By Finishing number 1 in Road Racing News leading Sidecar roads teams of 2017, are six times TT winners Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall.
The brothers who have become the dominant three wheeling TT force of this decade, maintained their Mountain Course superiority at TT 2017, producing a string of textbook world class, unparalleled performances.
Having shown excellent form during practice week, the opening Sure Sidecar encounter would see the IEG (International Energy Group) backed duo seal at the time a fifth TT success along the way notching up a new outright lap record of 117.119 mph.
After achieving another piece of TT history, they went onto wrap up in fine style the second Sure Sidecar race, again setting a blistering pace throughout to make it five TT wins in three years and in total six victories at the most famous road race in the world.
Onto July’s Southern 100 and the roads success continued for the Mansfield based racers. Victorious in the opening three wheel encounter, the following feature Championship race would provide positives but also negatives.
Embroiled in a close fought, top draw battle for race honours with Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes, both crews blitzed the existing lap record, as both teams pushed each other to another level around Billown.
Setting a new lap record of 101.545 mph on lap four, the stage was set on the sixth and final lap for a grandstand duel between the Birchalls and fellow multi world champion Reeves and rising star Wilkes.
Just as it seemed the battle for victory would go right down to the wire, drama struck at Cross Four Ways, as both outfits collided.
Both disqualified from the race, this allowed John Holden/Lee Cain to become Southern 100 Sidecar champions for 2017.
Despite the disappointment of not regaining the feature race crown at the ‘Friendly Races’, let’s be honest it’s not been a bad year of competition on the Isle of Man for the Birchalls.
Three race wins, lap records, plaudits a plenty from fellow competitors, they have shown again why they are at present the yardstick for all Sidecar roads crews.
Honda powered again for TT 2018, it’s going to take faultless performances from their fellow racers to dethrone them from growing a reputation which is making them one of the greatest Sidecar TT/roads teams of all time.
Words by Stevie Rial
