FIM/IDM Sidecar: Payne/Rousseau Set the Pace

In the first qualifying session of the FIM/IDM Sidecar series at the TT Circuit of Assen on Friday afternoon, Harry Payne and Kevin Rousseau (Steinhausen Racing/ARS Yamaha) continued the strong form they had already demonstrated in Spielberg. On the sixth lap, the duo set the fastest time of 1:45.171 minutes, a mark that no one else was able to match during practice. “It went really well for us, and we were already able to set up the sidecar just right for the track,” said Payne with satisfaction. With the fastest lap time, the Brit and his experienced passenger Rousseau can head into the second qualifying session on Saturday morning with confidence as they vie for the final pole position.

Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes (Team Bonovo Action Team/ARS Yamaha) were the second-fastest. They led the field for the first four laps but then pulled into the pit lane to make some minor adjustments to the sidecar. Although they were able to improve their time afterward, they ultimately finished 0.089 seconds behind Payne’s time.

Trailing by more than half a second, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (Team Ellis/Clement/LCR Yamaha) temporarily moved into third place, followed by Sam and Tom Christie (Hannafing Racing/LCR Yamaha) and Stephen Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood (Kershaw Racing/LCR Yamaha) in fifth.

Ben Birchall finished the first timed practice session in sixth place with his stand-in passenger, Callum Crowe (Wyckham Blackwell by Birchall). Crowe stepped in for Tom Birchall, who injured his shoulder in the accident at Spielberg. For the Briton, who has known the Birchall brothers since childhood, this is his first time racing at the Assen circuit.

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In the first qualifying session of the FIM/IDM Sidecar at the TT Circuit of Assen on Friday afternoon, Harry Payne and Kevin Rousseau (Steinhausen Racing/ARS Yamaha) continued the strong form they had already shown in Spielberg. On the sixth lap, the duo set the fastest time of 1:45.171 minutes, a mark that no one else in practice was able to beat. “It went really well for us, and we were already able to set up the bike properly for the track,” said Payne. With the fastest lap time, the Briton and his experienced co-driver Rousseau can head into the second qualifying session on Saturday morning with confidence, when the final pole position will be up for grabs.

Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes (Team Bonovo Action Team/ARS Yamaha) were the second-fastest. They led the field for the first four laps, but then pulled into the pit lane to make some minor adjustments to the sidecar. Although they were able to improve their time afterward, they ultimately finished 0.089 seconds behind Payne’s time.

More than half a second behind, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement (Team Ellis/Clement/LCR Yamaha) temporarily settled into third place, followed by Sam and Tom Christie (Hannafing Racing/LCR Yamaha) and Stephen Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood (Kershaw Racing/LCR Yamaha) in fifth.

For Ben Birchall, the first timed practice session ended with a sixth-place finish alongside his substitute co-driver Callum Crowe (Wyckham Blackwell by Birchall). Crowe stepped in for Tom Birchall, who was sidelined with a shoulder injury following the Spielberg accident. For the Briton, who has known the Birchall brothers since childhood, this marks his first time racing at the Assen circuit.

World Championship/IDM Sidecar, Qualifying 1: