Laidlow joy and Blackstock/Rosney heartbreak at OPAL Fabrication Brands Finale
There could be no better place for the closing round than the Grand Prix Circuit at Brands Hatch. Steeped in sidecar tradition, this finale attracted a full entry including current world championship runners. The weather conditions were perfect for free practice and qualifying on Friday, which took place in glorious autumn sunshine.
The commercial partner for this round was Gravesend-based OPAL Fabrication, promoting their environmentally friendly Temporary Access System, a modular re-usable method of steps and ramps for all purposes. This system negates constant re-manufacturing and duplication of processes, thereby saving on material and energy.
Qualifying
Twenty-four outfits made an impressive display as qualifying got underway, with the sun glinting on smart bodywork in a glorious array of colours. Early fast starters included Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes, who have probably covered more laps round Brands than anyone else in an illustrious career.
Main series contenders Sam and Jack Laidlow, along with the Christie brothers Sam and Tom also hit the top of the table in the early stages.
Mid-way through the session and Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau came to within one second of Todd Ellis’s lap record to record provisional pole position. That time was not to be beaten so there they stayed. The surprise package of Luke Williams, partnered by Bennie Streur’s world championship passenger Kevin Kolsch leapt second fastest in the closing stages pushing the Christies and Reeves/Wilkes third and fourth respectively. Williams, having amicably parted company with Jason Pitt, was undecided as to passenger choice ahead of the 2025 season, but declared Kolsch to be “exceptional”.
The Laidlow brothers shared row three with series rivals Lewis Blackstock and Paddy Rosney. Row four featured the Holden family, with George pipping his father John by half a second.
Race One
By complete contrast from qualifying, the weather was much colder with heavy rain having fallen mid-afternoon ahead of Saturday’s ten lap race. By the time the sidecars formed up however, the wind had changed direction, and the track was drying rapidly. From the lights the chase down to Paddock Hill Bend saw Harry Payne/Kevin Rousseau edged out by the #91 of Luke Williams/Kevin Kolsch with Harry Payne under pressure from Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes as Lewis Blackstock/Paddy Rosney slotted into third. On the exit from Graham Hill bend, a slight coming together between Reeves and Payne put the Steinhausen bike of Payne wide and almost onto the grass. They had then to recover themselves and set about doing exactly that.
There were five outfits scrapping behind the three at the front, with Sam and Tom Christie being chased by a determined Sam and Jack Laidlow, George Holden/Oscar Lawrence, Rob Biggs and Ferry Segers and John Holden/Justin Sharp.
This very busy battle almost stole the thunder of the three out in front and then suddenly, the Crowe Brothers were in the mix. In the second half of the race. Ryan and Callum Crowe were ultra-fast, carving their way through the pack in fine style. They were to finish fourth, but some eighteen seconds behind Blackstock and Rosney. The irony is that they were later penalised for breaking control tyre regulations and excluded from the results, as were Brian Gray/Frankie Muldoon and Billy Pearson/ and Jon Restall.
Meanwhile, Paul and Tim Kirby had gone into the gravel early in the race, as indeed had Harry Payne in his quest to make amends for the lap one incident. At the front though, a fantastic battle ensues as Tim Reeves made his way past Blackstock and Rosney to stalk the race leaders Williams/Kolsch.
Choosing his moment perfectly, Reeves moved up the inside of Williams going into Stirlings, and the job was done. This was Tim Reeves of old, and it was good to see. Blackstock’s third place closed him to within half a point of the Laidlow brothers going into the final race on Sunday.
Result
1/ Tim Reeves/Mark Wilkes (Carl Cox Motorsport/H&S Contractors Yamaha)
2/ Luke Williams/Kevin Kolsch (MA Timber/AQ Logistics Yamaha)
3/ Lewis Blackstock/Paddy Rosney DHR Yamaha)
4/ Sam/Jack Laidlow (Express Tyres/Pendragon Services Yamaha)
5/ Rob Biggs/Ferry Segers (Express Tyres/Santander Salt Yamaha)
6/ George Holden/Oscar Lawrence (Holden Racing Kawasaki)
7/ Andy Peach/Ken Edwards (Lifesafety Yamaha)
8/ Sam/Tom Christie (Hannafin Yamaha)
9/ John Holden/Justin Sharp (Holden Racing Yamaha)
10/ Phil Bell/Phil Hyde (Marin Motorsports Yamaha).
