Competitors enjoyed the best conditions of the week so far for the third qualifying session of the Isle of Man Classic TT Races, which was reflected in the significant jump in lap times.

There was no doubt about the rider that dominated the session  – our own Bruce Anstey AKA the ‘flying kiwi’.

Anstey followed up a session topping Superbike lap with the fastest ever Mountain Course Lightweight lap – 118.812 (19:03.218) – inside his own lap record of 118.744mph set in last year’s corresponding race, on the Padgetts Motorcycles.com 250 Honda. 

The lap, while an unofficial lap record – the Isle of Man record books only feature racing laps – was all the more remarkable as it was set from a standing start and the Kiwi was estimated to be close to a 120mph average on his second lap before encountering traffic. That’s good news for Kiwi race fans if Anstey maintains this form going into the Classic TT race day this weekend.