Too many crashes, too dangerous: sidecars banned from the 2026 TT

On Saturday, May 30, the first of two races reserved for Sidecars was scheduled for this 2026 edition of the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.

But it will not take place, as after the first three practice sessions and two serious accidents, the organizers have decided to suspend three-wheeler activities for this year. The Sidecars will no longer tackle the Mountain Course in this TT celebrating its 115th anniversary, sparking a trail of controversy and appropriate reflections on the matter.

The decision, by no means easy and certainly not improvised, was motivated by the two serious accidents recorded so far. One involved the unlucky Maria Costello, a longtime regular (in Sidecars, but also in the Solo classes) at the TT, and the other the Crowe brothers, legitimate contenders (if not favorites) for the win. In particular, the latter accident prompted necessary considerations, confirming the dangers posed by “modern” Sidecars in action at the Isle of Man TT.

For years, Sidecars have been a point of contention in the TT race program, with their removal already being considered in recent months. To keep them on the TT schedule, regulatory limitations were imposed on engine preparation in order to curb top speeds. However, since no engine development was allowed, some competitors invested resources in aerodynamic development, resulting in rollover risks once certain speeds were reached. One of the two accidents in question (amateur videos of the event have circulated) was quite telling in this regard, with the Sidecar getting “air underneath” and effectively flipping over, much like some GT1 cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1990s.

Therefore, the Sidecars will not continue their program of activities at TT 2026, to the great regret (to put it mildly) of those involved—riders, passengers, teams, and manufacturers. They had spent over a year preparing for the TT, with significant investments, only for it all to vanish after just three days on the Isle of Man.