CROWES CLAIM 3RD VICTORY WITH NEW 121MPH LAP RECORD

Words by Phil Wain and images courtesy of IOMTTRaces

Ryan and Callum Crowe claimed their third win at the Isle of Man TT Races with victory in Monday afternoon’s first 3wheeling.media Sidecar TT Race. The Manx brothers dominated proceedings aboard their Opul/Kelproperties LCR Honda. They set a new lap record of 121.021mph and finished 1m17s ahead of Ben Birchall/Patrick Rosney. Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie completed the podium in third.

With perfect conditions on the Mountain Course, the race—shortened from three laps to two—got underway at 2:00 pm. The Crowes immediately took control, leading through Glen Helen on the opening lap. They had an advantage of 11.3 seconds over Birchall/Rosney (Hager/Wyckham Blackwell LCR Honda).

They, in turn, were just 0.1 seconds ahead of Blackstock/Lawrence (Dave Holden Racing LCR Yamaha). Crawford/Hardie (Team ARC/SJH Bodyworks LCR Kawasaki) were a further 2 seconds back in fourth. Ellis/Clement (Brookland Sand & Aggregates CES Yamaha) were also in contention, trailing Crawford/Hardie by only 1.5 seconds in fifth.

Newcomer George Holden, partnered by Mark Wilkes, held sixth on the Barnes Racing DMR Yamaha. However, fellow debutant Steve Kershaw – racing with Rhys Gibbons – was forced to retire at Ballacraine on their Express Tyres/Quattro Group LCR Honda.

At the front, the Crowes were relentless. They set the fastest ever sector from Glen Helen to Ballaugh to stretch their lead. It increased to 20 seconds, while just 1.7 seconds covered second to fourth place. Ellis/Clement slipped 6 seconds further back, as Holden/Wilkes led fellow newcomers Clarke/Johnson (Eddy’s Moto CES Yamaha) by 0.6 seconds.

By Ramsey, the Crowes had increased their lead to 25 seconds and were already within touching distance of the lap record. The battle for second continued to intensify, with just 2.8 seconds separating Birchall/Rosney, Blackstock/Lawrence, and Crawford/Hardie.

As the lap progressed, the Crowes slightly eased their pace but still completed an opening lap of 119.418mph. Their pace gave them a commanding 36.2 seconds lead over Birchall/Rosney (115.731mph). Blackstock/Lawrence (115.488mph) trailed by another 2.4 seconds. Crawford/Hardie (115.430mph) were just 0.5 seconds further adrift. The top six was rounded out by Ellis/Clement (113.518mph) and Clarke/Johnson (112.560mph). Dawson/Sims (110.689mph) posted their first-ever 110mph+ lap in seventh.

The Crowes opened lap two with another best-ever sector from the start to Glen Helen—and again to Ballaugh. They were running more than 5 seconds inside lap record pace as they flew over the famous bridge for the second time. Birchall/Rosney had solidified second place. They led Crawford/Hardie by 6.4 seconds, while Blackstock/Lawrence stopped just after Barregarrow to make adjustments.

The record-breaking pace continued with a blistering sector from Ballaugh to Ramsey. This put the Crowes 10 seconds inside the lap record. This pace narrowed to 7 seconds at the Bungalow, but they still completed the lap at a phenomenal 121.021mph. Consequently, they secured both the race win by 1 minute 17 seconds and the outright sidecar lap record.

Birchall/Rosney (116.713mph) posted their fastest lap of the week to secure second place, 17.3 seconds ahead of Crawford/Hardie (115.363mph). It marked the maiden TT podiums for Rosney, Crawford, and Hardie. Ellis/Clement (114.102mph) took fourth, with Clarke/Johnson (114.221mph) finishing fifth – Clarke becoming the fastest ever newcomer sidecar driver.

Holden and Wilkes completed a fine ride in sixth, their final lap of 112.758mph putting them ahead of the Ramsdens. Blackstock/Lawrence resumed to finish eighth, followed by Lambert/Haynes and Dawson/Sims.