By Illustrating yet again why they are regarded amongst the greatest driver/passenger combinations in TT history, the Birchall brothers Ben & Tom surged to the top of the TT 2018 Sidecar practice week leader board, having lapped this evening at an excellent 116.554 mph.
In previous practice sessions, you could tell there was more to come from the IEG backed, Honda powered duo who are looking in ominously top draw form ahead of Saturday’s opening Locate.im Sidecar race.
Photo by Mark Corlett
Previous practice week pace setters John Holden/Lee Cain had to settle for second on the time sheets tonight, taking their Silicone Engineering Racing outfit to a best lap speed of 115.141 mph.
Behind Holden/Cain, Carl Cox Motorsport’s Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (114.369) showed good form to take third on the time sheets, whilst fourth fastest Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle (113.155) lead the Yamaha powered crews challenge with their ‘batmobile’ outfit.
Leading the challenge this evening to the established front runners was Peter Founds/Jevan Walmsley (111.783), Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney (110.685) who respectively finished fourth and fifth fastest.
The well respected father, daughter team of Tony Baker/Fiona Baker Holden (110.015) seventh quickest were the sole remaining crew tonight to surpass the 110 mph mark.
Finalising the ten fastest crews of a truly top draw Thursday night Sidecar practice session were Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle (109.429), Steve Ramsden/Matty Ramsden (108.964) and Greg Lambert/Julie Canipa (108.290).
Full practice results, to follow:
1 Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall 116.554
2 John Holden/Lee Cain 115.141
3 Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes 114.369
4 Dave Molyneux/Dan Sayle 113.155
5 Peter Founds/Jevan Walmsley 111.783
6 Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney 110.685
7 Tony Baker/Fiona Baker Holden 110.015
8 Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle 109.429
9 Steve Ramsden/Matty Ramsden 108.964
10 Greg Lambert/Julie Canipa 108.290
11 Karl Bennett/Maxime Vasseur 108.129
12 Estelle Leblond/Melanie Farnier 107.886
13 Gary Gibson/Daryl Gibson 107.685
14 Darren Hope/Leonard Bumfrey 107.246
15 Alan Founds/Jake Lowther 106.327
16 Wayne Lockey/Kenny Cole 105.822
17 Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde 105.703
18 Mike Roscher/Shaun Parker 105.675
19 Gary Knight/Daniel Evanson 105.203
20 Roy Tansley/Jason O’Connor 105.176
21 Howard Baker/Mike Killingsworth 105.070
22 Michael Jackson/Harry Payne 104.833
23 John Saunders/James Saunders 104.027
24 Craig Melvin/Stuart Christian 103.942
25 Michael Grabmuller/Sebastien Lavorel 102.307
26 Gordon Shand/Frank Claeys 101.860
27 Francois Leblond/Marlene Couillard 101.638
28 Kevin Thornton/Dave Dean 100.037
29 John Shipley/Andrew Haynes 99.886
30 Nigel Smith/Chris McGahan 99.424
31 Mark Saunders/Karl Schofield 98.698
32 Brian Alflatt/Aaron Gorman 98.530
33 Paul Leglise/Ben McBride 90.349
Words by Stevie Rial
