Motorcycle racing isn’t always just on 2 wheels! Sidecar racing has been around almost as long as motorcycle racing, but it has evolved significantly since the early days. Originally sidecars were standard bikes with an additional platform installed on the side, but at least in terms of circuit racing from the 1950s onwards they began to evolve in what is seen today in competition, sharing more in common with open-wheel racecars than the bikes they share a powerplant with.
The “passenger” is just as integral to the success of the vehicle as the “rider”, with the significant weight imbalance meaning that the passenger has to move around on the rear of the sidecar in order to maximise performance. It’s an incredible spectacle to watch sidecars race, seeing the passengers climb from one side to the other, hanging as far over one side or the other as possible to improve the cornering speeds that can be acheived.
The British Sidecar Championship currently features an RAF team in the F2 class, with Rob Atkinson, Mark Middleton and Josh Smith (Shared duties due to deployments) all playing their parts in finding success after a dominant 2023, winning the class championship!