Kiwi Bruce Anstey will race a Honda RS250 two-stroke in this year’s Lightweight race at the MCE Ulster Grand Prix.

The Padgetts rider, who became the fastest 250 rider ever at the Lightweight Classic TT in 2016, has never ridden the 250 before at Dundrod, and will this year compete in the Lightweight class the Charles Hurst Motorcycles Dundrod 150 and the Plant Lubrication (NI) Lightweight at the MCE UGP.

Team boss Clive Padgett has also confirmed that Anstey will ride the Honda RC213V-S at the Dundrod circuit for the second year running.

“I started my racing career on a Suzuki RGV250 and I still just love racing the 250. I won the Classic TT on the Padgett’s Honda RS250 last year, the majority of the guys from the Classic are racing at the Ulster and I’m looking forward to getting out there with them again,” said Anstey.

“I can’t wait to get the RCV out at Dundrod again either, after coming out on top in the Superpole event and almost winning the Superbike last year. Both Clive and I love working with both of these machines, the 250 is a thoroughbred racing bike and the RCV is just an absolute weapon.”