Tadcaster racing team win 'Fastest Newcomer' at Isle of Man TT
A sidecar racing duo who were crowned 'Best Newcomers' at the Isle of Man TT say they are still riding high on adrenaline after their success.Driver Kieran Clarke, from Tadcaster, and passenger Andrew Johnson finished fifth overall in the event, the highest ever place on a first-time appearance, hitting a top speed of 114.221mph (183km/h) in the process.Mr Johnson, 41, described their experience as "crazy" and unlike any race the pair have previously competed in."I should have learnt by now that when [Kieran] says we'll just go out, take it easy and see how it goes, that his version of taking it easy isn't the same as everyone else," he said.
Reflecting on the experience, Mr Clarke, 28, added: "It's the adrenaline – we're probably three weeks post the Isle of Man and it's still pumping round your system, it's the strangest feeling."Sidecar racing is a two-person motorsport involving a three-wheel motorcycle with a sidecar, and requires both driver and a passenger to work closely together.The passenger has to shift their weight according to the direction of travel, in order to keep the motorcycle's wheels touching the ground to maximise stability and speed. Mr Clarke and Mr Johnson's partnership started four years ago when they first competed together at an race meet at Brands Hatch..However, they had known each other much longer, first meeting when Mr Clarke was eight and Mr Jackson was 21.Even after a crash last year, which temporarily hospitalised Mr Clarke, the pair have climbed the rankings and are currently second in the British Championship F2 FSRA, with four rounds to go.
The Isle of Man TT is one of the most well-known events in the motorsport calendar, and sidecar racing has been a part of the race programme since 1923.While they duo are well-versed in the demands of short circuit racing, the TT course was a completely different challenge to tackle, according to Mr Johnson."The speed at which you're going on the TT course with the bumps and everything is crazy," he said."You've got to have respect for the course, you've got to understand each other and you've got trust each other."I trust Kieran with the handlebars and I wouldn't have raced with anybody else on that course."The pair are currently focused on the remaining races in the British Championships, but said they were already anticipating a return to the Isle of Man in 2026.Speaking about what he loves so much about the adrenaline-fuelled sport, Mr Clarke added: "It's just the thrill, there's nothing else like it."People have said to me, 'do you reckon jumping out a plane is just as exciting?' and I think you'd have to get out a big plane somewhere very high to make it equally as good."
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