Brothers Ryan and Callum Crowe dominate sidecar race 1, it’s their first win! Emotion in parc fermé, while the Birchall/Rousseau duo did not take part in the race
June 2, 2024
An era is over and – probably – another one is about to open in the world of sidecar at the Tourist Trophy: the first three-wheel race, held just after the Supersport won by Michael Dunlop, in a crescendo of emotions brought victory to another pair of brothers for the first time, different from that of the Birchalls who dominated the category for years . The story is old now: Tom Birchall, the passenger, retires from racing and his place is taken by Kevin Rousseau, for a debut full of unknowns in the 2024 TT. In fact, everyone would have liked to have had the chance to see the new crew in action and compete with their rivals on the Mountain but an accident in qualifying caused significant damage to the pair’s sidecar Birchall/Rousseau that it was not possible to repair it for the race.
THowever, the spectacle and emotions were not lacking in the three laps reserved for sidecars on Saturday, where the podium was almost a family affair. Victory went to the brothers for the first time Ryan and Callum Crowe, Mannese and sons of art: his father Nick won 5 times in sidecars before retiring in 2009 following an accident. Their best lap was at an average of 119,800mph and they preceded two crews with cross-relationships: that of Peter Founds, who has Jewan Walmsley as a passenger, while his brother Alan Founds finished on the third step of the podium together with his nephew Rhys Gibbon, the latter very fast TT newcomer. The gap inflicted by the Crowe brothers grew to 26.894 at the finish line for a victory that was truly never in question but which in parc fermé was also emotional with the symbolic handover from father Nick to his two sons, still in disbelief at having won their first TT.
The performance of the current World Champions and TT debutants was notable Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement, seventh, with Clement earning the title of fastest passenger ever at the TT, displacing compatriot Melanie Farnier with a lap at 113.79 mph.
The race is scheduled for today, June 2nd Superbikes: appointment at 3.40pm Italian time
