A fast start and a fast lap
The Crowes set the fastest lap of the race on their Kelproperties Honda with a speed of 120.335 mph (193.641 km/h), joining the exclusive 120mph club for the first time. They also became the second fastest crew in the history of Sidecar racing.
Course of the race
The race was shortened to two laps due to a change in the schedule and finally started at 14:15. The first start had to be aborted after rookies Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement crashed at Waterworks. Both were uninjured, but their team blocked the track.
At the restart, it was again the Crowes who reached Glen Helen fastest, opening up a lead of 4.7 seconds over Birchall/Rousseau (Wyckham Blackwell/Hager Honda). Blackstock/Rosney (Dave Holden Racing Yamaha) were 7.2 seconds behind in third place, closely followed by Crawford/Hardie (ARC Newton Aycliffe/SJH Bodyworks Kawasaki) in fourth. The leading pack was rounded off by Founds/Gibbons (Founds Racing Yamaha) and Molyneux/Roberts.
Increase in the lead
The Crowes’ lead grew to 7.6 seconds as they crossed Ballaugh Bridge. Blackstock/Rosney remained in third place, but the gap to Founds/Gibbons narrowed to 0.122 seconds. Crawford/Hardie dropped back to seventh after losing time on the Glen Helen circuit.
At the Ramsey Hairpin, the Crowes still had the lead, but Birchall/Rousseau were able to close the gap slightly to 7.3 seconds. The battle for third place became more exciting when Blackstock/Rosney were only 0.9 seconds ahead of Molyneux/Roberts. Holden/Claeys (Marin/Carl Cox/Ocean Motor Village Suzuki) were now in fifth place, while Founds/Gibbons dropped back due to a black flag at Sulby Bridge, but were allowed to continue. Crawford/Hardie and Reeves/Wilkes were eliminated.
Record laps and battles for position
An opening lap of 119.092 mph (191.664 km/h) – officially the fastest lap from a standing start – gave the Crowes a nine-second lead over Birchall/Rousseau (118.158 mph or 190.178 km/h). Molyneux/Roberts were in third place after a strong opening lap of 114.633 mph (184.482 km/h), 3.7 seconds ahead of Blackstock/Rosney (114.275 mph or 183.887 km/h). Holden/Claeys (111.888 mph or 180.069 km/h) and Founds/Gibbons (111.378 mph or 179.258 km/h) completed the top six, with the latter having to be compensated for the time they lost at Sulby.
Rookies Robert Dawson/Matthew Sims (Dawson Classic Motorcycles Honda) were in tenth place after a lap of 108.925 mph (175.296 km/h). At the front, the Crowes extended their lead to more than 13 seconds as they passed Glen Helen on the second and final lap and had Birchall/Rousseau in sight.
Final and finish
Molyneux/Roberts consolidated their third place, while the gap to Blackstock/Rosney grew to 4.6 seconds. Founds/Gibbons had made up their time loss and were just one second behind.
On Ramsey’s final run, the Crowes led Birchall/Rousseau by 18.5 seconds. They set the fastest sector time of Ballaugh and were on course for a record. Molyneux remained on course for his 31st podium finish, while the gap to new fourth-placed Founds/Gibbons grew to 7.4 seconds. Blackstock/Rosney were just 0.2 seconds behind in fifth place.
The Crowes led the way on the track over the rails at Bungalow, posting a superb final lap of 120.335 mph (193.641 km/h). That put them 20.491 seconds ahead of Birchall/Rousseau, who finished a well-deserved second at over 119 mph (191.509 km/h) after crashing in qualifying.
Molyneux/Roberts secured third place, followed by Founds/Gibbons and Blackstock/Rosney. The Ramsdens finished sixth ahead of another father and son duo, John and James Saunders. Lockey/Rostron, Dawson/Sims – who increased their speed to 109.465 mph (176.198 km/h) – and Harrison/Moore rounded off the top ten.
Good performances from the rookies
Newcomers Renzo van der Donck/Vale van der Donckt and Wiggert Kranenburg/Jermaine van Middegaal also performed well. They finished 13th and 15th with laps of 107.275 mph (172.610 km/h).
[amazon box=”B084SR1B8H”]
