14-time Isle of Man TT Sidecar winner to make solo debut at Classic TT

The 2026 Classic TT is set to welcome some of the biggest names in road racing, however, it will also feature Sidecar legend Ben Birchall, who is set to make his solo debut at the event. 

Together with his brother, Tom, Ben Birchall is the second most successful Sidecar racer at the TT with 14 wins. That’s second to only Dave Molyneux, who sits atop the leaderboard with 17 victories in the class. 

A sidecar racer since making his debut as a passenger in 1999, Birchall, who then became a driver in 2003, will now swap the comfort of three wheels for two when he competes in the Historic Junior Class at next month’s Classic TT.

Birchall will compete against some of road racing’s biggest stars, as the likes of Michael Dunlop, Dean Harrison and John McGuinness have all been confirmed as entrants. 

Speaking of Harrison, the Honda Racing UK rider has been in scintillating form of late, winning both the Superbike and Senior Isle of Man TT races in June. Harrison continued that form by completing a Superbike clean sweep at this month’s Southern 100.

As well as his Southern 100 quadruple, Harrison set various records, including a new outright lap record around the 4.25-mile Billown Course.

Also slated to compete at the Classic TT is 8TEN Racing’s Davey Todd, who has not competed since suffering injuries in a crash at the Daytona 200 in March.

The 2025 TT winner was declared unfit ahead of both the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT, two events he would have likely been a contender for victory at, had he been fit enough to take part.

Before the Classic TT, Todd is hopeful of making his racing return at next weekend’s Armoy road race in Northern Ireland.

Another high-profile name that’s set to appear at this year’s Classic TT is Michael Rutter, who missed the 2026 TT after continuing his rehabilitation from injuries he picked up at the 2025 event.

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