Sidecars to Rock the 2011 Isle of Man TT

Last week we were reporting that former World Champions Ben and Tom Birchall will be returning to the Isle of Man TT after a year’s absence. But it looks like the sidecar class at the TT Races will also get a boost with the participation of ex-World Champions Klaus Klaffenbock and Dan Sayle, and Tim Reeves and his passenger Frenchman Gregory Cluze.

The field contains ten crews who have lapped the Mountain Course in excess of 110 mph. On recent form, the man they all have to beat and the favourite for honors is last year’s double winner Klaus Klaffenbock who is again joined by Manx passenger Daniel Sayle.

John Holden and Andrew Winkle, Simon Neary and Dipash Chauhan, Conrad Harrison and Mike Aylott, are all expected to compete. Tony Elmer/Darren Marshall, Gary Bryan/Gary Partridge, Roy Hanks/Dave Wells and the returning Dougie Wright/Martin Hull complete the first ten in the field.

Almost 60 entries for the class have been received with the likes of Greg Lambert, Gordon Shand, Bill Currie, Rob Handcock, Tony Baker and Dave Kimberley all back for another attempt whilst veterans Kenny Howles and Eddy Wright have also been lured back into competition. Miles Bennett is the first of the newcomers at 37, two places ahead of Dean Lindley.

“The sidecar class remains an integral part of the TT Race Programme and it is pleasing to see an increase in entries for this year with as many as eight newcomer drivers taking on the Mountain Course for the first time. The standard of the entry is first class and the races are as open as they have been for many years,” said Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government.