Ex-champion backs TT sidecar suspension after sons' crash
BBCFormer sidecar champion Nick Crowe has backed the decision to suspend sidecar racing for the remainder of the Isle of Man TT Races 2026, after his sons escaped with non-life threatening injuries after a crash.
Ryan and Callum Crowe, known as the Crowe brothers, crashed in the third qualifying session at Crosby Leap on Wednesday evening.
The incident prompted organisers to launch an immediate technical and operational review before announcing the suspension of the sidecar class on safety grounds.
Five-time TT winner Crowe - who lost a leg and an arm in a sidecar crash in 2009 - said: "A lot of people disagree with me but I think under the circumstances it's going to be the right thing to do."
The suspension, announced on Thursday, followed what organisers described as a "precautionary measure" taken "in the interests of competitor and spectator safety".
'Miracle they're still here'
Wednesday's qualifying session was red flagged at about 20:20 BST following the crash, which organisers have not formally linked to the suspension.
Crowe said his sons had been travelling at more than 160mph when a crosswind destabilised the sidecar outfit shortly after they landed at Crosby Leap.
He said: "For them to escape with relatively minor injuries considering the speed - it was a miracle that they're still here to be honest."
Crowe suggested the incident highlighted the need for changes to sidecar regulations, arguing aerodynamic rules had failed to keep pace with modern racing.
"These rules are 30, 40 years old" and they were "not following with the times", he argued.
Crowe said updated aerodynamic devices such as aerofoils should now be considered in order to improve safety.
Isle of Man TT RacesDespite criticism from some over the suspension, Crowe said the wider future of sidecar racing at the TT had to take priority.
He said "one wrong move now" and sidecar racing would be lost "from the event altogether".
The crash, on day three of practice week, followed two earlier red-flag incidents during qualifying.
Many fans at the Grandstand were disappointed that there would be no more sidecar action this year.
Helge Larsen, who drove more than 1200 miles (about 2,000km) from Norway to watch the racing, said sidecars were one of the highlights of the TT.
He said he was "really disappointed" they had been cancelled for this event.
"When you see them around this track, they are absolutely mental, they are crazy" he said.
Judith Williamson, visiting from Cumbria, said the class often felt overlooked despite the commitment required from competitors.
"All of the teams put in the same work and effort as the two-wheelers do so it always seems to be the side car guys that lose out," she said.
But she said competitors understood the dangers involved.
"It's part and parcel and they know what they're coming for and they live and breathe it," she said.
Michael Smullen said his sympathy was with teams who had travelled to the island only to lose their chance to race.
He said it was sad for teams that put "all their time and effort into it to come over here" to now be "told they can't do it".
"Like, it's bad enough for us spectators, but for them you'd feel sorry for them."
Ian Brindle, from Yorkshire, said riders in the paddock were struggling with the announcement.
"Everybody's really really upset about it," he said, adding that sidecar race winner John Holden had been "in tears about it".
Organisers said sidecar competitors and teams had been briefed on the outcome of an initial review, adding the decision "had not been taken lightly".
In a statement, they said: "We recognise the long-standing history of sidecar racing at the TT."
But officials said "the safety of competitors, spectators, marshals, officials and all those involved in the event must remain the priority".
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