From a press release:
SIDECAR TT JOY FOR FISHER
Rob Fisher made it into the record books with a ninth Isle of Man TT victory in Saturday evening’s opening, three-lap sidecar race.
The Cumbrian drive joins three other drivers on nine wins Mick Boddice, Dave Saville and Siegfried Schauzu as the most successful sidecar men around the 37.73-mile mountain circuit.
Fisher and passenger Rick Long took victory by 21 seconds from Ian Bell and Neil Carpenter with Bell slowing his pace after hitting a kerb at the Laurel Bank section of the circuit on the opening lap.
Pre-race favourite Dave Molyneux took fourth but the seven times winner was in trouble before the race after his passenger Colin Hardman was involved in a road accident just hours before the race.
“Colin¹s right hand is a mess,” said Molyneux. “I knew he was in pain during the race but there was nothing I could do. At least we got to the finish and that’s credit to Colin’s courage.”
Sidecar TT result (three laps 113.19 miles):
1. Rob Fisher/Rick Long, GB, (Yamaha) 1hr 01m 25.9s, 110.55 mph
2. Ian Bell/Neil Carpenter, GB, (Yamaha), 1hr 01m 46.0s, 109.95 mph
3. Gary Horspole/Kevin Leigh, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 06.6s, 109.34 mph
4. Dave Molyneux/Colin Hardman, GB, (Honda) 1hr 02m 17.1s, 109.03 mph
5. Roy Hanks/Dave Wells, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 02m 57.5s , 107.87 mph
6. Ben Dixon/Mark Lambert, GB (Honda), 1hr 03m 05.3s, 107.64 mph
7. Phillip Dongworth/Stuart Castles, GB (Kawasaki), 1hr 03m 13.6s ,107.41 mph
8. Steve Norbury/Andrew Smith, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 44.5s, 106.54 mph
9. Mick Harvey/Stephen Thomas, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 03m 55.4s, 106.24 mph
10. Kenny Howles/Doug Jewell, GB (Yamaha), 1hr 04m 04.8s, 105.98 mph