Dave Molyneux, the most successful sidecar driver in Isle of Man TT racing history, has announced his retirement from the sport.
Dave Molyneux is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest Isle of Man TT Sidecar drivers of all time, if not the best.
The statistics certainly back that up, with the Manx hero winning a record 17 races and finishing on 31 podiums since his debut in 1985.
It could have been even more if he hadn’t taken time off for the Grand Prix and European tour.
Molyneux, like fellow three-wheel innovator Rolf Biland, may have achieved even greater success if he hadn’t spent so much time tinkering in his Regaby workshop, continually striving for perfection around the Mountain Course with his own DMR creation.
Of course, the chassis that he has constantly modified has played an important role in his success, as well as that of numerous other drivers.
Employing sidecar technology and theories ahead of their time on the island, Molyneux’s engineering skills are second to none, with some of his space-age-looking costumes combining with his own blistering speed and brilliance to continually smash records and leave others behind in his wake.
Molyneux once dominated TT racing, and his adaptability knows no bounds, having won in the Open and F2 eras with Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki engines. Even now, more than 30 years after his debut, he continues to seek fresh and innovative ways to defeat his opponents.
However, Molyneux’s last few Isle of Man TT campaigns have not gone as planned, and until TT 2024, his last podium finish is in 2017 – and his last triumph is in 2014, a decade later.
Reliability concerns and passenger changes have held him back, and in 2019, he replaced his original DMR chassis with an LCR after more than 25 years.
He returned to his own design in 2022, powered by the 890cc KTM, and finished fourth twice before retiring twice in 2023.
Undaunted, he returned in 2024, and while some ingredients had recently been missing from his arsenal, all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and he signed off in style with a final podium, accompanied by his godson Jake Roberts.
All of this has been accomplished while overcoming sorrow, as his father, John, a top passenger in the 1970s, died with driver George Oates at the 1977 Ulster Grand Prix, making Dave’s story even more respectable and a testament to the family name.
Paul Phillips, Head of Motorsport, added: “Dave is unquestionably one of the greatest competitors the TT has ever seen. His will to win has always been balanced by his ability to develop, and he has been at the forefront of sidecar racing for decades.
“I’ve known Dave my entire life, and he has been a huge help to me personally during my time working on the TT, offering guidance and support for which I will be eternally thankful.
“Seeing him finish on the podium at this year’s TT was a highlight, and it’s nice to see a true living legend go on such a high note. He leaves the tournament with an impressive legacy for current and future champions to strive toward.”
