Manx brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe achieved a remarkable result in the Isle of Man TT by winning the first Sidecar TT race of this year’s event. They followed in the footsteps of their father Nick, a five-time winner, by surpassing their podium finish from last year and securing victory in the opening race. The Birchall brothers, who have been dominant in this class, were absent from the race, allowing the Crowes to take control and secure a 27-second lead over Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley, last year’s runners-up. Meanwhile, Alan Founds and Rhys Gibbons fought hard for third place, winning by just nine seconds.
The Crowe brothers made their debut in 2019, but the TT was put on hold due to the COVID pandemic. However, they have made a strong return in 2023, establishing themselves as favorites for this year’s race, especially following the withdrawal of highly successful passenger, Tom Birchall. Unfortunately, Ben Birchall, Tom’s brother and winner of the last 11 sidecar races, and his new passenger Kevin Rousseau were forced to withdraw from the race after an accident on Friday evening. This setback paved the way for a popular victory at home, with the Crowes expressing their gratitude for the overwhelming support they received from the crowd during the final laps.
Ryan Crowe exclaimed: “Our goal was to win a TT, and we did it. What an incredible race!” His brother, Callum, added: “Our team is truly incredible, and the support from the spectators who greeted us was indescribable.” The Crowes will have the opportunity to defend their title against Birchall later in the week, as the second game of the week is scheduled for Wednesday.
