The Unparalleled Dominance of the Birchalls in Sidecar Racing at the TT
The undisputed kings of the Sidecar class at the Isle of Man TT, the Birchall brothers, have once again proven their supremacy, securing their 13th victory on Saturday and setting a new record with the first-ever 120mph lap for the class, clocking in at 120.357mph.
Coming into Wednesday’s second and final Sidecar contest of the 2023 TT as the clear favorites, the Birchalls did not disappoint their dedicated fans. Setting off from the number one spot, they immediately seized a 2.8-second lead over the Peter Founds/Jevan Walmsley pairing.
As the race progressed, the Birchalls continued to extend their advantage, pulling away from their closest rivals. By the time they reached Ballaugh Bridge on the second lap, the lead had grown to 10.3 seconds, and they were three seconds inside their own lap record from Saturday.
Pushing the boundaries of Sidecar racing, the Birchalls then went on to set a new record of 120.645mph as they started their final lap, further cementing their dominance. Though they eased off towards the end, they still managed to finish 9.1 seconds clear of Founds and Walmsley, who recorded their best-ever lap of 120.079mph to secure the second spot on the podium.
Completing the podium was the outfit piloted by Ryan Crowe and his brother Callum Crowe, though they finished nearly a minute behind the victorious Birchalls.
“It was a bittersweet day for veteran TT Sidecar racer John Holden, who at the age of 66, took part in his final race on Wednesday, partnered by Maxime Vasseur. The 20-time TT podium finisher was forced to make a brief stop on the course during the second lap before continuing to the finish inside the top 10.”
Sadly, the difficulties continued for TT Sidecar legend Dave Molyneux and his passenger Dan Sayle, who were forced to retire on the second lap of the race.
The Birchalls’ unparalleled dominance in Sidecar racing at the Isle of Man TT is a testament to their skill, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to the sport. As they continue to rewrite the record books, the Cycling world eagerly awaits their future exploits on the road racing circuit.
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