Ellis and Clément target FIM Sidecar World Championship hat-trick

Ellis and Clément Target FIM Sidecar World Championship Hat-Trick

Todd Ellis and Emmanuelle Clément are aiming to complete a remarkable hat-trick of victories in the FIM Sidecar World Championship, fueled by a renewed sense of momentum and a surprisingly relaxed approach to the fiercely competitive discipline. The British/French pairing, champions in 2022 and 2023, demonstrated their potential with a solid fourth-place finish at the opening round in Le Mans, setting the stage for a strong push at the second round in Croatia.

Championship Pursuit

The 2026 FIM Sidecar World Championship is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested in recent memory, and Ellis and Clément are acutely aware of the challenges ahead. However, the duo is prioritizing a focus on bike feel and lap times, eschewing overly ambitious goals. “We don't really set any goals,” stated Ellis. “The aim is to just go out there and see how we get on and enjoy it. The results seem to follow then.” This pragmatic strategy, combined with a growing understanding of their Yamaha machinery, has already seen a marked improvement since their struggles in the previous two seasons, largely attributed to adapting to new tyre technology.

Racing Roots and Partnership

Ellis’s connection to sidecar racing runs deep, stemming from childhood memories spent in the paddock at Cadwell Park, Britain’s iconic circuit. He progressed through Yamaha PW50 and TY80 machines, culminating in a homemade sidecar venture with Charlie Richardson that culminated in a British championship win. His partnership with Emmanuelle Clément, forged after a successful second-place finish in 2021, has solidified into a dominant force, marked by a remarkable two-year championship reign. “As much as we joke around and like to blame each other, it’s important to recognise that a rider needs a passenger and a passenger needs a rider,” Clément explained. “You need to think the same thing at the same time.”

Upcoming Round Details

The second round of the 2026 FIM Sidecar World Championship will take place at the Automotodrom Grobnik-Rijeka in Croatia from May 8-10. The Sprint race, consisting of eleven laps, is scheduled to commence at 12:40 (local time) on Saturday, May 9th, followed by the eighteen-lap Main race at 11:55 (local time) on Sunday, May 10th. Live timings can be accessed via [Click here](placeholder link). Selected races will be streamed live on FIM-MOTO.TV ([Click here](placeholder link)).