TT Zero was an electric motorsport event introduced for the 2010 Isle of Man TT races – replaced the similar TTXGP race as a 1-lap (37.733 miles) circuit of the Snaefell Mountain Course. The TT Zero event as an officially sanctioned Isle of Man TT race is for racing motorcycles where "The technical concept is for motorcycles (two wheeled) to be powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions."[1] The Isle of Man Government offered a prize of £10,000 for the first entrant to exceed the prestigious 100 mph (22 minutes and 38.388 seconds) average speed around the Mountain Course.
The inaugural 2010 TT Zero race was won by Mark Miller riding a MotoCzysz E1pc motor-cycle in 23 minutes and 22.89 seconds at an average race speed of 96.820 mph for 1 lap (37.733 miles) of the Mountain Course and the first United States winner since Dave Roper won the 1984 Historic TT riding a 500 cc Matchless G50. The TT Zero race replaced the 2009 TTXGP franchise, won by Rob Barber riding a Team AGNI motor-cycle in 25 minutes and 53.5 seconds at an average race speed of 87.434 mph for 1 lap (37.733 miles), with the simplification of the regulations and the emphasis on electric powered motor-cycles. The MotoCzysz E1pc was also the first American manufactured motor-cycle to win an Isle of Man TT Race since Oliver Godfrey won the 1911 Senior TT with an Indian V-Twin motor-cycle. The 2010 TT Zero race also produced the return of semi-dustbin fairing permissible under the TT Zero regulations and adopted by some entrants, but banned by the FIM since 1958 for racing motor-cycles.[2]
After taking their first victory in 2014 Team Mugen from Japan were the dominant force whilst the event lasted, winning it for 6 consecutive years from 2014 to 2019 and raising the average lap speed to 121.9 mph.
In 2019, a moratorium on further events in this class was announced, due to the slow take-up in electric motorcycles and few race participants. Speaking in late 2021 about the future of the event, Enterprise Minister Alex Allinson has ruled out further competition in this class until at least 2024.[3] To date there have been no further discussions or development in bringing back the event.
Eligibility
editEntrants
edit- Entrants must be in possession of a valid National Entrants or FIM Sponsors Licence for Road Racing.
- All motor-cycles must comply with Appendix D of the ACU National Sporting Code Group A1 for solos.[4]
Machines
editDescription
- Prototype electrically propelled motor-cycles. Powered solely by stored electricity (battery/accumulator)
Weight
- Motor-cycles minimum weight is 100 kg and up to 300 kg. Weighed in race ready mode.
Accumulator (storage battery)
- The accumulator is defined as any equipment used for the intermediate storage of electrical energy supplied by the solar generator or by the charging unit. Any on-board accumulator is considered as an integral part of the vehicle's accumulator. All on-board electrical equipment, unless consisting of items originally powered by dry batteries, small accumulator or their own solar cells, must receive its energy supply from the vehicle's official accumulator.[5]
Voltage
- The voltage is limited to 800 volts between two points.[6]
Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems
- It is permitted to recover energy generated by the kinetic energy of the vehicle using a Regenerative brake or Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS).[7]
Aerodynamic aids and Streamlining.
- The competitor must be completely visible from either side, except for the riders hands and forearms which may be obscured by bodywork.
- Bodywork in front of the rider must not be higher than the competitor's shoulders.
Official Qualification Time
edit- 30.00 minutes at an average race speed of 75.46 mph for 1 lap of the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course without stopping.[8]
TT Zero Race Results
edit2010 TT Zero Race
edit10 June 2010 1 Lap (37.773 Miles) Mountain Course.[9]
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mark Miller | MotoCzysz E1pc / MotoCzysz | 96.820 mph | 23' 22.89 |
2 | Rob Barber | Agni Motors / Agni Racing | 89.290 mph | 25' 21.19 |
3 | James McBride | Man TTX / Man TTX Racing | 88.653 mph | 25' 32.13 |
4 | Jenny Tinmouth | Agni Motors / Agni Racing | 88.228 mph | 25' 39.50 |
5 | George Spence | Peter Williams / Kingston University | 64.705 mph | 34' 59.19 |
Fastest Lap and New Inaugural Lap Record:Mark Miller – 96.820 mph (23' 22.89) on lap 1.
