By Modern era superpowers, ambitious new wave drivers/passengers, former World Champions, the 2026 Sidecar TT line-up whilst totalling only thirty-five crews, is-filled with quality.
Tweaked regulations should mean closer competition at the pointed end of the leaderboard.
Uncatchable throughout the past two TT’s, the Crowe brothers Ryan & Callum (Opul-Kelproperties – Louis Christen Racing Honda), again arguably start favourites for victories.
Calm, cool, collected, TT 2025 saw them record the first 121 mph-lap by a Sidecar team. Post this achievement, driver Ryan, stated to Road Racing News that it felt like the perfect lap.
“You are in the flow state, nothing can distract you, your 110 percent focused on where you’re going and where you want the bike to go.
Gear position choice where and where to change gear, sometimes you don’t need to change gear, but you do just to keep it driving, it’s been a good day.”
Runner-up x2 last year, fourteen times TT winner Ben Birchall (Hager-Wyckham Blackwell – Louis Christen Racing Honda), TT 2026 tilt sees him joined by a third new passenger in three years, twice rostrum finisher Mark Wilkes.
The Mansfield racer, the second most successful three wheeling driver in TT Races history, stated last month, that the desire for reigniting Mountain Course victory sensations, continues to burn brightly.
“We’ve worked hard over the winter to make sure everything is in place for this year, and bringing Mark on board is a big part of that.
We have been riding together since the end of last year, and we clicked instantly. Since then, we’ve put lots of mileage in and been across to the Island together in preparation for the TT.
His experience speaks for itself, and the aim is simple – to get back to the top step of the podium.”
‘120 Mph Club’ members Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley (Marin Motorsport-AWB Engineering – Honda powered) will be hoping for better luck compared to 2025 experiences, when their TT came to an abrupt halt post an incident (Rhencullen located) within qualifying week.
P3 x2 in 2025, Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (Team ARC-SJH Bodyworks – Louis Christen Racing Kawasaki), twice World Champions Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Brookland Sand & Aggregates – Christie Engineering Services Yamaha), eight times World Champion, welcome TT returnee Tim Reeves/Melanie Farnier (Carl Cox Motorsport – Louis Christen Racing Honda) all start as additional, potential front-runners, top three finishers.
The same is applicable to fellow seeded crews Lewis Blackstock/Oscar Lawrence (DAO-Dave Holden Racing – Louis Christen Racing Yamaha), Steve Kershaw/Rhys Gibbons (Express Tyres-Quattro Group – Louis Christen Racing Honda).
George Holden/Jake Lowther (Barnes Racing – Louis Christen Racing Honda) and protégé of Eddy Wright, Kieran Clarke/Andy Johnson (Eddy’s Moto Tadcaster – Christie Engineering Services – Yamaha).
Retirement u-turner, twenty times podium finisher, two times winner, John Holden (Carl Cox Motorsport – Dave Molyneux Racing Yamaha) linking up with Phil Hyde, the Ramsdens Steve & Matty (FSRA British F2 Championship leader alongside Ben Stell), Rob Dawson/Matt Sims, back to driver duties Daryl Gibson/Sarah Stokoe, Greg Lambert/Andy Haynes, Wayne Lockey/Matty Rostron, have the tenacious, canny race craft to attain prominent leader-board results.
The 103rd Anniversary Sidecar TT field, also features:
Belgian aces, the Van Der Donckt siblings Renzo & Vale, Darren Hope/Lenny Bumfrey, Oliver’s Mount front runners Carl Fenwick/Jake Roberts, Alun Thomas/Andrew Sigsworth.
Michael Russell/Alice Smith, Dutch German pairing of Wiggert Kranenburg/Kevin Kolsch, Derek Lynch/Anthony McDonnell (Eclipse Racing), Gordon Shand/Frank Claeys.
James Saunders/Rob Coppock, Craig Currie/Justin Sharp (Crowe Racing), Maria Costello MBE/Shaun Parker (OMG-Galgorm Resort), the Moore’s Bruce & Ashley.
Rob Handcock/Basil Bevan, Andy King/Andrew Miller and sole driver newcomer, protégé of Greg Lambert, Jamie Hanks/Jonathan Kirk (JHM Racing).
Sidecar racing around the unparalleled Mountain Course, provides something different from the norm, mixing specialist engineering, proper old school racing with moments of absolute motorsport brilliance.
Long may it continue. Once times change, they rarely change.
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler, Mark Corlett
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
