MELKSHAM, UK, 16 June, 2017 – Avon Tyres continued to support both sidecar and solo entrants at the world-famous Isle of Man TT in 2017, dominating the podium in both of the sidecar races with all of the podium places taken by Avon-shod outfits.
The first sidecar race, delayed for 48 hours due to bad weather, saw an imperious performance from brothers Ben and Tom Birchall. The Mansfield pair are used to TT glory on Avon tyres, and led the three-lap race from the start, breaking their own lap record along the way with a 117.119mph lap on their second circuit of the Mountain Course. John Holden and Lee Cain reeled in Dave Molyneux and Dan Sayle and that is how they finished to take second and third place.
The Birchalls made it two wins from two when the second sidecar race ran on the last day of the TT schedule on 9 June. Holden and Cain took another second place on the podium, while Conrad Harrison and Andy Winkle snapped up the third place step.
Away from the three-wheelers, Avon rider Timothee Monot had another successful TT fortnight, taking 12th place in the Lightweight TT, just a couple of days after finishing 36th in the super-challenging Supersport race. Monot heads back over the channel with two Bronze Replicas for his efforts – and will return again later this year for more, competing in the Classic TT.
As well as supporting its racers, the Avon Motorsport team was celebrating an anniversary – 60 years since the first 100mph TT lap was achieved, by the legendary Bob McIntyre on a four-cylinder Gilera 500, fitted with Avon tyres. A replica of the bike was on show at the TT VIP Tent, on Avon Speedmaster and GP rubber. “What a stunning machine,” commented Avon Tyres Brand Ambassador Steve Parrish. “They were proper heroes back then. One of the reasons I think he went so fast was the enormous dustbin fairing. Eventually these fairings did get banned as they were so big, and on a windy day really could blow you off the track.”
Avon Tyres has also raised over £2,000 for the Down’s Syndrome Association from the production and sale of limited edition t-shirts, designed in celebration of the 60 year anniversary.
The Avon team is now back in Melksham, Wiltshire, for a short break before the Classic TT in August.
