Latest news with #sidecarRacing
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Crowe brothers smash lap record in TT sidecar win
Ryan and Callum Crowe stormed to a dominant win in the opening sidecar race of the 2025 Isle of Man TT, smashing the lap siblings from Jurby, in the north of the island, led on the road throughout after topping the qualifying boards, recording a second lap of 121.021mph on their Honda marked the local pairing's third win on the 37.7-mile (61km) Mountain Course after securing the double at last year's the end of the truncated two-lap race, the pair had pulled out a lead of one minute, 17 seconds on nearest rivals Ben Birchall and Patrick Rosney. Driver Ryan Crowe said he was surprised by the pair's speed on the record-breaking lap because of the blustery conditions."I didn't think it would come, it was that windy out there," the 29-year-old told Radio said their Honda was "mint all the way round", adding: "It was lovely, I couldn't knock it out there."The race, which had originally been scheduled to take place on Saturday, was postponed because of significant weather disruption to the planned qualifying sessions for the 2025 event. Class dominance The Crowes had pulled out a 25-second lead by Ramsey on the first lap, stretching that to 36 seconds by the end of the circuit, with an average lap speed of 119.418mph – the fastest ever in the class from a standing siblings' dominance in the class in 2025 was cemented on lap two when they pulled out a lead of well over a second circuit was completed in a time of 18:42.350, slashing three seconds off the previous lap record set by Ben and Tom Birchall in a race that saw fierce competition for the other podium places, it was 14-times TT winner Ben Birchall and his new passenger Rosney who took second place on their Honda machinery, 17.3 seconds ahead of Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie on their there was disappointment for Lewis Blackstock and newcomer passenger Oscar Lawrence, who had been contenders for a podium finish but fell back after stopping to make adjustments on lap Founds and Jevan Walmsley were non-starters in the race following a crash in qualifying on Sunday, with both since discharged from hospital. Sidecar TT result Ryan Crowe/Callum Crowe (Honda)Ben Brichall/Patrick Rosney (Honda)Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie (Kawasaki)Todd Ellis/Emmanuelle Clement (Yamaha)Kieran Clarke/Andrew Johnson (Yamaha)George Holden/Mark Wilkes (Yamaha)Steve Ramsden/Matthew Ramsden (Honda)Lewis Blackstock/Oscar Lawrence (Yamaha)Greg Lambert/Andrew Haynes (Honda)Robert Dawson/Matthew Sims (Honda) Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook, external and X, external.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Shropshire couple take up sidecar racing in their 60s
A married couple have said sidecar racing has become "part of their normal life" since starting the sport in their 60s. Dave and Alison Birch, from Whixhall in Shropshire, took up racing in 2024 and are loving every minute. Their team name is Terrier Racing - in honour of their beloved dog Pip. The pair spend their weekends hurtling around racetracks at more than 100mph and reckon being married "does help" their teamwork. Retired builder Dave has been racing solo for years, and watching countless races inspired Alison to give sidecar racing a qualifying just before the pandemic, the couple were finally able to hit the track together in 2024."I am probably the oldest passenger," Alison said, noting that other passengers are often teenagers. "But who cares? I'm doing it." Sidecar racing is not a sport for the sidecars run low to the ground, with the wheels barely visible, and they whip around racetracks, like Darley Moor in Derbyshire, at high speed. Dave might be driving, but Alison is not just along for the ride - she uses her bodyweight to help counterbalance the bike, also called an outfit, around the sharp turns. The pair are competing in the Darley Moor Club Championship, and despite being some of the newest riders on the grid, their fellow racers have been "very, very welcoming", Dave said."They're like a second family," Alison added."If you need any help with the outfit, they'll come and help you, they'll come and have a drink or a barbeque." Darley Moor is their second race of the 2025 season - and with five more more to go, Dave and Alison are only just getting reckons they will keep racing until they "can't get the leathers on"."It's just become part of our normal life," Dave said, adding that the pair are "improving every time they go out, and getting faster"."You only get one lap in life, so make it a good one," he laughed. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
