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It really may be news to most of those reading this post, but yes there really is going to be an emission free race (in other words an electric motorcycle race)over on The Island this week and its bound to really promote those companies out there who are pushing forward with this type of power unit.
Link to the dedicated TTXGP website
Here’s the iomtt.com report on the very first official practice:
The era of electric motorcycle racing has arrived, with the 2009 Isle of Man TT playing host to the TTXGP.
The machines for the world’s first clean emission race took to the legendary Mountain circuit on Tuesday afternoon for the first practice session around the 37.73-mile course.
Despite the doubters, 10 of the 14 starters made it around the TT course, and the speeds impressed all spectators.
Speeds in excess of 100mph were recorded on the Sulby straight, and the fastest machine round – Team Agni’s Pro Class entry – lapped at an average speed of 84.81mph.
Team Agni rider Rob Barber, of Bury, had the honour of being the first man to lap the TT course on an electric-powered bike.
Speaking afterwards he said:
‘It was an amazing experience, we had energy in reserve. I hope this is the turning point for them. People need to get behind them. They are not to replace petrol, they are an addition to petrol. I hope it is a big success.’
‘We are ready to race. I am racing. It doesn’t matter if it is a parade lap or not, I will be racing out there. These guys have worked so hard, every team.’
Barber said the riding experience had been ‘fantastic’, and said there is more to come from Team Agni.He added:
‘The thing just works, it’s a fantastic bike.’
In the Open class, for machines built within a £30,000 budget, Dan Kneen – one of the rising stars at this year’s TT – lapped at an average speed of 70.677mph, his Team ManTTx Racing entry leading the class home.The TTXGP race is scheduled for Friday morning.
History has been made at the 2009 Isle of Man TT with the inaugural TTXGP, a race for clean emission motorcycles.
The Team Mission Motors entry, ridden by Thomas Montano, led the 13-strong field away from the TT Grandstand at 10.45am, and as he quietly rode his way down to Bray Hill a new chapter in the history of the 102-year-old TT was started.
Team Agni rider Rob Barber, who had dominated both practice sessions, was again the class of the field, reaching Glen Helen with the lead on the road. One of the potential challengers for victory – the Team Motoczysz machine ridden by Mark Miller – was forced out by mechanical problems before reaching the first checkpoint.
Thomas Schoenfelder, on the Team XXL machine, moved into second at Glen Helen, but the locally-entered Team ManTTx Racing machine, with James McBride standing in for the injured Dan Kneen, moved up to an impressive second place at Ballaugh.
Unfortunately, McBride would retire at Glen Duff, before reaching Ramsey on the single lap TTXGP race.
Schoenfelder was trailing Barber by more than 90 seconds at Ramsey Hairpin, but he did have the honour of setting the fastest speed ever recorded by an electric-powered bike at the Sulby speed trap – 106.5mph.
Barber maintained his lead over the Mountain section to take the chequered flag with a lap time of 25mins 53.5secs, an average speed of 87.434mph.
Schoenfelder held onto second place, more than three minutes down, with Mark Buckley on the Team Brammo entry coming home third.
As the Pro Class top three celebrated, the battle for Open Class honours continued on the TT course, and there was drama as the leading Team Barefoot Motors Racing machine of Chris Petty slowed as he approached the finish line. That allowed Chris Heath on the Team Electric Motorsport entry to overhaul Petty’s lead and take the class win by more than 35 seconds. Manxman John Crellin, riding the Team Tork machine, came home third.
Shortly after the podium ceremony started there was shock when it was announced Heath had been disqualified, promoting Petty to the win.
The disqualification is currently under investigation and could be overturned on appeal
The complete results of the TTXGP, the world’s first clean emission eGrandPrix, have been published.
In the BEST BUY PRO Class, UK/India-based Team Agni with rider Rob Barber secured first place with a time of 25 mins 53 secs and an average speed of 87.434 mph.
In the OPEN class US based electric motorsport secured with rider Chris Heath secured first place with a time of 34 mins 17 secs and an average speed of 66.022 mph.
Second and third place in the BEST BUY PRO Class were secured by the German XXL Racing Team with rider Thomas Schoenfelder (time: 29 mins 04 secs / average speed 77.841 mph) and US based Brammo with rider Mark Buckley (time: 30 mins 2 secs / average speed: 75.350 mph) respectively.
In the OPEN Class, second and third places were secured by US based Barefoot Motors with rider Chris Petty (time: 36 mins 23 secs / average speed: 62.219) and team TORK from India with rider John Crellin (37 mins 26 secs / average speed: 60.475 mph).
Tragically, John died in an incident during the Senior TT race later in the day.
The overall result of the inaugural TTXGP as recorded by time keepers has been confirmed by the Race Management team from ACU Events Ltd. Two riders, Chris Heath (Electric Motorsport) and Paul Dobbs (Htblauva), who were originally disqualified were unaware that they were required to sound horns while racing under yellow flags and the overall result was not in any way influenced by their actions.
TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain said:
‘Today represents the culmination of an incredibly long journey to the world’s first clean emission eGrandPrix. The teams, riders and all those involved in making this event possible have worked tirelessly to make the TTXGP the reality it has become today.’
‘Together we have proved that zero carbon transport technologies have the capabilities to thrill motor racing fans and are ready for application in the real world.’
Simon Maddison, chairman of TTXGP technical advisor IET Technical Panel, added:‘It’s been a long road to get us to the starting line. No-one could have imagined how the journey would be – 10 months of hard work from our panel but the equivalent of 20 months input from the teams.’
‘Everyone who has made it to the Isle of Man has to be congratulated – it has really re-created the pioneering spirit of the TT. To say, it has been a historic moment would be an understatement. To say, it is watching the technology of the future is a statement.’
Video footage of the TTXGP, video interviews with team members and photography can be found on the TTXGP website.Full race results
BEST BUY PRO Class
Pos 1 AGNI X01 (Rob Barber) – Time: 25:53:50 – Speed: 87.434
Pos 2 XXL Racing Team (Thomas Schoenfelder) – Time: 29:04:93 – Speed: 77.841
Pos 3 Brammo (Mark Buckley) – Time: 30:02:64 – Speed: 75.350
Pos 4 Mission Motors (Thomas Montano) – Time: 30:33:26 – Speed: 74.091
Pos 5 Htblauva (Paul Dobbs) – Time: 36.10.63 – Speed: 62.575
Pos 6 Brunel X-team (Stephen Harper) – Time: 56:27:89 – Speed: 40.092
OPEN Class
Pos 1 Electric Motorsport (Chris Heath) – Time: 34:17:30 – Speed: 66.022
Pos 2 Barefoot Motors (Chris Petty) – Time: 36:23:06 – Speed: 62.219
Pos 3 TORK (John Crellin) – Time: 37:26:01 – Speed: 60.475
I’m thinking about taking my washing macchins aport right now & having a bash!
But seriously, of all the types of battery vehicle, I can’t see another sectore that makes more sense for commuting at least than on motorcycles. I gues when the ‘Tesla’ type on par performance hits the streets – everyone will notice.
I guess you’ll not hear these over-take you though!
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