With the Isle of Man TT looking likely to be back next summer, we had a chat with sidecar racer Dave Molyneux, who holds an extraordinary number of TT wins and podiums, gained over his years of racing. He has 17 wins and 30 podium finishes to his name, putting him fourth on the TT all-time winners list, just a whisker behind solo racers Joey Dunlop, John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop.

He was kind enough to take some time out for a Q and A chat with us about his racing and the TT and here's what he said:

Q.  What's does your training regime look like? Do you practise much throughout the year and do you go to the gym or have a special diet to keep you in trim for racing?
A. Dan and I get out on the sidecar every three weeks or so for a practise. Apart from that I do a physical day job, so I am using heavy tools and working hard everyday anyway so I don't need to go to the gym. I am always active and keep fit that way.
Also during lockdown my wife and I bought e-mountain bikes and really got hooked on riding them, so we go out on them a lot which helps keep us fit and active, so no, no need for a special diet.

Q. How important is your mind to your overall performance when racing in the TT? Do you use any mental strategies to help or have any superstitions or lucky things which you do to before you race?
A. I think I am subconsciously preparing for the TT for 50 weeks of the year anyway. It is a demanding an unforgiving circuit and I have sometimes been accused of being too serious, but there is a need to be 100% focused when you're out there, as our lives depend on it. I find myself going particularly quiet on the morning of the race day as I marshal my resources for what's ahead, but it's not really a conscious process, it just happens. The race itself is extraordinarily demanding both mentally and physically and I feel totally mentally drained afterwards.
I don't really have any superstitions, maybe just a routine which I follow like putting my socks on in a certain order stuff like that, that's all, nothing in particular.

Q. How have you coped with practising, and in general, during Covid on the Island?
A. Club racing is very strong and flourishing on the Isle of Man and Andreas Racing Association have been great and very keen and kept racing going pretty much throughout the pandemic. In fact many people who would've probably gone off the Island to race before, stayed home and raced in our local clubs instead, so there's been a very active racing scene here really.
Finally now, the racing world looks as though it's getting back to normal and the TT should be good to go next summer which is really great news as we have all really missed it here.
Maybe the most difficult thing has been being trapped on the island without being able to get off and travel – it's been hard not to suffer from cabin fever, it's a small island with not much to do. In fact it's the first time I've been exclusively on the island, without travelling to the mainland regularly, for many years so that has been a challenge.

Q. You have used many different bikes over the years in your sidecar racing career, how have you found that? Are you generally a person who can adapt easily or has it been a struggle changing machines? And how is the new KTM coming on?
A. I really enjoy a challenge so I actively like changing bikes and trying to be successful on each different machine. I grew up in the 1970s, in the days when sidecars could have any old engine in them, like a powerboat engine for example and could look weird and wonderful. I like to try new things and for things to be different, so when I was younger and was successful on a Honda for example, I stuck to the formula for a while, but as I got older I decided to challenge myself on different machines. So after winning on a Honda and noticing that no one had won on a Suzuki yet, I thought right well I'll go over to a Suzuki and try and win on that – and so on, through many different makes of bikes.
My latest venture on a KTM 2 cylinder bike is really to try and salvage the class because numbers are suffering due to lack of revenue for sidecars.
Manufacturers have stopped making 600 solo class bikes, so it seems like time to move over to 900cc twin cylinder machines which many manufacturers are still making. Basically I want to try it because no one else will and I have to say the KTM has really been exceptionally good. It may even be the machine to save our class, it's cheaper and its performance is outstanding. I'm looking forward to the TT on it more than anything!

Q. Do you have a big team behind you or do you do your own spannering? I know you have a business building sidecars yourself.
A. I build the sidecar chassis myself, with only a few bits coming from other small engineering companies, but mostly it's all me, no staff. I use a local company, Slick Performance, for some help with rebuilds if needed and Dan, my sidecar passenger helps and is the only other team member. It's mostly just us two and never more than four people, a very small team.

Q. (From Paul) Is it true that you steer a sidecar outfit by opening and closing the throttle?
A. Sidecars tend to be very complex machines, but I really think the simpler they are, the better. I would say they need a different level of skill to ride successfully and I do tend to use the throttle to drift the outfit round corners but it is really instinctive. Basically, you learn it as you go along, it becomes intuitive and you don't really know how you're doing it, your instincts and reflexes take over and sometimes, when you watch a race back afterwards, you wonder how you did it!
The passenger is very important too and controls the wheel spin so it's really a team operation. I like an old fashioned riding style and pitch the bike and send it into a slide as second nature when required.

Q. Are you looking forward to racing and getting back out there next year, or have you enjoyed the peace?
A. I can't wait to get back out there racing again, it's my chosen thing, I love it. I am Isle of Man born and bred and the TT is the biggest draw and the biggest challenge on the island so I am really looking forward to racing again and putting the KTM through its paces.

Q. You've had a truly amazing illustrious racing career for many years, what keeps you fresh in this demanding sport?
A. I always have a desire to move on and try something new. As I mentioned earlier, when I started racing I stuck to things for a lot longer when I was winning, but now I 'm just always looking for the next challenge and wanting to try something fresh. People have asked me - why do you want to change things when it's working for you and you're winning - but it's not just all about winning over and over again with the same set up, I am seeking the challenge of trying something different, even if it means I might not win.
That's why I've moved over to the KTM. I spent two years researching it and negotiated to be allowed to use it, the ACU weren't that keen on the idea, but the Isle of Man authorities were very open minded and agreed.
Currently Yamaha has ceased production of 600cc machines, which luckily I predicted, so something new is now required, as to get second hand 600 engines is extortionate, so the move to the KTM will make it affordable again and may just save the class.
At the moment I'm half way to hopefully being competitive on a new machine   and giving the class a new lease of life by opening up more engine choice. The folks who thought I was stupid before, can now see that it was a good idea and it has been accepted by the racing community.
The KTM is a suitable, reliable and exciting product which I'm confident will put in a good performance at the TT next year. As regards sponsorship, I've decided to go for it alone, but painted the outfit in KTM factory livery, although they are yet to sponsor me. They have noticed the bike though and are watching my progress, so let's see what happens there!
Thanks to Wemoto for supporting me, small backers and supporters are vital to my progress and I'm really grateful for the help.

It's really our pleasure Dave, it's great to support such a highly skilled rider and passenger and we wish you all the best in the TT in 2022, we will very much enjoy watching your progress on the KTM. Thanks very much for talking to us it's been fascinating. From all the team at Wemoto

If you have watched Dave Molyneux in action at the TT or have any comments on what he says here, drop us a line  at [email protected] or drop us a message on Facebook.