After running in third on the opening lap Anstey set a new lap record (125.549mph) on the second lap to take the lead. He then eased out a gap. Reports suggested that the Relentless team machine had run out of fuel in the final few miles of the 4 lap race, leaving Honda's Ian Hutchinson to claim the win.
In the Superstock race later in the day Anstey had yet another dnf with Hutchinson taking the win again and reeling off an unbelievable 129.746mph final lap.
Last year in the first Supersport race Anstey was stripped of the win after it was found that the bike had non standard camshafts (he won the second race, proving that for him at least it made no difference). In this years opening Superbike race, Anstey was sidelined with machine problems before completing half a lap.
The team will be working hard to ensure that Anstey's bikes last the distance for tomorrow's second Supersport race and Saturday's running of the 'Classic' Superbike event.
Link to full report