On Tuesday afternoon came the desperately sad news that Bruce Anstey has again been struck by illness.

His long-time partner, Anny Ramsey, put the following post on Facebook:

’Unfortunately Brucey has become ill. He has multiple tumours in his lungs and a tumour in his spine and a blood clot on the lung just to kick him while he’s down.

’I doubt very much Bruce will see any racing this year but we won’t rule it out lol.

’He is waiting for a treatment plan and should be starting it very soon. I will try to keep you all updated but would really appreciate that you don’t PM meâ?¦sorry for the sh*t news folks. Onwards and upwards.’

Bruce was diagnosed with testicular cancer back in the mid-1990s, about the time that he made his TT debut, and he missed the 1997 event as a consequence of undergoing treatment.

Since then, the 48-year-old has clocked up no fewer than 13 TT wins and is a former outright lap record holder for both the Mountain and Dundrod courses.