- Ben Birchall will race solo at the Classic TT 2026 for the first time, competing in the Historic Junior class.
- With 14 sidecar TT wins, he ranks second on the all-time list behind Dave Molyneux (17 wins).
- The Classic TT runs alongside the Manx Grand Prix, with racing taking place from 17 to 28 August.
Ben Birchall is one of the most successful sidecar racers in the history of the Isle of Man TT. Now he’s opening a new chapter. At the Classic TT in August, he’ll sit alone on a solo motorcycle for the first time. For a rider who has spent his entire career in a sidecar outfit, it’s an unusual step. At the same time, the sidecar racing environment on the island is currently changing significantly.
What Is Ben Birchall Doing at the Classic TT 2026?
Ben Birchall will start solo at the Classic TT 2026 for the first time, competing in the Historic Junior class. Until now he has raced exclusively in a sidecar outfit; now he switches to two wheels. Historic Junior is a class for classic machines run as part of the two-week festival on the Snaefell Mountain Course. That puts Birchall on a grid that includes many well-known names from road racing.
What’s Behind the Switch to Two Wheels?
There is no official reason for the switch so far. What is clear, though, is that the circumstances around Birchall have changed recently. His brother Tom, with whom he won all 14 TT victories, ended his career at the end of 2023. Ben has been waiting for another win ever since. On top of that, sidecars didn’t race at the TT 2026 at all. The solo start at the Classic TT is therefore also a chance to get back on the Mountain Course under different circumstances.
Birchall’s Sidecar Record
Birchall is one of the defining figures of modern sidecar racing on the island. His career began in 1999 as a passenger, and in 2003 he became a driver himself. His TT debut with brother Tom followed in 2009, and the duo took their first win in 2013. A double win followed in 2015, then a run of eleven straight victories from the second race of 2016 through to 2023. That period also produced a record. In 2023 the brothers set the first sidecar lap over 120 miles per hour on the roughly 37.7-mile (60.7-kilometre) course, with times of 120.357 mph (about 193.7 km/h) and 120.645 mph (about 194.2 km/h). With 14 wins, Birchall ranks second on the all-time TT sidecar list, behind Dave Molyneux with 17 victories.
Why Were There No Sidecar Races at the TT in 2026?
The sidecar class was pulled from the TT 2026 programme for safety reasons. Several serious incidents had occurred during practice week. Among other things, the outfit of Ryan and Callum Crowe flipped over a crest. In another accident, Maria Costello was left paralysed. For Birchall, that was another setback in an already difficult period. Before the cancellation, he had lined up for the TT 2026 with a new passenger. Mark Wilkes was set to take the seat in the LCR Honda outfit. In the two years before that, Birchall had raced with changing passengers, Kevin Rousseau in 2024 and Patrick Rosney in 2025. In both years he finished second in the race, behind the Crowe brothers among others.
Who Else Is Racing at the Classic TT 2026?
Alongside Birchall, a whole host of well-known road racers are on the entry list. The field is led by Dean Harrison, who has been in strong form recently. At the TT in June he won both the Superbike and Senior races. At the Southern 100 this month he followed up with several wins and a new lap record on the roughly 4.25-mile Billown Course. Also entered are TT record winner Michael Dunlop and John McGuinness, who marks his 30th anniversary on the Mountain Course this year. Peter Hickman returns to the Classic TT after eleven years away, his only previous start there having been in 2015. Davey Todd, the 2025 TT winner, is looking to make a comeback after an injury sustained in a crash at the Daytona 200 in March. Seven-time TT winner Michael Rutter is also back, having sat out the TT 2026 following a crash in the previous year’s race. Further names include Jamie Coward, Conor Cummins, David Johnson and Dominic Herbertson.
When Is the Classic TT 2026?
The Classic TT runs alongside the Manx Grand Prix over just under two weeks, from Sunday, 16 August, to Friday, 28 August. The first familiarisation laps on the course take place on 17 and 18 August, with the first full practice session following on 19 August. The Historic Junior race, in which Birchall competes, is scheduled for Monday, 24 August. The festival closes on 28 August with the Senior Classic TT, for which the fastest 60 riders of the festival qualify. New to the programme in 2026 are two races, the Junior 600 and the Ultra-Lightweight class. A special parade for John McGuinness is also planned. The Classic TT only returned last year after a six-year break, having last been held in 2019.
Birchall’s solo start is one of the details shaping the preview of the 2026 road racing season around the Classic TT. It illustrates that sidecar racing on the island is currently in a state of change.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Ben Birchall Racing Solo at the Classic TT 2026?
Yes. Ben Birchall will start on a solo motorcycle at the Classic TT 2026 for the first time. He is competing in the Historic Junior class, having previously raced only in sidecars.
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How Many TT Wins Does Ben Birchall Have?
Ben Birchall has taken 14 wins at the Isle of Man TT, all in the sidecar class with his brother Tom as passenger. That makes him second on the all-time list behind Dave Molyneux with 17 wins.
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Why Were There No Sidecar Races at the TT in 2026?
The sidecar class was cancelled for the TT 2026 on safety grounds. Several serious accidents occurred during practice week, including a crash in which the Crowe brothers’ outfit flipped over, and Maria Costello was left paralysed.
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When Is the Classic TT 2026 Held?
The Classic TT runs alongside the Manx Grand Prix from 16 to 28 August. The Historic Junior race featuring Birchall is scheduled for 24 August, with the Senior Classic TT closing out the festival on 28 August.
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Who Else Is Racing at the Classic TT 2026 Besides Birchall?
The entry list includes Dean Harrison, Michael Dunlop, John McGuinness, Peter Hickman, Davey Todd and Michael Rutter, among others. Following his TT and Southern 100 successes, Dean Harrison is one of the riders to watch.
