By The opening Locate.im Sidecar race of TT 2019, produced a mix of thrilling three wheel racing of the highest order, dramatic moments a plenty, and countless impressive lap times from a selection of the world’s finest drivers/passengers.
Lap 1:
Looking in formidable fettle, the mighty Birchall brothers race lead on the opening lap at Glen Helen, stood at just over four seconds, with fellow anticipated front runners John Holden/Lee Cain leading the challenge to the Haith supported pairing.
By Ramsey Hairpin the race lead for the Birchall’s grew to just over 5.6 seconds, Holden/Cain in second were now over ten seconds clear of Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley, with Alan Founds/Jake Lowther, Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde and Mountain Course debutants Ryan Crowe/Callum Crowe rounding out the top six.
Photo by Mark Corlett
Ominously by the Bungalow, the Birchall’s advantage out front extended to almost nine seconds, and then by the time they made it to Cronk Ny Mona, the race lead stood at an already hard to topple 11.28 seconds margin.
At the completion of lap 1, Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall held a nigh 15 second lead over Holden/Cain, whilst the battle for third was headed by Founds/Lowther, who were just under 1.6 seconds clear of Founds/Walmsley.
Photo by Nick Wheeler
Finalising the top six were the ultra impressive Crowe brothers, and the Silicone Barnes Racing supported duo of Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney.
Notable retirements on lap 1 included Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (Bray Hill), and Dave Molyneux/Harry Payne who’s race lasted only as far as Braddan Church.
Lap 2:
The Birchall’s relentless, rapid, metronomic pace continued on lap 2 growing their race lead to plus 21 seconds at Glen Helen, then up to over 25 seconds at Ramsey Hairpin.
28 seconds clear at the Bungalow, could the Mansfield duo be about to create another piece of Mountain Course history, and set another Sidecar TT lap record.
Photo by Mark Corlett
The answer was almost but not quite, they still recorded though at the end of lap 2, an extremely impressive lap speed of 119.13 mph, almost going again under the sub 19 minute barrier.
Tenacious pursuers Holden/Cain, despite being in consistent, solid, accomplished form were 35.55 seconds behind the peerless pace setters.
Founds/Lowther courtesy of a new personal best lap speed of 116.22 mph, maintained third, but were only five plus seconds clear of Founds/Walmsley in the battle for the final place on the rostrum.
Lap 3:
Easing off their pace but only ever so slightly! Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall did all what they had to do on the third and final lap to take their tally of TT successes to nine.
Alongside becoming nine times TT winners, Locate.im Sidecar race 1 success also elevates Tom Birchall into the history book, becoming the most successful Sidecar passenger in the history of the TT Races.
48 seconds behind the all conquering Birchall brothers, were Silicone Barnes Racing’s John Holden/Lee Cain, who for the fifth successive three wheeling TT encounter, finished runners up.
Cloud Vapers backed Alan Founds/Jake Lowther kept at bay Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley, to round out the rostrum finishers.
Ryan Crowe/Callum Crowe finished a brilliant fifth, Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney clinched sixth as Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde, Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle, Allan Schofield/Steve Thomas and Beverley father-son duo Gary Gibson/Daryl Gibson finalised the top ten finishers.
Locate.im Sidecar TT Race 1 result, is as follows:
1 Ben Birchall/Tom Birchall
2 John Holden/Lee Cain
3 Alan Founds/Jake Lowther
4 Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley
5 Ryan Crowe/Callum Crowe
6 Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney
7 Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde
8 Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle
9 Allan Schofield/Steve Thomas
10 Gary Gibson/Daryl Gibson
11 Darren Hope/Paul Bumfrey
12 Wayne Lockey/Mark Sayers
13 John Lowther/Scott Hardie
14 Craig Melvin/Stuart Christian
15 Dan Knight/Matthew Rostron
16 Mick Alton/Stephen Bonney
17 John Saunders/James Saunders
18 Nicholas Dukes/William Moralee
19 Bruce Moore/Ashley Moore
20 Francois Leblond/Marlene Couillard
21 Maria Costello MBE/Julie Canipa
22 Dave Quirk/Karl Schofield
23 Steve Ramsden/Matty Ramsden
24 Terry O’Reilly/Eamon Mulholland
25 Kevin Morgan/Steve Morgan
26 Nigel Smith/Chris McGahan
Words by Stevie Rial
