Southern 100 reviewing sidecar races after 2026 Isle of Man TT suspension
The Southern 100 is reviewing its sidecar races after the Isle of Man TT suspended the class following a series of incidents during the 2026 event.
The future of sidecars at this year’s Southern 100 is under review following the suspension of the class at the 2026 Isle of Man TT.
In a statement issued by the Southern 100 Club, organisers confirmed they are now assessing whether sidecars can safely compete at the Billown-based event after a difficult TT fortnight that saw the class pulled from the remainder of the meeting following a series of incidents.
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The Southern 100 says it is now consulting with the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU), senior technical officials, and the Isle of Man Government to decide what happens next, with the possibility of rule changes to keep the class on the programme.
The situation follows an unprecedented run of events at the TT, where sidecar racing was suspended after multiple crashes during practice and race week led organisers to halt the category for the rest of the 2026 event. In the days after the announcement, TT organisers confirmed they still intend to preserve the future of sidecars on the Mountain Course, though only after a wider review into safety, technical regulations and event procedures.
That same conversation is now clearly being had at the Southern 100.
While the Southern 100 is a very different event from the TT, being shorter in length at 4.25 miles, both meetings operate under closely aligned sidecar regulations, meaning any concerns raised during the TT inevitably spill over into the rest of the Isle of Man’s road racing conversation.
In its statement, the Southern 100 Club stressed that “the safety of competitors, spectators, marshals, and officials remains the absolute priority”, adding that officials are carrying out “a thorough review of the situation”.
The club also confirmed it is examining whether “specific regulatory modifications” could be introduced through an official event bulletin to allow the class to continue safely. However, it stopped short of outlining what those changes might involve.
For now, competitors and fans are being left waiting for a final decision, with organisers promising a “definitive update” in due course.
The uncertainty leaves one of road racing’s most traditional classes facing difficult questions at two of the Isle of Man’s biggest events in the same season. And while nobody appears to be talking about the end of sidecars altogether, it’s clear that 2026 could become a turning point in how the class is run going forward.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
