THE SIDECAR

2022 CES F2 chassis

Lush Racing built and tuned Suzuki GSXR 600 engine, producing 123 hp and 62 N-m torque

Weight: 245 kg

Maxton suspension

Wheels made by CES and BJR Racing Products

Carbon-fibre/Kevlar fairing made by CES and BJR Racing Products

2024 RESULTS

1st – South Australian Combined Sidecar Championship

2nd – Australian F2 Sidecar Championship

TEAM PROFILES

RIDER – Royce Rowe began his motorcycling life on dirt, finding his bearings on a Suzuki JR80 at a large open property in the Riverland. It didn’t take long for him to make the inevitable switch to tarmac at the age of 13, entering racing in the junior class on board a Honda CBR150. Royce gained experience at numerous tracks around the country before reaching the junior competitions age limit.

Sticking with the smaller capacity bikes, Royce then moved on to a Honda 125 GP bike, competing in the 125cc class in South Australia. After acquiring valuable skills in corner speed and close racing, Royce graduated to a 600cc machine. This would shape the last of his teenage years, eventually honing his skills to take the South Australian Road Race Series 600cc title at the tender age of 18.

Royce’s obvious talent and dedication didn’t go unnoticed, with BJR Products owner Brian Rosser enquiring about taking Royce on as a potential rider for one of his Ducati’s.

The partnership was a success from the word ‘go’, with Royce taking to the Ducati excellently. On board the 696cc Ducati the team has scored race wins interstate at BEARS meetings, while at home this year they wrapped up their fourth South Australian Championship win in the Pro Thunder class.

All of this success has accumulated into Royce attempting a life-long goal of racing at the Isle of Man. With Brian always up for a challenge, construction of the custom Ducati began over 24 months ago. Royce’s father Les competed at the Isle of Man TT in 1989, making the infamous race a family obsession ever since. The videos watched in awe as a child by Royce became training tapes for his biggest test to date. After competing for a number of years, sidecars have become the next challenge!

RESULTS

Won South Australian Championship Pro Thunder class in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Won the South Australian Road Race Series 600 class in 2012 and 2016.

Won the South Australian Historic Championship 125 class in 2010.

2015 Manx GP: 11th place in the Supertwins

2016 Manx GP: 7th in the Supertwins, 8th in the Junior and 6th in the Senior

 

PASSENGER – Leonard Rowe, Royce’s brother, has been involved in motorcycling his whole life. Although less accomplished on the racing circuit, Leonard cut his teeth riding a Yamaha RD350LC as a teen in the historic racing ranks against some well known stalwarts of racing. He also enjoyed casual trail riding throughout the Riverland.

This progressed to competing in the Supersport class locally, then racing in the Pre-Modern (pre-2000) class on a ’99 Yamaha R1. He held a lap record for the class at Mallala for a short time… because it was the first ever meeting there for the class and he luckily snuck in a hot lap in the final race of the weekend. This time was quickly beaten a few months later at the next meeting!

Although he has mainly stuck to road riding for the past decade, and will happily challenge anyone to a lane-splitting race down Sydney’s Victoria Road thanks to his time spend there working for AMCN, Leonard has now jumped on the sidecar as passenger. Not the typical swinger stature, Leonard has worked hard to learn the craft and the trust he has in Royce’s ability shows through the results now on the board.