The quality filled Sidecar field concluded today’s intriguing opening practice session, at the 2022 TT Races.
Fastest overall, post a best lap time of 20 minutes 08.149 seconds, which equates in mph terms to 112.426, was FHO Racing’s Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley.
Founds/Walmsley’s second timed lap was just over 5.5 seconds quicker than the turn of pace registered by pre-race favourites, ten times TT winners the Birchall brothers Ben & Tom (111.908).
Third quickest behind the Birchalls were lightning quick Sidecar driver newcomer Harry Payne, former TT podium finisher Mark Wilkes.
Payne/Wilkes (110.364) piloting the Yamaha powered DAO 1886 supported outfit, second timed lap saw them nudge past the 110-mph lap mark.
TT stalwarts Gary Bryan/Phil Hyde (109.665) finished fourth fastest whilst Mountain Course newcomer Lee Crawford (109.292) joined by regular Team A.R.C passenger Scott Hardie, finished a superb fifth fastest.
Eight times World Champion Tim Reeves (109.017) joined by another impressive TT newbie Kevin Rousseau, placed sixth fastest whilst seventh fastest were former TT Champions Conrad Harrison/Andy Winkle (108.327).
Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney (108.247) who’s latest TT expedition is backed by World Superbike legend, 1990 Senior TT winner Carl Fogarty took eighth on the practice leader-board.
Completing today’s top ten Sidecar TT teams were the all-French duo of Estelle Leblond/Clement Carre (107.157) and the East Yorkshire pairing of Gary Gibson/Tom Christie (106.359).
Photo credit: Nick Wheeler
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou