From a press release issued by the World Superside (Sidecar) Championship:

Ian Guy releases plans

Ian Guy, who has recently been heard as the expert voice commentating on Eurosport’s coverage of the Superside World Championship events, is eagerly looking at the possibilities for a racing return to the series next season.

Guy finished equal 5th in the 2001 Sidecar World Championship for the liveonscreen.com team partnered by Andy Peach and scored the pair’s first (and so far only) ever rostrum at world level with a 3rd place at Brands Hatch – after coming close on a number of previous occasions.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t raise enough sponsorship at the end of last season to stay with the team,” Ian explained “But whilst initially it was a real blow, I’ve actually been glad of a year out of action. I started racing seriously in 1993 (after several years retirement from club racing) with the aim of getting to the World Championships and in 1995 I started doing the European championships, finally getting into the GPs full time in ’98.

“Seven full seasons of travelling around Europe and the World was beginning to take its toll – so it’s been good to sit back this year, relax and recharge, and even have a holiday!” he reflected after returning from the Maldives recently.

But Yangi, as he’s known in the paddock, hasn’t managed to stay away from the sport.

“I went over to Monza, for a busman’s holiday to see how everybody was getting on. While I was there I got asked to do a guest commentary slot on the Octagon world TV feed, and following that was asked to do the job of roving reporter/podium interviewer at the following rounds – a sort of Suzi Perry of the sidecar world, only slightly less sexy!” laughed Ian.

By Brands Hatch, Ian was even more involved:

“I’d planned a Wildcard ride at the Brands round, but then Superside asked if I would be interested in joining Jack Burnical for the commentary on Eurosport, taking over from Niall MacKenzie for the Superside races.

“The sponsor who was going to help me decided that it would be better for me to bring some ‘articulate and expert’ commentary – not my description I hasten to add – to the World Championship events, rather than take a one-off ride that wouldn’t really prove anything.”

Ian said that although he’s very much enjoyed the TV work that, after a year out he’s keen to get back in action next year.

“The rest from competing has given me a chance to sit back and analyse my approach to the races over the past few seasons; what I could do differently to gain that final bit of performance that would get me on the rostrum regularly, and in the right circumstances, win a World Championship race. And I seriously believe that it is possible for me to do that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t bother coming back, because I’ve achieved the dream I’d had since I was about 10 years old, which was to stand on the rostrum at a World Championship race.”

Speaking about the 2001 season, Ian explained “I wasn’t particularly happy with my performance, although we were told to use it simply as a learning year with the team. 2001 was my first season on a four-stroke (after the two-stroke were outlawed at the end of 2000), and also we were coming back from a huge accident at the end of 2000, when the handlebar broke at over 130mph at Oscherleben and we ploughed into the Armco.”

Although not physically hurt in the incident, it was very nasty crash and had an effect on Ian mentally. “I was determined not to crash or have any ‘moments’ in 2001, which meant that most of the time I was riding at 95%. Even during that great scrap with Steini at Misano I had a bit in hand and knew I could beat him at the end of therace…but then the crank broke!”

And the ‘safety first approach’ was going to plan until the very last round at Imola, when Guy and Peach were forced into the gravel at 100 mph during practice to avoid the spinning Karttiala brothers. “I wanted to keep a clean sheet, but didn’t quite manage it,” said Ian with a grin.

“But I really wasn’t that happy with the GSXR-WP 1200. The motor was very powerful, but it was too heavy, with the weight high up. And as I’m built like a jockey, I struggled all year with chronic understeer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of what we achieved, but I know that if I’d been happier with the handling I could have achieved a lot more”.

Ian is therefore pleased with the move of Superside towards the 1000cc format, with the smaller, lighter engines that rely more on top end power. He explained “I’m told they handle a lot more like the old two-strokes, which suits me just fine”

The recent Superside 2003 Qualification event saw Ian back on a sidecar for the first time in 12 months.

“Andy Peach let me ride his outfit at Nogaro in France and it felt really good to be back in the cockpit again. Unfortunately the gear-change was ‘back to front’ and I kept messing it up, but I was very happy to get a decent time in only a few laps and then park it, especially as the others had been riding all year,” he said.

“It wasn’t enough time to really get a feel for the 1000 motor, but it seemed bloody quick after the seat in the commentary box I can tell you!

“I’ve been talking to a few people about next year, and there are some interesting options. And I haven’t ruled out the possibility running my own team again. But as always – whichever route I decide to take – it will come down to being able to raise enough sponsorship to cover the budget of being in a competitive team, and that’s proving difficult at the moment,” concluded Yangi.

With a lot of new teams vying for a position in the championship for 2003, stay in touch with Superside.com to see if Yangi gets a ride. Who knows, maybe he can provide a ‘special’ sort of race commentary?