Bruce Anstey on 2020 Isle of Man TT return: I want to be strong enough
Kiwi road racing legend Bruce Anstey remains undecided over whether he will compete in the 2020 Isle of Man TT... but does confirm Classic TT intentions
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Road racing legend Bruce Anstey has revealed he is undecided over whether he will enter the 2020 Isle of Man TT as he continues his recovery to full fitness following a bout of cancer.
The Kiwi was forced to sit out the 2018 season and the majority of the 2019 racing year after cancerous tumours were found in his lungs and on his spine, together with a blood clot on his lungs. It was his second cancer diagnosis after surviving testicular cancer in 1995.
Despite the severity of the illness, Anstey made a spectacular and emotional return to racing action in 2019 at the Classic TT, where he secured Classic Lightweight 250cc TT victory honours on a Milenco by Padgett’s Honda.
Looking forward though, Anstey admits he’s undecided whether his comeback will take him all the way back to the 2020 Isle of Man TT, the 13-time winner admitting he’s not certain he will be fit enough to compete at the sharp end where he ultimately wants to be.
“I'm not too sure,” he told the Belfast News Letter. “I want to be strong and fit enough. I don't want to be wobbling round at the back - I want to be at the sharp end. I'm holding off about the TT. If I'm strong enough I'll be there.
"The biggest thing is the tiredness. That's the main thing but I'm getting stronger so we will see how it goes. If I were to ride I would have a bit of a choice - the new Fireblade or go back to the RCV, which I got going really well.”
Bruce Anstey ‘definitely’ racing in 2020 Classic TT
However, while the TT itself remains undecided, Anstey says he will certainly be back on the island in the Classic TT in 2020.
“It was good to get back out on the 250 - it was the perfect bike to make my comeback on and winning the race was awesome. I loved every moment of it and I'll definitely be back at the Classic TT in August.
"Whether I do the main TT depends on my fitness really. I'm not a spring chicken anymore. I'm 50-odd now and with all the stuff I've gone through fitness wise it's just so hard to get back.”
