The second running of the Dunlop Lightweight Classic TT Race at the Classic TT presented by Bennetts has attracted an increased entry of 68 riders for 2017 and last year’s race winner and lap record holder Bruce Anstey heads the line up.

The Kiwi lapped at 118.744mph on his way to victory in 2016 and he’s back to try and make it two in a row, this time starting at number 2 on the Padgetts Motorcycles Honda.

The pre-race favourite sets off ten seconds after one his closest rival Ian Lougher, the Welshman again riding the Laylaw Racing Yamaha with another major threat coming at number three with Michael Dunlop contesting the race for the first time on the Turner Racing Yamaha.

His team-mate Dan Cooper sets off at number five and is sure to be challenging for a podium finish whilst the same applies to the John Chapman Racing duo of Dan Kneen (7) and Ivan Lintin (8) who will both ride RS250 Honda’s.

James Cowton (9) is another likely rostrum contender on his Yamaha with Phil Harvey (10) aiming for a repeat performance of 2016 when he took an emotional third place on his CSC Racing Honda.

Paul Owen (11) just missed out to Harvey last year on the Team 98 Honda and other class regulars to be back for another try are Rhys Hardisty (15) on the Kaymac Marine Engineering Yamaha, former Newcomers Manx Grand Prix winner Gary Vines (17) riding his immaculately prepared Online Lubricants Yamaha, Chris Moore (18) riding the JL Exhausts/Dafabet Yamaha and Davy Morgan (19) on his own 250cc Honda.

2016 TT Privateer’s Champion Dan Hegarty (12) makes his debut in the race riding a TZ Yamaha, while former Manx Grand Prix winner Dan Sayle is set to go at 14 on the Steelcote Solutions Yamaha.

Exciting road racing prospect Adam McLean starts at number 16 and will also be Yamaha-mounted whilst other riders expected to be pushing for top ten finishes are the Clever Brown Honda pairing of Nigel Moore and Shaun Anderson, Timothee Monot (Team Baz Honda), Michael Sweeney on the second Laylaw Racing Yamaha, Tom Snow (FCL Racing Yamaha), Stuart Hall (Martyn Nelson Yamaha) and Dan Stewart (Wilcock Consulting Yamaha).

However, a spoiler in the race could well be Michael Rutter on the Red Fox Grinta Racing Ducati with the Midlands rider setting off at number four whilst Chris Swallow also has a 750cc Ducati at his disposal, this time under the iconic Sports Motorcycles Ducati banner.

Other riders to keep an eye on include David Hewson (Obsession Engineering Yamaha), David Madsen-Mygdal (RJP Racing Honda), Neal Champion (Frasers of Gloucester Yamaha) and Michael Russell (CMB Motorsport Honda

Ian Lougher (2nd), Bruce Anstey (1st), Phil Harvey (3rd); the top three in the 2016 Lightweight Classic TT

Bruce Anstey (250 Honda/Valvoline Racing by Padgetts Motorcycles) approaching the Mountain Mile

during qualifying for the 2016 Bennett'€™s Classic TT.

Dave Kneen/Pacemaker Press Intl.

Ian Lougher (250 Yamaha/Laylaw Racing) at the Gooseneck during the 2016 Lightweight Classic TT race.
Dave Kneen/Pacemaker Press Intl