1. How did you both get involved in sidecar racing?
Andy: My dad has been involved in the sport since the 1970’s there has always been an interest in the sport, I then had the opportunity to jump on as a passenger for a couple of lads and really enjoyed it, but when I got a bit older, I decided to have a go at driving.
Adam: I got involved in Sidecarcross through my Uncle Andy. He had previously been a passenger from someone else and had decided to give driving a go. He reached out to my dad to ask if I would be up for trying out being a passenger, and I was more than delighted to give it a go. We went out one weekend for me to learn the ropes of what it is like to be a sidecarcross passenger, and after that he asked me if I would like to take part in an Ulster Championship race the following weekend. That’s where my racing journey began.
2. What are your greatest sporting achievements?
Andy: Irish Sidecar Champion as a passenger in 2019 and then competing in the World SidecarCross Grand Prix of Northern Ireland in July 2023, and having been picked in 2022 as first reserve for the Irish team for the SidecarCross Des Nations, and now being selected for the Irish team this year for the Des Nations taking place in Italy in October this year.
Adam: One of my greatest sporting achievements is competing in the World Sidecarcross Championships on my home turf and being able to score points. We are now currently sitting at 45th in this season’s World Championship rankings.
3. What are your sporting ambitions for the rest of 2023 and beyond?
Andy: Competing at the Des Nations this year and getting a good result and beyond and moving into the top 10 in the British Championship over the coming years and continue to be selected for the Des Nations team and help improve the Irish teams’ overall results.
Adam: For the rest of 2023 we have a few more races in the Ulster Championships, and in October we will be competing as part of Team Ireland in the World Sidecar Cross Des Nations. For next year I would like to take part in a full season of the World Championships.
4. Who have been the biggest influencers on your careers and why?
Andy: Stuart Brown, Etienne Bax, Brown still able to compete at the top level in the World, and British Champion 18 times, something you can look at and know if you keep yourself fit and healthy you are able to keep competing in your sport and continue to enjoy it.
Adam: My parents would have to be my biggest influencers. They have both been very sporty, especially with my dad having been a sidecarcross passenger in the 90s. They have encouraged me to always keep fit from a very young age, and that’s why I am the way I am today.
5. Do you ever swap places on the sidecar?
Andy: No! I just couldn’t trust Adam to drive haha
Adam: Nope, we haven’t swapped positions on the Sidecar before, but it’s something I would definitely be open to.
6. What motivates you to train and compete at the highest level?
Andy: Wanting to improve and be able to perform as well as I can, and the results will hopefully improve and take care of themselves.
Adam: I try to find as much as I can to motivate myself, but a few of the most important things I do is to make sure I’m getting enough sleep, I would think about the setbacks and how many more training sessions I will have to do to make up for this one. But what I find the best thing to do is to not even think about training – I make it a habit, I just go, I don’t give myself the time to debate with myself about whether to train or not, because your brain will always be able to find an excuse not to go.
7. What advice would you give to someone looking to take up sidecar racing seriously?
Andy: Get out and enjoy it first, you want to be riding it and having a good partner that you can do well and progress with and take it from there and improving your skills together as a team, as it is a team sport, as you can only go as fast as your team member allows.
Adam: I would say go for it! I would say the easiest way to get into it would be to reach out to other people who are also interested in the sport, and to try out being a passenger (there’s always someone looking for a new passenger – I wonder why?). This can help you learn the ropes and what is expected with the sport, and it can give you the knowledge you need to get your own sidecar.
8. If you could be a professional athlete in any other sport, which sport would it be and why?
Andy: Some sort of sport to do with engines, like Formula 1 or Moto GP that gives you that adrenaline kick.
Adam: I think it would have to be another motorsport, whether that’s motorbikes, rallycross, maybe even skiing. I like to feel the proprioceptive system and feel all the g-forces on my body. In sports I also love the physicality required for the sport that all goes on in the background, the part that no one sees. I like there to be a sense of danger and risk with sports where it requires complete focus, and without much room for error throughout. That’s all part of the excitement for me.
9. Describe your perfect weekend.
Andy: Time with the family and some SidecarCross action (racing or training)
Adam: Sunny weather, a bit of racing, some gaming/movies and steak.
10. What are your main reasons for recommending Beet It Sport?
Andy: I have felt that taking the Beet It Sport shots on the days running up to a race day or weekend that your endurance levels are higher leading to overall better performance and results.
Adam: I’ve found Beet It Sport to be very beneficial to my journey through Sidecarcross and have concluded that it is a ‘must have’ for the days leading up to an event, making me feel refreshed and have that energy I will need on the day. I take the nitrate shots a few hours before racing and then throughout the day help to keep my energy levels high and most importantly, help my body with the high amount of blood flow that it needs when doing an intense sport so that I can keep performing at my best for longer.
11. Anything additional you would like to say about Beet It Sport?
Andy: Recently started to take the Cherry Regen and found that on the 2-day events I was able to be ready to go again on day 2.
Adam: Through doing Sidecarcross over the past few years and having grown up always doing sports which require a high level of endurance and VO² max, I have found that finding the right supplements can be hard, and ultimately comes down to whether it will be beneficial to the sport you are doing or if it will hinder your ability to do the sport. I can say without a doubt this will definitely be beneficial to your sport.