Isle of Man TT 2026: Sidecar class cancelled after series of crashes

• The Sidecar class was officially cancelled for the remainder of the TT on 28 May 2026
• Defending champions Ryan and Callum Crowe crashed at Crosby and are out of the TT
• Maria Costello suffered head injuries in a crash at Brandish and is in a serious but stable condition

The 2026 Isle of Man TT was supposed to be a landmark year for the Sidecar crews. New restrictor rules reducing the throttle body inlet diameter from 38 mm to 27.5 mm were expected to cut average speeds by an estimated three to four miles per hour, bringing lap times back to roughly 2007 levels. Instead, the qualifying week ended with a historic decision: on 28 May 2026 at 12:15 local time, the organisers announced in conjunction with the Event Promoter that the Sidecar class would be suspended for the remainder of the 2026 TT.

What happened in the Sidecar class at the 2026 TT?

Within just two qualifying evenings, three red flag periods occurred in the Sidecar class. On Tuesday evening, 26 May, Maria Costello MBE and her passenger Shaun Parker, running as outfit number 28, crashed at Brandish during the first qualifying session. Costello sustained head injuries and was subsequently transferred to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool. Her condition was described as serious but stable. Parker suffered injuries to his chest, legs, arms and face. The session was not restarted after the red flag.

Just one day later, on Wednesday evening, disaster struck the leading favourites. Ryan and Callum Crowe, who had entered qualifying as outfit number 1 wearing the defending champions’ number plates, crashed on the first lap of the third qualifying session at Crosby. The session was again red-flagged. Both brothers were conscious and responsive when they were taken by ambulance to Noble’s Hospital on the Isle of Man. A further incident occurred in the same session at Doran’s Bend.

How serious are the Crowe brothers’ injuries?

Ryan and Callum Crowe’s injuries are not life-threatening according to their father Nick Crowe, but they will miss the remainder of the event. Nick Crowe, himself a former TT racer, released a short statement on Wednesday evening: “As you probably all know by now, the boys had a big off at Crosby leap. We appreciate all the concern. Although they have fractures and a head injury, they are sedated at the minute, there is no risk to their lives.” Both brothers were hospitalised with fractures and head injuries and will not be able to continue at the 2026 TT.

Why was the Sidecar class cancelled at the 2026 TT?

The organisers launched an immediate technical and operational review following the Crowe crash on Wednesday evening. In the official statement released on 28 May, the decision to suspend the class was described as a precautionary measure taken in conjunction with the Event Promoter in the interests of competitor and spectator safety. The race organisation emphasised that the safety of riders, spectators, marshals, officials and all involved remains the highest priority. Further details on the ongoing review process are to follow through the official Isle of Man TT Races channels.

The decision was not taken lightly, as the organisers expressly acknowledged. They stated that they recognise the long-standing history of Sidecar racing at the TT, together with the commitment of the competitors, teams and supporters involved in the class.

What role did the Crowe brothers play in the Sidecar TT?

Ryan and Callum Crowe were regarded as by far the most dominant outfit in the Sidecar class. The two brothers from Jurby on the Isle of Man had won the last four Sidecar TT races in succession and had held the outright lap record for the class since 2025 at 121.021 mph (194.8 km/h). That made them the fastest driver-passenger duo in TT history. For 2026, the Opul and Kelproperties-backed team had built a completely revised LCR (Louis Christen Racing) outfit with a Honda engine, developed in collaboration with Lumbley Engineering. According to the organisers, the new package represented a significant step forward from the previous year’s machine. In Qualifying 2 on Wednesday afternoon, the Crowes had set the fastest time, underlining their status as favourites.

What else happened at the 2026 TT beyond the Sidecar class?

The Sidecar suspension was not the only safety-related incident during qualifying week. On Monday, 25 May, the opening day of the 2026 TT, a serious incident in the Superbike/Superstock session at Parliament Square in Ramsey had brought the entire remaining schedule to a halt. A motorcycle left the road at the exit of Parliament Square and pushed barriers into a spectator area. Eight spectators and one rider were taken to Noble’s Hospital, all conscious. The rider sustained leg injuries. Six of the eight spectators and the rider have since been discharged from hospital, while two spectators remained under treatment on Tuesday.

As a consequence, the spectator area at Parliament Square was closed for the entire remainder of the 2026 TT. The qualifying sessions planned for Monday evening were cancelled entirely. Solo rider Mikey Evans of the Dafabet Racing Team also crashed on Wednesday evening during the qualifying session at Greba Castle. He was taken to Noble’s Hospital but was discharged after examination with no fractures and is expected to be back in the paddock on Friday.

What happens next at the 2026 TT?

The organisers confirmed on Wednesday evening that the contingency qualifying sessions on Thursday would not be used. Thursday, 28 May, is therefore a rest day for all competitors. Track activity is set to resume on Friday with final qualifying before racing begins on Saturday, 30 May. The Sidecar class will no longer feature. The solo classes in the Superbike, Superstock, Supersport, Sportbike and Supertwin categories are unaffected by the suspension.

What does the Sidecar cancellation mean for the TT overall?

The suspension of the Sidecar class mid-event is an unprecedented step in the recent history of the Tourist Trophy. Three-wheeled racing has been a fixture on the TT programme for decades and enjoys a dedicated, passionate following. The decision comes in a year when the class was already facing significant rule changes. The new restrictor plates, which reduce the throttle body inlet diameter from 38 mm to 27.5 mm, were designed to cut lap speeds by an estimated three to four miles per hour and bring the fastest laps back to around 117 to 118 mph. That would have returned times to the level of the 2007 Centenary TT, when Nick Crowe and Dan Sayle set the benchmark at 116.667 mph.

At the same time, the late withdrawal of eight-time Sidecar World Champion Tim Reeves and his passenger Melanie Farnier before the start of qualifying week had already caused a stir. Whether and in what form the Sidecar class will return at the 2027 TT remains to be seen. The organisers announced that further updates would follow through official channels. All Sidecar crews and teams have already been briefed by race officials on the findings of the initial review and the next steps, according to the official statement.

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