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2 weeks Ago By John Watterson
Former Isle of Man resident Harry Payne is the 2024 FIM Sidecar World Champion. The 32-year-old was based in the island for almost seven years, from mid-2016 to early 2023, when he moved to the Continent in a serious bid to further his world championship dream. He and Frenchman Kevin Rousseau, who passengered for Ben Birchall in this year’s TT, ride for the Steinhausen Racing team.
Interestingly it is 49 years since team principal Rolf Steinhausen won his first world title, at the same age as Payne now. Payne and Rousseau were in the mix for the title all season, but it was only decided in the final few metres of the last round at Estoril in Portugal on Sunday. Only seven points separated the two top teams of Marcus Schlosser/Luca Schmidt and Payne/Rousseau going into the meeting.
The 4.182km circuit had been kind to both drivers in the past. Schlosser sealed the 2021 world championship title there and Payne won his first GP race at the venue in the same year.
The season-long contest came down to a last round fight and it was Payne/Rousseau who drew first blood by topping the practice and qualifying leaderboard on their 600cc Yamaha powered machine. Starting from pole position, the Steinhausen Racing duo took the honours in the 10-lap sprint race, reducing the championship deficit to only two points with one race to go. With everything on the line in a winner-takes-all scenario, it was a thrilling duel throughout with the two crews swapping places multiple times.
It all came down to a last-lap drag race to the line with Payne/Rousseau snatching victory by 0.053 seconds. This in turn won them 2024 Sidecar World Championship by a mere two points.
It’s been a long road to the top for Harry, who starting competing in motorcycle trials at the age of 10. He went on to race sidecar motocross as a passenger from the age of 18, and moved into road racing at the age of 23. He then worked his way up the ladder, winning international events as a passenger.
Harry also competed in a number of local sidecar trials shortly after moving to the island. Harry only began driving sidecars four years ago, in the midst of the Covid pandemic. His first success was winning the Isle of Man Centre ACU Sidecar Championship at Jurby in 2020 with Olly Lace in the chair, advancing on to the FSRA British F2 Cup in 2021 with Mark Wilkes, and now the FIM Sidecar World Championship.
He would like to thank everybody that has helped him in his racing career, with special thanks to his local sponsors Team Cubby and EICS Electrical of Douglas. JOHN WATTERSON.
