Veterans with wrecked bike must find cash to fund Isle of Man TT return

The Team Founds Sidecar entry of Peter Founds and Jevan Walmsley say their machine is “a total loss” following a crash during practice week at the 2025 Isle of Man TT.

The prior podium finishers were expected to be the main rivals to the dominant Crowe brothers at TT 2025.

But the No. 2 machine was destroyed in a crash at the Rhencullen section of the course during practice on 1 June which ruled Founds and Walmsley out of racing.

Though neither were seriously injured, the pair have detailed the extensive damage done to their outfit, which was involved in a fiery smash.

Teams Founds said: “Firstly, we want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported Team Founds 72 so far, your generosity, kindness, and words of encouragement have truly truly meant the world to us.

“Now that we are home and we've had a chance to fully assess the bike, unfortunately, the news isn’t what we’d hoped for. The damage is far worse than we could have imagined.

“The chassis has suffered significant impact damage and will need to be completely replaced.

“The fire has destroyed all the electrics, including the ECU and clocks.

“The suspension and running gear are damaged beyond repair. In short, the entire bike is a total loss.

“Devastated is an understatement but in the middle of all this, we’ve been overwhelmed with support from the racing community and beyond. That’s what keeps us going.

“We are determined to rebuild, and once the team is fully fit again, we’ll be back doing what we love.

“For those wondering what it will take to get us back on the grid, here’s a rough idea of the costs:

- Chassis: £5,000–£12,000

- Electronics (ECU, clocks, wiring): £8,000

- Suspension: £3,000

- Wheels, hubs, brakes: £5,000

- Ancillaries & other parts: £3,000

“We’re also exploring ways we can honour every single one of you who has helped us during this difficult time — you are part of our journey, and we’ll carry your support with us when we race again.

“We’ll keep you updated every step of the way. Thank you again, we’ll be back.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Founds team, which has already raised £11,700 of the £13,000 target.