By New day, new TT 2026 start-number news, this time centring upon three-wheeling superheroes.
As put into practice last year, the first ten crews are non-seeded, with start-line positions formed via leader-board standings throughout qualifying week.
This means that any of the driver/passenger one-ten plate attainers, could be the first to receive the tap on the shoulder in the three-lap Sidecar races, title sponsored now by motor racing oils, lubricants giant Motul.
Lap-record holders, the first to surpass the 121-mph lap-mark, the Crowe brothers Ryan & Callum (Opul-Kelproperties/Louis Christen Racing Honda) maintain the No.1 plate.
Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (Marin Motorsport-AWB Engineering/Louis Christen Racing Honda) hoping for improved Mountain Course action fortunes, retain the two-plate.
At No.3 its fourteen times TT victor Ben Birchall (Hager-Wyckham Blackwell/Louis Christen Racing Honda) alongside new sidekick, former World Champion Mark Wilkes.
Numbers four, five have been-assigned to Lewis Blackstock/Oscar Lawrence (DAO-Dave Holden Racing/Louis Christen Racing Yamaha), third place finishers x2 last year Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (Team ARC-SJH Bodyworks/Louis Christen Racing Kawasaki).
Six-plate holders are three wheeling World Championship royalty, Todd Ellis/rapidest female Sidecar TT exponent of all-time Emmanuelle Clement (Brookland Sand & Aggregates/Christie Engineering Services Yamaha).
TT returnee Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport/Louis Christen Racing Honda) follow at seven.
Wrapping up those obtaining start numbers 1-10 are George Holden/Jake Lowther (Barnes Racing/Louis Christen Racing Honda), swiftest debutant driver in history, protégé of Eddy Wright, Kieran Clarke/Andrew Johnson (Eddy’s Moto Tadcaster/Christie Engineering Services Yamaha) and Steve Kershaw/Rhys Gibbons (Express Tyres-Quattro Group/Louis Christen Racing Honda).
Added made public start numbers outside ones already covered include Alun Thomas/Andrew Sigsworth (19), Derek Lynch/Anto McDonnell (25) and newcomers James Hanks/Jonathan Kirk (34).
TT 2026 – Sidecar races top 20 plate-holders re-cap:
No.1 – Ryan Crowe/Callum Crowe
No.2 – Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley
No.3 – Ben Birchall/Mark Wilkes
No.4 – Lewis Blackstock/Oscar Lawrence
No.5 – Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie
No.6 – Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement
No.7 – Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier
No.8 – George Holden/Jake Lowther
No.9 – Kieran Clarke/Andrew Johnson
No.10 – Steve Kershaw/Rhys Gibbons
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