Race Two
Sunday dawned bright and very cold, with no rain forecast. If what lay ahead of us was anything like as close as race one, then we were in for a treat. All eyes would be on the battle at the top of the standings and that would be between Blackstock/Rosney and the Laidlow brothers.
In clear, dry conditions, the lights went out and from row two, Blackstock and Rosney shot through into the lead from Reeves and Williams. As the leaders headed down through Paddock Hill Bend, a crash at the back of the field took out Charlie Moss/Ady Hope and Billy Pearson Jon Restall, with the red flag immediately shown. The latter team were transported to the medical centre for further examination.
The restart was over eight frantic laps, with Blackstock/Rosney once again working their magic with a flying start. Reeves and Williams went with them, while the Laidlow brothers had to make do with fifth into Druids, before moving fourth on lap two. Rob Biggs gave them a hard time in the early stages along with George Holden/Oscar Lawrence. The Kawasaki duo was in the pound seats to move third in the standings.
What ensued was an utterly enthralling race at the front, complimented by a charge by the Laidlow brothers and an amazing fight through by Harry Payne and Kevin Rousseau.
Reeves took Blackstock, and then a mistake by Lewis as he tried to get the place back allowed Williams by. Suddenly the title battle was right there on track with Blackstock needing to finish ahead of Laidlow to claim the championship. Laidlow knew it and threw the kitchen sink at getting by.
Meanwhile, Payne and Rousseau were taking place after place on their Steinhausen Yamaha, setting the fastest lap in doing so. They were just one second off Todd Ellis’s lap record set in 2022. Into the final lap, and Lewis Blackstock all but had it won, until a mechanical fault stole his dream, and with it the title.
At the same time, Harry Payne made it to the front, and Tim Reeves retired with a mechanical problem. The drama, disappointment and utter sense of occasion was palpable, as Sam and Jack Laidlow, the youngsters from Cumbria celebrated their first British Championship title. They had burst onto the scene last season, but in their first full season’s onslaught, were successful. Ryan and Callum Crowe made up for their race one disappointment with another strong showing, making it through the field to claim fifth place as they came to terms with the long bike. One could not feel anything but pity and compassion for the valiant Lewis Blackstock and Paddy Rosney, as they reflected on what might have been. The title has eluded them for so long, and this should have been the year it came home.
In the Cup class standings, the Laidlow brothers were unbeaten, whilst Paul and Tom Kirby were safely in second place. They could not be touched, but the Centurion Honda LCR of Craig Clarke and Peter Ensor recorded third place after a best race result of third in class at Knockhill, and no fewer than nine fourth place finishes over the course of the season. They were sixteen points clear of the Lifesafety Yamaha of Andy Peach and Ken Edwards.
Result
1/ Payne/Rousseau
2/ Williams/Kolsch
3/ Laidlow/Laidlow
4/ Holden/Lawrence
5/ Crowe/Crowe
6/ Holden/Sharp
7/ Biggs/Segers,
8/ Bell/Hyde
9/ Peach/Edwards
10/ Cable/Richardson.
Final Championship Positions
1/ Laidlow/Llaidlow
2/ Blackstock/Rosney
3/Holden/Lawrence
4/ Kershaw/Charlwood/Clark/Sharp
5/ Biggs/Segers
6/ Kirby/Kirby
7/ Holden/Gordon/Sharp
8/ Christie/Christie
9/ Williams/Pitt/Kolsch
10/ Clarke/Ensor.
Cup Class standings
1/ Laidlow/Laidlow
2/ Kirby/Kirby
3/ Clarke/Ensor
4/ Peach/Edwards
5/ Atkinson/Smith
6/ Bell/Hyde
7/ Pottinger/Dodds
8/ Bell/Colbrook
9/ Stevens/Stevens
10/ Moss/Hope.
Both races were covered by Eurosport for the Eurosport App and highlights will follow on our Youtube channel. Catch that, and all other news as it happens on www.britishsidecarchampionship.co.uk.