Privateer Formula 2 Sidecar driver John Holden and passenger Andy Winkle recorded their finest results so far after finishing runner-up in both Race A & B at the TT races held on the Isle of Man last week.

John, from Whalley is a F2 Sidecar veteran and has been competing in the class since 1979.

He briefly competed in the F1 class, winning a European event, but prefers Formula 2 and has finished runner-up in the British Championship twice. He currently leads this year's British title race after three rounds.

Hiolden is also a regular on the Isle of Man.

"This is my 14th year racing in the TT, it's a truly awesome place to race at the 33-mile circuit. It has everything, from fast straights and corners to slow hair-pins and crests. Couple this to the incredible speeds and you have an amazing experience" he said.

Recognised worldwide, the event sees a week of individual practice sessions for all of the different categories competing, followed by a week of racing, which involves the riders starting at intervals and whoever completes the race distance in the shortest time wins.

Holden said: "Saturday's first practice went very well, we had no problems. On the following Monday, we set the second fastest time in our session, lapping at an average of 110 mph.

"From then on, we just concentrated on getting our settings right for the race."

The first race should have been on the Saturday but was postponed until Monda due to bad weather.

In the first race over three laps, Holden was quickest after laps one and two, but lost a small amount of time passing an incident on the final circuit and dropped a few vital seconds which enabled the Honda Works driver Dave Molyneux to overhaul them.

His time was just 6.2secs quicker."

Holden said: "I was both gutted and elated at the same time - some people are happy just to finish but to stand on the rostrum was a great achievement."

In Wednesday's Race B, Lady Luck was definitely on Molyneux's side.

Holden added: "He was replacing his dashboard on the startline, and there was a 15-minute delay due to a dog on the circuit. That allowed him to finalise his repairs and he would eventually go on to take victory.

"We were going great guns and holding onto third in the race. Manxman Nick Crowe was leading but just after he broke the outright lap record with an average of 116mph his engine blew up and we were elevated to second.

"One of my goals was to complete a sub 1min20s lap which we did by a good eight seconds but we couldn't match Dave's times and had to settle for second step on the podium again."

This weekend, John is competing in the British leg of the European F2 Sidecar Championship at Pembrey, South Wales.

He would like to thank his many family and friends for all their support as well as Dave and Alice Walmsley, David Johnson Builders Clitheroe, James Alpe Accident & Repair Centre Clitheroe, Gordon Birtwistle from Proflex and Performance Engine Tuner, Tony Holmes from Blackburn.