Category: World Championship
Updates from Le Mans World Championship
Mark’s office has all the updates so far from Le Mans and I’m sure will have for the full weekend here.
Steve Abbott, – a great read from Fred Clarke THE Commentator.
Over the years, Britain has produced many of the finest & fastest sidecar racers in the world, and in 2002, Derbyshire’s Steve Abbott & passenger Jamie Biggs joined that illustrious band of Sidecar World Champions.
Today a spritely & fit looking 70year old, Steve’s initial intention was to give racing a go on a solo TZ250 Yamaha, but bowed to his friend Shaun Smith’s suggestion to try sidecars instead. The duo’s first race being in 1977 at Cadwell Park.
Straight off, he proved to be a gifted driver, and in less than three seasons Steve & Shaun were already making their GP debut, at Silverstone.
Their maiden ‘foreign’ GP was to be at the Belgian circuit of Spa Francorchamps in 1982, finishing an impressive 5th just ahead of former double World Champion, Rolf Steinhausen…..who’s son Jorg, would be the main adversary of Steve in the battle for the 2002 World Crown.
Continue reading
NOSTALGIA IN MOTION: DON’T MISS THE CLASSIC SIDECAR PARADE LAP
From TT Press Office
A celebration of sidecar racing’s golden era will take to the Mountain Course at the 2025 Classic TT, as an 18-strong line-up of iconic machines return to the Isle of Man for the Classic Sidecar Parade Lap.
Taking place on Wednesday 27th August, this one-lap showcase promises a full sensory throwback to the sights, sounds, and smells of sidecar racing from the 1960s through to the 1980s.
From the crackle of two-strokes to the deep rumble of four-stroke BMWs, the parade brings together a truly unique mix of machines – two, three, and four-cylinder layouts, each steeped in history. Expect the unmistakable whiff of Castrol R, the clatter of spoked wheels down Bray Hill, and the sight of era-defining designs tackling the Mountain Course once more.
Continue reading
Harry Payne Interview on Manx Radio
From yesterday –
Today’s guest is Harry Payne, a racer with speed in his veins.
Coming from a true racing family, Harry moved to the Isle of Man in 2016 to chase his dream on the legendary Mountain Course.
He started as a sidecar passenger, teaming up with icons like Dave Molyneux, before making the switch to the driver’s seat—a move that proved to be a game-changer.
Harry’s journey has been nothing short of incredible and in 2024, alongside Kevin Rousseau, he clinched the FIM Sidecar World Championship in a nail-biting season finale.
Now, as he gears up to defend that title in 2025, we get the inside story on the highs, the challenges, and the passion that drives him forward.
FOR SALE John Holden’s 2023 ARS Kawasaki
Built new for the 2024 season
Choice of 2 engines 2x 636 or 1x 636 1x 600
Prepared by Mark Fisher
More photos and details click more…
The FIM and Motor Presse Stuttgart extend their partnership for 2024
FROM SVETLANA AT THE FIM
CLICK READ MORE FOR LATEST PROVISIONAL CALENDAR
After a favourable first season of promoting the FIM Sidecar World Championship, Motor Presse Stuttgart and the FIM will continue their partnership for 2024.
The integration of the FIM Sidecar World Championship into the schedule of the German IDM Championship as well as the live streaming service and promotion of the series, saw twenty-eight teams contest the 2023 campaign which proved to be a real success.
The 2024 calendar will feature six races in five countries. The season-opening round at Le Mans will be organised by the FIM and the other five events by Motor Presse Stuttgart.
The 2024 Events calendar has been updated
We now have most of 2024 dates on. I have the French Championships to add and that will be about it.
We have World Championhip (as far as is confirmed), British, British FII, FSRA Pre Injection, BMCRC, CRMC, BHR, Isle of Man TT, S100 and Olivers Mount, Andreas, International Sidecar Trophy, Northern Sidecar Cup, IDM, Camathias Cup, Aintree, Darley, EMRA, Wirral 100, Scottish Championship with Marin Cup.
What have I missed? Maybe Tonfanau, will need to check.
Don’t forget that each event can be clicked on for information about the organisers and venue with links to each where possible, and you can select a list view, day view or my favourite the monthly overview.
If you DO spot any errors please don’t hesitate to get in touch and they will be corrected. There are 130 events listed so far, errors are likely to creep in and things will change as the season progresses.
TOM BIRCHALL ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
From the TT Press Office..
Tom Birchall, the most successful Sidecar passenger in TT history, has announced his immediate retirement from racing.
Alongside older brother Ben, the Birchalls have taken 14 TT race victories and been the dominant force on three wheels over the last decade, winning every single race that they finished since 2013 with only 3 DNF’s blotting a near-perfect run of results.
Over that period the pair have repeatedly re-written the record books, recording the first ever 117, 118, 119, and 120mph laps of the TT Course in the Sidecar class.
Continue readingLive timing Estoril this weekend, timetable, YouTube links
Click here for the live timing
From Mark D…
A change to the schedule today
Qualifying one 1000
Qualifying two 1255
Sprint race 1540
YouTube for race one
And the Gold Race
Championship joy in Estoril for Ellis/Clement as Schlosser/Fries fight all the way
Huge thanks to Mark Walters for all images!
Todd and Emmanuelle (Winners of 2022 World AND British Championship)
Marcus Schlosser and Marcel Fries (2nd in World Championship, 2021 Champions)
The last weekend in October is often tricky for its weather in Portugal, and we were not disappointed. Track temperature on arrival hovered around twenty-two with an ambient of twenty. Humidity was also high with periodic rain forecast for the weekend. This cliff-hanger finale was poised to give victory to Santander Salt’s Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement with their fifty-one-point advantage. Their goal surely must have been to put the title out of reach of rivals and defending champions Markus Schlosser and Marcel Fries in the opening race. Double points in both races however were a major consideration for both contenders. This factor could also radically change the complexion of the table further down the order.
Continue reading
Estoril hosts gripping title decider 28 October – 1 November
For the second year in a row, the final round of the 2022 FIM Sidecar World Championship travels to Estoril, Portugal for the closing two races of the season. The event also marks the swansong of Roger Body’s RKB-F1 organisation as promoter of the series. Roger is standing down after a lifetime involved in sidecar racing both as a competitor and as figurehead.
On behalf of the entire international sidecar racing community, we thank Roger for his efforts and commitment over many years, and more recently persevering through a difficult time as promoter of two championships.
Todd and the hiding Emmanuelle
Sidecar Festival to provide classic backdrop for round seven
The Motorsport Arena of Oschersleben, mid-way between Hanover and Berlin is the scene of the penultimate round in the FIM Championship 2022.
The popular and demanding 2.3-mile-long circuit will welcome Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (Santander Salt Yamaha) as series leaders on September 30-October 2 after a six week break in World Championship activities.
Continue reading
Recent Comments