said McIntosh. “We had to come back and give our New Zealand built bike another chance to live up to its ‘Manx’ Norton name.”
Joining Anstey at the Classic will be the latest Manx hero, Dan Kneen. Kneen has been called up to ride at the event following Norton works rider Cameron Donald, who took second in the Okells Brewery 350cc Classic TT race last year, was forced to pull out due to a wrist injury.
As a result, Kneen will ride all the bikes Donald was set to compete on, including a G50 Seeley Matchless and a 350cc 7R AJS bike. He will also compete in the F1 race aboard an RLR Motorsports GSXR750 Suzuki.
The 27-year-old rider from Braddan has enjoyed a strong start to 2014, clinching the Irish Superbike Road Racing Championship at the Armoy Road Races, as well as taking victories at the Cookstown 100, Tandragee 100 and the Skerries 100.
Also subbing for an injured rider will be Conor Behan, who will step in for the sidelined Jamie Coward in both the 500cc and 350cc races. Meanwhile, former team-mate of Joey Dunlop, Graeme Crosby, will take part at the Classic, joining the lineup for both the Joey Dunlop Rivals’ Parade Lap and the Classic TT Lap of Honour.
