Nick Crowe strongly criticises the TT organisers’ approach

If anyone knows what they’re talking about, it’s Nick Crowe. After all, he was one of the standout figures in the Tourist Trophy races during the 2000s. His battles with Dave Molyneaux, who also hails from the Isle of Man, ensured that lap times in the sidecar class on the Snaefell Mountain Course were pushed to levels previously thought impossible.

In 2009, the five-time TT winner’s career came to an abrupt end. In the second race, he collided at high speed with a hare crossing the track on the first lap. It was a massive stroke of luck that both Crowe and his passenger, Mark Cox, survived the crash. However, both sustained life-changing injuries.

Crowe, whose sons Ryan and Callum followed in his footsteps, winning both sidecar TT races in 2024 and 2025 and whose serious crash at this year’s TT led to a review of the technical regulations, remains a leading figure in sidecar racing. His technical expertise in this complex field carries considerable weight, and his reaction to the technical regulations that have just been published – which will apply to three-wheelers from next year – is all the more significant.

“The regulations are aimed at destroying the sidecar class”

“The entire review of sustainability in sidecar racing was a chaotic process: None of the more than 500 submissions from participants and members of the public were taken into account; instead, they went their own way and enacted radical and bloody stupid regulations that are aimed more at destroying the class than saving it,” was his scathing verdict on the new technical regulations.

“Originally, it was said to be a gradual reform! That is false – instead, the entire sustainability process and the changes were imposed on the teams all at once.”

Topic of the week

Crazy MotoGP hero? Jorge Martin as 2026 World Champion in Psychology

Many shook their heads – whether out of bewilderment, admiration or disapproval – when a badly injured Jorge Martin opened the throttle at Sepang and Losail. Martin’s message has got through.

Thomas Kuttruf

Read More

“There was never any mention of a financial package. The organisers claim that it was only after direct discussions that they considered possible changes to the regulations – that, too, is untrue. They merely saw two statements from teams online. Without participants, there will be no Sidecar TT in 2027, 2028 or 2029. They know that this will be embarrassing and damaging for the event if nothing is done.”

A meeting of the relevant representatives from the fields of sport, technology and event organisation is scheduled for Monday 16 November to discuss the feedback received from the competitors. The meeting will also examine possible adjustments to individual technical regulations, as well as short- and medium-term transitional arrangements that could help participants adapt to the new regulations.

“I’ll give them credit for trying to salvage something now, but why has it taken so long for all this to happen? Personally, I believe someone should take the blame for this – either they were badly advised or they completely disregarded the participants and safety.”