Phillip Crowe

David Johnson | Isle of Man TT Races©Instantly recognisable both on and off the track, there was a time when Lincolnshire’s Crowe weighed in approximately 24 stone which, combined with his 6’4 height, made him a formidable looking figure both on and off the bike! But he was fast too, dominating club racing and Thundersport events across the UK and when he dipped his toe into the Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship at his local Cadwell Park, he was always challenging for top ten results.

He made his TT debut in 2014 with early years seeing steady progression but since 2017, he’s become a regular fixture in the top twenty of the 1000cc races and pushing hard for the top ten too. That came to fruition in 2018 when he claimed ninth place in the Superbike race and came agonisingly close to a first ever 130mph lap. A sustained campaign to lose weight saw him do exactly that as he shaved off no less than six stone and it’s no coincidence that his TT results improved.

Another top ten finish came in 2022 when he took tenth in the Superstock race, backing this up with 13th in the Senior and although he was unable to get close to his personal best lap, he was again pushing the better funded riders and teams hard. He fell slightly short of these results in 2023 with 12th and a best lap of 129.384mph his best return but he was again amongst the leading privateers.

Crowe is a rider is who gets quicker as the race wears on with full six-lap race distances seemingly suiting him better and known for his camaraderie and willingness to help other riders, nowhere was this seen more than in the 2020 Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship. 

Already committed to running a two-man team, he stepped in at the 11th hour to provide an additional bike for the late Chrissy Rouse after the Newcastle rider’s own deal fell through. Despite a lack of testing and limited budget, the combination went on to win the title whilst his sportsmanship was also seen at the 2023 Macau Grand Prix when he lent Davey Todd’s team a fuel pipe which allowed them start the race and eventually finish second.

DATA TABLE