The Birchall team is making a lineup change for this weekend’s upcoming FIM Superside races in Assen. British rider Callum Crowe will replace Tom Birchall and will line up as co-driver alongside Ben Birchall.
The Birchall brothers’ sidecar team (Wyckham Blackwell by Birchall/LCR Honda) is back in the running for the next world championship title, albeit with a new lineup. Just under two weeks ago, the two riders were involved in an accident following a collision with Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes (Bonovo Action Team/ARS Yamaha), causing the Birchalls’ sidecar to roll over and land upside down off the track. Both riders were injured. While Ben Birchall received medical treatment at the Red Bull Ring and suffered burns to his back, Tom Birchall underwent an examination at the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a severe ligament injury in his right shoulder.
After a break of just under two weeks, the action is set to resume in Assen. However, passenger Tom Birchall still needs more time to recover. “My shoulder is still too severely affected, so I’m not able to ride,” explains the 36-year-old, adding: “But it’s important to us to stay in the fight for the championship, which is why we’ve brought in Callum Crowe as a replacement,” he says, explaining the team’s decision.
In any case, Ben Birchall has an experienced passenger by his side in Callum Crowe. Together with his brother Ryan Crowe, he has been active in sidecar racing for years. In 2019, the sons of five-time TT winner Nick Crowe made their debut at the TT races on the Isle of Man and have already made it onto the podium there several times.
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Birchall will field a new lineup for the upcoming FIM Superside races this weekend in Assen. British rider Callum Crowe will take Tom Birchall’s place on the grid and will be co-driving with Ben Birchall.
The Birchall brothers (Wyckham Blackwell by Birchall/LCR Honda) are back in the running for the next world championship title, albeit in a new lineup. Just two weeks ago, the two riders crashed after a collision with Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (Bonovo Action Team/ARS Yamaha), causing the Birchalls’ sidecar team to roll over and land upside down next to the track. Both riders were injured. While Ben Birchall was still receiving medical treatment at the Red Bull Ring and suffered burns to his back, Tom Birchall underwent a check-up at the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a severe ligament injury in his right shoulder.
With just a few days to go before the next races, things are now set to resume in Assen. Co-driver Tom Birchall, however, still needs time to recover. “My shoulder is still too badly injured, so I’m not in a position to ride,” explains the 36-year-old, adding, “But it’s important for us to keep the fight for the championship alive, which is why we chose Callum Crowe as a replacement,” he says, explaining the team’s decision.
With Callum Crowe, Ben Birchall has an experienced co-driver by his side in any case. Together with his brother Ryan Crowe, he has been competing in sidecar racing for years. In 2019, the sons of five-time TT winner Nick Crowe made their debut at the TT races on the Isle of Man and have already made it onto the podium there several times.