Isle of Man TT Races: Ben Birchall, the 14-time TT winner, pairs up with Mark Wilkes for a refreshed assault on the Mountain Course at the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races.
The pairing will campaign the Hager/Wyckham Blackwell LCR Honda in both Motul Sidecar TT races, with a programme built around refinement and performance gains following targeted improvements made over the winter, on the proven LCR Honda package. Now with Wilkes in the chair, the aim is to build throughout practice and qualifying, then re-establish themselves at the front of the field in the race week.
Birchall’s TT legacy is firmly established. Since making his debut in 2009 alongside brother Tom, the Nottinghamshire pairing became the dominant force in modern sidecar racing on the Mountain Course. A first victory in 2013 was followed by a double in 2015, before an extraordinary run of 11 consecutive wins from the second race of 2016 through to 2023. That era of dominance also saw continual progression in outright pace, culminating in the first-ever 120mph sidecar lap of the 37.73 mile course in 2023, with benchmark laps of 120.357mph and 120.645mph recorded across the two races.
Following Tom Birchall’s retirement at the end of 2023, Ben has worked to rebuild a competitive package capable of returning to the top step. In 2024, he partnered French passenger Kevin Rousseau, recovering from an early practice spill to secure second place in race two with a 119mph+ lap. In 2025, Patrick Rosney joined for a full campaign, the duo delivering two second-place finishes behind Ryan and Callum Crowe, underlining Birchall’s continued competitiveness at the highest level.
Mark Wilkes brings his own pedigree to the line-up. Making his TT debut in 2017 alongside Tim Reeves, he immediately impressed with a fifth-place finish and a 114.793mph lap – at the time the fastest ever by a newcomer passenger. The pairing progressed rapidly, recording two third-place finishes in 2018 at close to 118mph, before securing the FIM Sidecar World Championship title in 2019. Wilkes has since added multiple top-six TT finishes and, in 2025, partnered newcomer George Holden to two sixth-place results, demonstrating consistency and adaptability on the Mountain Course.
The combination of Birchall’s experience and Wilkes’ proven speed signals a clear intent: a return to winning ways. With the Crowe brothers having claimed the last four TT victories, the competitive benchmark remains high, but Birchall believes the elements are now aligned.
Ben Birchall said: “We’ve worked hard over the winter to make sure everything is in place for this year, and bringing Mark on board is a big part of that. We have been riding together since the end of last year, and we clicked instantly. Since then, we’ve put lots of mileage in and been across to the Island together in preparation for the TT. His experience speaks for itself, and the aim is simple – to get back to the top step of the podium.”
Mark Wilkes: “It’s a huge opportunity to be alongside Ben and one I’m really motivated for. The TT is the ultimate test and we’ve already put a lot of work in ahead of this year. I’m focused on doing everything I can to help us challenge at the front.”
Improvements to the LCR Honda and Wilkes now on board, Birchall is feeling the most comfortable, and confident, since Tom retired and go into the 2026 campaign with a renewed and credible bid to reclaim victory at the Isle of Man TT. The benchmark may be higher than ever, but the ambition remains unchanged.
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©Words/Images above are from an official press release posted courtesy Isle of Man TT Races
For more Isle of Man TT Races news head to our dedicated page: Isle of Man TT Races News Home Page
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What are the Isle of Man TT Races
There are very few sporting events in the world with the tradition, heritage, and prestige of the Isle of Man TT Races. Despite being the world’s oldest continuous motorsports event, the TT remains, however, as fascinating and relevant today – continuously inspiring new generations of riders to come and race the Mountain Course.
Largely unchanged since 1911, the 37.73 miles of public roads simply capture the imagination like no other motorcycling venue can. The TT Course, whilst difficult to learn, is even harder to master – requiring immense levels of skill and concentration as speeds nudge an incredible 200mph.
2026 TT Schedule is available at – https://www.iomttraces.com/racing/page/schedule/
In June 2025, it was announced that Amazon MGM Studios had picked up a film and docuseries package centred on the Isle of Man TT Races. The feature film is being produced by Free Association, Plan B and Entertainment 360, with Channing Tatum and Eve Hewson attached to star and Reid Carolin directing. More information can be found:
https://www.iomttraces.com/latest/news/amazon-tt-film-docuseries/Discover TT+
TT+ is the official digital home of the Isle of Man TT Races – offering free, year-round access to the world’s greatest road racing event. Fans can enjoy an ever-growing library of exclusive original content, interviews, as well as over 30 years of archive race highlights.
TT+ brings viewers closer than ever to the riders, machines, and stories that define the TT. Available online and across smart TVs, mobile devices, and tablets, TT+ transforms how fans around the world experience the Mountain Course.
Access TT+ free at – ttplus.iomttraces.com/
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