Bruce Anstey to ride YZR500 GP bike at Classic TT

'FLYING Kiwi' Bruce Anstey will compete in this year's Classic TT on an ex-factory Yamaha YZR500 GP bike, his team Padgett's Racing has confirmed.

GP legends to race YZR500s in the '80s and '90s include Wayne Rainey, Randy Mamola and Eddie Lawson. Now 44-year-old Anstey, who holds the outright TT lap record at 132.298mph, will bring the 20-year-old machine out of retirement to tackle the Mountain course.

With 150bhp and weighing just 115kg, it has the specs to rival modern TT race bikes.

Team manager Clive Padgett said: '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 Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 TT Race takes place on August 25.