- Kershaw is the only driver in the history of the British Sidecar Championship to have won all available titles
- The duo achieved a lap time of 110.927 mph and a seventh-place finish at the 2025 TT
- For 2026, the team will once again race an LCR Honda under the banner of Express Tyres and Quattro Group
The Isle of Man TT has another interesting sidecar entry for the 2026 season. Steve Kershaw and Rhys Gibbons will once again take on the legendary Mountain Course after their much-noted debut last year. The duo will compete in both sidecar races over three laps each with their Express Tyres/Quattro Group LCR Honda.
From British Champion to TT Returnee
The 38-year-old Scotsman Kershaw brings an impressive track record to the island. Together with the 23-year-old Welshman Gibbons, he secured the British Formula Two Sidecar Championship title in 2025. Kershaw can now look back on British championships in Formula Two, the Formula Two Cup, and the Formula One class, the latter with both 600cc and 1000cc engines. This makes him the only driver in history to have won every title category in the British Sidecar Championship.
Passenger Gibbons is also no stranger to the Mountain Course. In 2024, he finished third on his very first TT outing alongside his uncle Alan Founds, reaching a lap speed of nearly 116 mph.
The 2025 TT Debut: Promising Despite Setback
The eagerly anticipated first joint TT appearance of Kershaw and Gibbons last year was overall promising. Already in qualifying, the duo laid a solid foundation with a lap time of 110.577 mph. The first race, however, ended prematurely with a retirement at Ballacraine.
The second race went significantly better. Kershaw and Gibbons improved their pace to 110.927 mph and achieved a strong seventh place. As a reward, they received the coveted Silver Replica at the finish line.
Confident Heading into TT 2026
For the return to the Mountain Course, Kershaw is optimistic: “We are fully focused on TT 2026 and learned a lot from last year, with some small modifications to the bike and the intriguing introduction of the restrictor plates, we’re determined to push for strong results this year, building on a solid performance in 2025.”
The combination of Kershaw’s experience and Gibbons’ talent promises much for the 2026 TT. Having already broken into the top ten in their debut year, a first top-six finish appears to be a realistic goal.
