By There was tales a plenty for competitors to talk about after a drama filled Southern 100 Sidecar Championship race, which saw Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley become first time three wheeling Billown course champions.
From the beginning of the six lap race, there was drama as Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes made a jump start, and were handed a ten second penalty.
Then more drama arose on lap two, as early pace setters Alan Founds/Jake Lowther made a minor error which dropped them back to seventh. This allowed Founds/Walmsley, John Holden/Lee Cain to move up respectively into first and second place.
Photo by Mark Corlett
Positions out front remained constant on lap three, but early on lap four Silicone Barnes Racing’s Holden/Cain grabbed the race lead.
Soon though Founds/Walmsley were back into the race lead, and by the time the sixth and lap entered the horizon they held a nigh 0.2 of a second advantage over Holden/Cain.
Come the completion of lap six, Founds/Walmsley just did enough to keep at bay Holden/Cain to become Southern 100 Sidecar champions for the first time.
Multi TT rostrum finishers, you could just sense how much it meant to Founds/Walmsley, when they spoke post race about their momentous achievement.
Gallant runner up’s Holden/Cain finished just 0.131 behind Founds/Walmsley, whilst the battle for third was won by Team A.R.C’s Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie.
Early race leaders Alan Founds/Jake Lowther finished fourth, Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle placed fifth as three wheel roads debutant Michael Russell/Tom Bryant wrapped up the first six finishers.
Remaining race finishers were Michael Kirkup/Arlo Brown, Richard Hackney/Dave Ryder and Shaun Chandler/Ben Chandler.
Words by Stevie Rial
