Southern 100: Crowes Land Maiden Sidecar Championship Title
Recovering from a bad start, the Crowe brothers Ryan & Callum, landed in record-breaking style, their first Southern 100, Daryl Blake Sidecar Championship title.
The Opul/Kel Properties backed pair, post a challenging race start, quickly regained ground and by early stages of lap two, slotted into second, having passed on the run towards Ballakeighan, Tim Reeves/Kevin Kolsch and Carl Fenwick/Jake Roberts.
They now had their sights set on reeling in Pete Founds/Jevan Walmsley, who at the end of lap one, had a race lead topping 4.4 seconds.
Founds/Walmsley’s advantage would be significantly reduced on lap two and by the time lap three ended, the Crowes were in the lead.
1.859 clear as lap four was complete, lap five yielded for the second time this week, lap-record breaking heroics, overhauling their record turn of speed from Wednesday night, clocking 2 minutes 28.14 seconds (equating speed wise to 103.281 mph).
The Crowe brothers’ juggernaut was truly in full flow, more striking lap times followed on lap six, lap seven and lap eighth, on route to clinching three wheeling Championship glory by 12 seconds plus, over Founds/Walmsley.
Eight times World Champion Reeves/German racer Kolsch wrapped up the podium finishing members.
Top newcomer driver Fenwick/Roberts captured fourth, Darren Hope/Lenny Bumfrey chalked up fifth, Wayne Lockey/Matty Rostron gained sixth.
In a race of fair-attrition (five retirements, Lee Crawford/Scott Hardie non-starters), just five more crews made it to the finish line, Michael Kirkup/Mark Gash (seventh), David Marshall/Anthony Pitt (eighth), Robert Hancock/Liam Gordon (ninth), Eric Lenser/Anais Rosset (tenth) and Charlie Morphet/Dave ‘Knight’ Ryder (eleventh).
Photo credit: Mark Corlett