Crowe Brothers Dominate First Sidecar Qualifying at TT 2026 Despite New Restrictors

• Crowe Brothers 47 seconds ahead of Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley
• New restrictors reduce top speed from 161.6 to 154.6 mph
• Session red-flagged early after incident at Brandish

The Isle of Man TT 2026 saw its first timed qualifying session on Tuesday evening, and in the Sidecar class the result was as clear-cut as it gets. Ryan and Callum Crowe posted a standing lap time of 19:08.900, averaging 118.224 mph. The defending champions finished a massive 47 seconds ahead of the second-placed outfit of Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley. Despite new technical restrictions, the Crowe Brothers emphatically underlined their status as favourites for both Sidecar races at the TT 2026.

What Do the New Sidecar Rules Change at the TT 2026?

The Sidecar class is racing with 27-millimetre restrictors for the first time this year, significantly limiting airflow and therefore engine power. The effect was already visible in the speed trap: the previous top speed record stood at 161.6 mph, while the Crowe Brothers reached 154.6 mph in the first qualifying session. That represents a drop of around seven miles per hour, and this from a team that had already extensively optimised their setup for the new conditions.

In addition, all Sidecar teams must use so-called Manx Fuel this year, a locally mandated fuel. As Alan Founds explained in conversation with commentators, the main challenge lies in fuel consistency. A uniform composition is crucial for the electronic engine management and mapping, and that consistency is harder to achieve with pump petrol than with race fuel. The electronic systems can compensate to a degree, but the actual impact on performance would only become clear over the course of the week.

How Fast Are the Crowe Brothers Despite the Restrictions?

Ryan and Callum Crowe lapped at 118.224 mph from a standing start, a pace only marginally below their opening lap level from last year. That is remarkable, as in 2025 they set the fastest ever Sidecar lap average on the Mountain Course at 121.1 mph. The fact that they are already so close to their previous form despite reduced engine power surprised even experienced commentators in the paddock.

The 47-second gap to Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley illustrates the current dominance of the team. The Crowe Brothers have won the last four Sidecar races at the TT and carry the number one plate this year. Their updated LCR chassis with Honda engine was further developed in collaboration with Lumbley Engineering and represents a significant step forward compared to the previous year’s model, according to the manufacturer.

Alan Founds Switches Roles: From Driver to Mechanic

Alan Founds, himself a multiple TT podium finisher, is not entered as a driver this year. Instead, he is supporting his brother Peter in the team. He explained that he had retired from active racing the previous year but could not leave the TT behind entirely. He is handling the electronics and mapping on his brother’s outfit and described the collaboration as typical of the tight-knit Sidecar community, where teams support each other.

Alan Founds confirmed that Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley had received support from a parts manufacturer ahead of the TT, who delivered new components at short notice before the event began. These had been tested and the results so far had left the team feeling positive.

New Chassis, New Aerodynamics: The Technical Side of the Crowe Brothers

The Crowe team arrived at the session with a new chassis and a completely redesigned fairing. The new fairing arrived so late that it was only mounted minutes before the first practice outing. The previous day, a chain problem had damaged the fairing, and a loose wiring loom in the electrics was found and repaired during the afternoon break.

The chassis itself had been tested in France and, according to the team, was immediately at the desired level on its first run down Bray Hill. Very little had to be changed in the suspension setup, which gave the team confidence for the sessions ahead. The focus was instead on aerodynamics: with the restrictors limiting available engine power, teams are trying to gain speed through better aerodynamic efficiency. The Crowe Brothers have completely enclosed the underside of their outfit to create a ground effect that pushes the vehicle harder onto the road surface.

Heat Problems from Enclosed Aerodynamics

The enclosed fairing does have a downside: the driver sits essentially encapsulated above the engine with virtually no airflow. The exhaust system runs inside the outfit, the brake discs glow red under heavy braking, and small metal particles or rubber fragments can hit the driver. Some teams are therefore experimenting with exhaust vents at the rear of the outfit to dissipate heat. The cooler evening temperatures on Tuesday were likely a welcome relief for the drivers, after several teams had complained about extreme cockpit heat the previous day.

Which Other Sidecar Teams Stood Out?

Lee Crawford and Scott Hardy, who stood on the podium for the first time in both races last year, entered the new season with confidence. Crawford is running KTech suspension front and rear this year, and the outfit looked stable according to paddock observers.

Other teams were less fortunate: Bruce and Ashley Moore had to end their session early after a tyre puncture. Another outfit locked the front brake in a corner, suggesting the front suspension was set too soft. Maria Costello, celebrating her 30th TT anniversary this year, crashed at Governor’s Dip but was unhurt and was subsequently able to take part in the Sidecar session with passenger Shaun Parker.

Why Was the Session Red-Flagged?

The Sidecar session was stopped with a red flag approximately eight minutes before the scheduled end. Organisers confirmed that race control was dealing with an incident at Brandish. No further details were initially released, and the course remained closed after the red flag.

An earlier serious incident had already occurred on Monday: at the exit of Parliament Square during untimed practice, a crash had injured rider Martin Morris and eight spectators. Seven of the injured, including Morris himself, have since been discharged from hospital, while two people were airlifted to the United Kingdom for further treatment. Monday’s qualifying session had been cancelled entirely as a result.

Solo Qualifying: Dean Harrison Sets the First Benchmark

Alongside the Sidecars, the first solo qualifying sessions also took place on Tuesday evening. In the Superbike class, Dean Harrison on the Honda CBR1000RR-R for Honda Racing UK set the fastest time at 133.925 mph, a clear margin ahead of Michael Dunlop (130.341 mph) and Nathan Harrison (130.010 mph). In Superstock, Josh Brookes led on the DAO Racing Honda with 130.197 mph ahead of Peter Hickman (129.420 mph). Michael Dunlop was also the fastest Supersport rider at 125.955 mph, and Paul Jordan topped the Sportbike class at 120.208 mph.

The TT 2026 is already under particular scrutiny following the turbulent start with Monday’s incident and the red flag on Tuesday. In the Sidecar field, the Crowe Brothers have sent an unmistakable signal: despite new restrictors and changed conditions, they remain the benchmark on the Mountain Course, and the competition has considerable ground to make up.

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➜ This article is part of our comprehensive coverage of the Isle of Man TT 2026. Find all information on the schedule, riders, teams and results in our complete TT 2026 overview.