Influx of sidecar
newcomers set for TT2007
Following hot on the heels of the successful rider recruitment programme
of the last two years, no less than thirteen sidecar crews visited the
Isle of Man last week in preparation for their circuit debuts later this
year. The recruitment of high calibre solo newcomers has been well
documented but race organisers have been equally keen to see a similar
trend occur in the F2 Sidecar class and this is now paying dividends.
Heading the exciting list of newcomers is German ace Mike Roscher who
has been competing in the World Championships for a number of years now,
with a best placing of 8th overall in 2003. Roscher has been partnered
for the last few seasons by veteran passenger Adolf Hanni, who can count
Steve Webster and Klaus Klaffenbock amongst his former drivers, and the
duo finished the 2006 campaign in 10th place, never finishing outside
the top ten in the races they competed in.
Joining Roscher was Dougie Wright, son of former TT podium finisher
Eddy, and the Leeds youngster certainly impressed in 2006 at the
Southern 100 and Scarborough meetings. Eddy himself will make a comeback
in 2007, the first time he has competed since 1999, adding further
quality to the line-up. Other drivers studying the Mountain Course
included Mark Brown, David Hirst, Stuart Stobbart, Rob Hancock and
Stephen Carey all of whom have scored strong results at either the F2
British Championship, the Southern 100 or Scarborough meetings. Perhaps
the most interesting combination on the trip however, was that of
current Japanese Sidecar Champions, Masahito Watanabe and Hideyuki
Yoshida who hope to make their event debut with an LCR chassis-ed Honda
outfit.
All of the circuit debutants spent considerable time with a number of
the current stars and amongst the drivers offering expert tuition were
Dave Molyneux, Nick Crowe and Roy Hanks.
TT and Motorsport Development Manager Paul Phillips commented:
“We are delighted to welcome so many new faces from the Sidecar world
to the Isle of Man and this is further proof of how dedicated we are to
the event, both two wheels and three. Having top class drivers from both
the World Championships and the British Championships is a terrific
boost to the F2 Sidecar races and we will be endeavouring to ensure that
this trend continues. All of the newcomers in 2006 impressed with a
number of them breaking the 100mph barrier and I’m sure the drivers who
have been over this week will go on to become TT regulars. The Sidecars
have been an integral part of the Isle of Man TT for over half a century
and as we celebrate our 100th birthday this year, they’ll continue to
remain so in the years to come.”
Japanese Sidecar team
Masahito Watanabe and Hideyuki Yoshida with Team Manager Toru
Iijima and Minister for Tourism and Leisure, Adrian Earnshaw MHK,
founder member of the Mike Hailwood Foundation who will support
the Japanese team’s debut entry.
|
|
German competitor and World Superside
frontrunner Mike Roscher and mechanic Axel Von Berg
|
Photography by Dave Collister –
photocycles.com
|