With 17-times sidecar TT winner Dave Molyneux and passenger Dan Sayle non-starters, brothers Ben and Tom Birchall led the first and highly dramatic Sidecar Race of 2016.

The brothers fought off stiff competition from John Holden and Andy Winkle and Tim Reeves and Patrick Farrance, with father-son duo Ian and Carl Bell putting in a good fight for a podium spot.

The first seven crews, which included Peter Founds and passenger Jevan Walmsley, and Peter’s brother Alan and his partner Aki Aalto, were all over 110mph. However, the Birchalls were at the front of the field, smashing out a new lap record in the process.

Four leading crews retired in this highly dramatic race, including the frontrunners who at one point were holding a 34 second lead - a complete game changer towards its latter half.

The victorious duo took home their second TT win, five years after their first. Founds brothers, Peter, and Alan also claimed their maiden podiums in a race of high attrition!