World Sidecar champion Tim Reeves set the track alight when he and passenger Patrick Farrance rode to a fantastic third place on his first assault of the Isle of Man TT course on Saturday.

Already acclaimed as recording the fastest ever lap by a newcomer in the sidecar class during practice week, the Kent world champion upped the anti even more in Saturday’s race, posting a fastest lap of 111.606mph on the second of the three laps.

Saturday’s race result made a little bit of history As Reeves and Farrance recorded the first podium finish by a newcomer in the sidecar class since Jock Taylor in 1978. As they passed the Glen Helen check point they were clocked as being in third place but Phil Dongworth was right with him, just two seconds separating the pair.

The battle for third place continued throughout the lap and Reeves’ advantage was reduced to less than half a second as they headed over the mountain mile.

But Tim responded and upped his pace to stretch the gap to two and a half seconds, which he maintained to cross the finish line in third place.

“To get on the podium in my first TT race tops anything else I have ever achieved, including my world championship wins. I am over the moon with this result", said Tim.