He is a former lap record holder on the world-famous Snaefell Mountain Course with a time of 17 minutes 6.682 seconds, at an average speed of 132.298 mph (212.913 km/h) set during the 2014 Superbike TT Race.

[1][3] For thirteen consecutive seasons, from 2002 - 2015, Bruce Anstey managed to secure a top three finish at the world's three most prestigious road races; the North West 200, the Isle of Man TT and the Ulster Grand Prix.

[4] A press release issued on behalf of Anstey on 10 April 2018, stated that due to illness he would not compete during the 2018 racing season.

[8] Anstey announced a return to competitive racing in July 2019 stating he would compete at the Classic TT, and secured a victory in the 250 cc event.

[10] Said to have been inspired to take up a career as a motorcycle racer after watching Mike Hailwood's comeback victory at the 1978 Isle of Man TT Races,[11] Anstey made his competitive debut on Boxing Day, 1990, at the Cemetery Circuit, Whanganui in his native New Zealand, competing on a Suzuki RGV250.

[13] Campaigning in the same classes as the previous year and riding the same Yamaha TZ250, Anstey's form continued to improve in 1999, with him securing his first top 10 finish by claiming 7th in the Lightweight and following this up with 24th in the Senior.

In the Production 600cc class, Anstey managed an 8th-place finish for Triumph and completed the racing programme with 7th place in the Senior aboard a 1000cc Suzuki.

[13] In the 2006 TT practices, Anstey achieved the unofficial current top speed record for the Mountain Course of 206 mph (332 km/h)[14] at the end of Sulby straight on a Suzuki 1000cc machine.

[13] At the Centenary TT of 2007, Anstey failed to finish in the opening Superbike Race, but swiftly made up for it by claiming victory in the Superstock event winning by 40 seconds over John McGuinness.

Having defied a heavy cold to win the race, he was disqualified following an inspection of his machine, which found the exhaust cam did not meet regulations.

However just two days later on Wednesday 4 June Anstey swept to victory in the second Supersport Junior race in which he was involved in a thrilling dice on corrected time with Ian Hutchinson.

[18] Astride a Padgett's Honda Anstey began to extend his lead, claiming victory by 10.97 seconds on corrected time following 226.38 miles (364.32 km) of racing.

A rest day during race week combined with a spell at the Isle of Man's hyperbaric chamber paid dividends for Anstey.

Anstey took the RC213V-S across the line in 8th place on corrected time at the end of lap 1 involving himself in a close tussle with Conor Cummins and Michael Rutter.

However over the course of the final lap he was overtaken on corrected time by both Saiger and West and after 226.38 miles (364.32 km) of racing he brought his machine home in 13th place.

Making up for his 2003 disappointment, a hat-trick appeared to beckon with Anstey leading the Superbike race until the final lap when he crashed.

At the 2005 North West 200 he won the rain affected Superbike event and finished runner-up to Ian Lougher in the Superstock race.

The 2011 North West 200 was blighted by misfortune including inclement weather, an oil spill and a hoax bomb alert.

Having qualified strongly across the range of classes at the North West 200 in 2013, Anstey claimed 4th place in the opening Supersport race on Thursday May 16.

[35] Anstey continued to cement his position in the field when, towards the end of lap 4, he crashed his Honda Fireblade at Church Corner as a result of running a wider line.

[37] Anstey has also claimed numerous successes at the Ulster Grand Prix, taking the top step on the podium on 13 occasions.

[40][41] Having signed for Padgett's Honda, Anstey took a solitary victory at the 2011 meeting taking the winner's garland in the Superspport 600cc class.

[42] Whilst he failed to gain top spot on the podium at the 2013 Ulster Grand Prix, the meeting saw a return of the consistency of which Anstey is so renowned.

The signature race, the Ulster Grand Prix, saw Anstey come home in fourth place to conclude a very rewarding meeting.

[44] The 2016 Ulster Grand Prix was a meeting dominated by Ian Hutchinson, however Anstey also enjoyed a respectable meeting[45] being reunited with the Honda RC213V-S. Having recovered from the injuries he sustained earlier in the season at the Isle of Man TT, Anstey took the runner up spot behind Hutchinson in both the Superbike races and victory in the opening (red flagged) Supersport event.

Tussling with the pugnacious Dunlop at the head of the field, Anstey crossed the line in 1st place at the end of the opening lap with a time of 18:13.707 producing an average speed of 124.190.

[50] Anstey is now the current lap record holder on the Snaefell Mountain Course in both two stroke categories, set at the Classic TT.

[53] Having recovered sufficiently from the effects of his cancer treatment, Anstey made a return to racing at the 2019 Classic TT in August.

[56] Together with his partner, Anny, he spends his time away from racing at his home in Cullybackey, County Antrim, having moved there from Windsor, or in New Zealand.

[11] Having made his first appearance at the Isle of Man TT Races in 1996, he was forced to miss the 1997 meeting as a consequence of undergoing treatment.