Klaus Klaffenbock (left) and Dan Sayle celebrate their win

Austrian Klaus Klaffenbock and Manxman Dan Sayle took a thrilling victory in the opening Sidecar race at the Isle of Man TT on Saturday.

Klaffenbock edged out the 14-time TT winner Dave Molyneux after a last-lap dice to claim first ever TT win by just 2.6 seconds.

It was a fifth victory for Klaffenbock's passenger Dan Sayle.

Tim Reeves and Dipash Chauhan completed the podium places finishing 52 seconds behind Molyneux.

Klaffenbock led by six seconds from John Holden and Andrew Winkle after lap one, with pre-race favourite Molyneux and Patrick Farrance a further two seconds behind in third.

The former world champion, driving a Honda, had extended his lead to 10 seconds over second-placed Molyneux by the end of lap two, and then just held off a last-lap charge by Molyneux.

The Manx driver reduced his deficit to eight seconds at Glen Helen and then five seconds at Ramsey Hairpin, but Klaffenbock just held on to win.

Molyneux had started the race as favourite, having set the fastest time in practice but could not match the pace of Klaffenbock on the opening two laps.

Holden retired at Sulby on lap three while in third place.

Simon Neary and Paul Knapton were fourth, Tony Elmer and Darren Marshall fifth and Gary Bryan and Gary Partridge sixth.

Result - Saturday, 5 June

Sidecar TT Race A

1. Klaus Klaffenbock/Dan Sayle 600cc LCR Honda / Manx Gas / A & J Racing 59 21.61 114.410

2. Dave Molyneux/Patrick Farrance 600cc DMR Kawasaki / DMR Kawasaki 59 24.24 114.326

3. 4 Tim Reeves/Dipash Chauhan 600cc Honda 01 00 16.41 112.676

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