The Isle of Man TT organizers have seeded the top 10 sidecar teams for the 2025 event, with practice sessions scheduled for May 31 and June 4 on the TT course. According to officials, Ryan and Callum Crowe lead the seedings after dominating the 2024 season, while practice dates align with the Supersport TT race start to prepare teams for qualifying.
Ryan and Callum Crowe have been seeded as the top sidecar team for the 2025 Isle of Man TT, following their dominant performance in the 2024 season, officials confirmed. The Crowes, racing on the Opul Solutions/Kelproperties LCR Honda, secured the number one seed after setting a new lap record of 121.021 mph and winning both Race 1 and Race 2 in 2025, according to TT organizers. Their 2025 Race 1 victory was by a margin of 1 minute 17.6 seconds over Ben Birchall and Patrick Rosney, who hold the second seed on the Hager LCR Honda team. Birchall and Rosney, with Rosney newly partnered as passenger replacing Kevin Rousseau, recorded the fastest lap of 116.713 mph in Race 2 and finished second in both races, sources confirmed.
Ryan and Callum Crowe, racing on the Opul Solutions/Kelproperties LCR Honda, secured the number one seed after setting a new lap record of 121.021 mph and winning both Race 1 and Race 2 in 2025, according to TT organizers.
Pete Founds and Jevan Walmsley, seven-time podium finishers, are seeded third on the DDM Honda under the AWB Engineering banner, maintaining their position as consistent challengers in the sidecar class. Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie, racing for Team ARC/SJH Bodyworks LCR Kawasaki, are seeded fourth after achieving a best finish of fifth place in the 2024 event. Lewis Blackstock and Oscar Lawrence, newcomers to the partnership with Lawrence replacing Patrick Rosney from the previous year, earned the fifth seed on the Dave Holden Racing LCR Yamaha following their top-10 experience in 2024.
Practice sessions for the sidecar teams are scheduled for May 31 and June 4, aligning with the Supersport TT race start, officials said. The May 31 session coincides with the beginning of the 2025 TT qualifying week and is critical for determining the starting order, as the sidecar seedings are based on qualifying positions rather than previous results. The June 4 practice session is part of the ongoing preparation for the qualifying rounds that follow. Records from 2024 show that sidecar practice took place on May 31, setting a precedent for the 2025 schedule.
Additional seeded teams include Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement at sixth seed, who finished fourth in the 2024 Race 1 with an average speed of 114.102 mph. Steve and Matty Ramsden, seeded seventh on the Ramsden Racing/RS Motorcycles LCR Honda, maintain their standing from 2024. John Saunders and Vicky Cooke, entering the top 10 for 2025 at eighth seed, bring experience with multiple podium finishes in the class. Gary and Daryl Gibson hold the ninth seed, while Stephen Kershaw and Rhys Gibbons close out the top 10, with Gibbons having raced alongside Alan Founds in 2024.
The 2025 sidecar races saw Ryan and Callum Crowe extend their winning streak with a second race victory by 1 minute 8.903 seconds, again followed by Birchall and Rosney in second place and Crawford and Hardie in third. Birchall’s switch to Rosney as passenger marked a significant team change from 2024, when Birchall partnered with Kevin Rousseau. Meanwhile, Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clement, former World Champions, continued to demonstrate competitive form with their consistent performances.
The 2024 sidecar top seed had been Ben Birchall and Kevin Rousseau, who accumulated 14 TT wins together, according to historical records. Ryan and Callum Crowe were seeded third in 2024 before rising to the top spot for 2025 after their double victories. Other notable 2024 seeds included Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley in second, Tim Reeves and Mark Wilkes in fourth, and John Holden and Frank Claeys rounding out the top five.
Officials emphasize that the qualifying positions earned during the practice week will finalize the starting grid for the 2025 sidecar races. This approach differs from other classes, where seedings may be influenced by previous results or championship standings. The practice sessions on May 31 and June 4 are therefore essential for teams to secure favorable starting positions ahead of the main races.
The Isle of Man TT continues to attract top sidecar teams from across the world, with changes in team lineups and emerging partnerships contributing to the evolving competitive landscape. The upcoming practice sessions will provide further insights into team preparations and potential race outcomes as the 2025 event approaches.