2011 TT Zero Race
edit9 June 2011 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 99.604 mph | 22' 43.68 |
2 | Mark Miller | MotoCzysz | 98.288 mph | 23' 01.93 |
3 | George Spence | Kingston University | 88.435 mph | 25' 35.90 |
4 | Allan Brew | MIT | 79.163 mph | 28' 35.81 |
5 | Yoshinari Matsushita | Team Prozza | 69.877 mph | 32' 23.81 |
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: Michael Rutter – 99.604 mph (22' 43.68) on lap 1.
2012 TT Zero Race
edit6 June 2012 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 104.056 mph | 21' 45.33 |
2 | John McGuinness | Mugen Shinden | 102.215 mph | 22' 08.85 |
3 | Mark Miller | MotoCzysz | 101.065 mph | 22' 23.97 |
4 | Rob Barber | TGM IOT | 78.221 mph | 28' 56.45 |
- (9 Starters)
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: Michael Rutter – 104.056 mph (22' 23.97) on lap 1.
2013 TT Zero Race
edit5 June 2013 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 109.675 mph | 20' 38.461 |
2 | John McGuinness | Mugen Shinden | 109.527 mph | 20' 40.133 |
3 | Rob Barber | RW-2 / Ohio State University | 90.403 mph | 25' 02.467 |
4 | George Spence | Kingston University | 88.096 mph | 25' 41.822 |
5 | Chris McGahan | Yamaha R6E | 83.857 mph | 26' 59.755 |
6 | Ian Lougher | Komatti-Mirai Racing | 81.515 mph | 27' 46.300 |
7 | David Madsen-Mygdal | Imperial | 71.983 mph | 31' 26.933 |
8 | Paul Owen | Brunel BX/Brunel University | 71.738 mph | 31' 33.388 |
- (10 Starters)
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: Michael Rutter – 109.675 mph (20' 38.461) on lap 1.
2014 TT Zero Race
edit4 June 2014 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John McGuinness | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 117.366 mph | 19' 17.300 |
2 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 115.048 mph | 19' 40.625 |
3 | Rob Barber | RW-2x / Ohio State University | 93.531 mph | 24' 12.230 |
4 | Robert Wilson | Team Sarolea Racing | 93.507 mph | 24' 12.600 |
5 | Mark Miller | Vercar Moto | 85.828 mph | 26' 22.828 |
6 | Timothee Monot | TT Zero | 81.515 mph | 29' 02.378 |
- (9 Starters)
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: John McGuinness – 117.366 mph (19' 17.300) on lap 1.
2015 TT Zero Race
edit10 June 2015 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John McGuinness | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 119.279 mph | 18' 58.743 |
2 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 118.857 mph | 19' 02.785 |
3 | Lee Johnston | Victory Racing | 111.620 mph | 20' 16.881 |
4 | Guy Martin | Victory Racing | 109.717 mph | 20' 37.987 |
5 | Robert Wislon | Team Sarolea Racing | 106.510 mph | 21' 15.256 |
6 | Michael Sweeney | University of Nottingham | 73.156 mph | 30' 56.695 |
- (9 Starters)
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: John McGuinness – 119.279 mph (18' 58.743) on lap 1.
2016 TT Zero Race
edit7 June 2016 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden Go / Team Mugen | 118.416 mph | 19' 07.043 |
2 | William Dunlop | Victory Racing | 115.844 mph | 19' 32.504 |
3 | Daley Mathison | University of Nottingham | 99.884 mph | 22' 39.864 |
4 | John McGuinness | Shinden Go / Team Mugen | 94.949 mph | 23' 50.538 |
5 | Allann Venter | Brunel | 94.628 mph | 23' 55.383 |
- (7 Starters)
2017 TT Zero Race
edit9 June 2017 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden Roku / Team Mugen | 117.710 mph | 19' 13.924 |
2 | Guy Martin | Shinden Roku / Team Mugen | 113.632 mph | 19' 55.331 |
3 | Daley Mathison | University of Nottingham | 109.209 mph | 20' 43.748 |
4 | Dean Harrison | Sarolea | 108.064 mph | 20' 56.924 |
5 | Antonio Maeso | University of Nottingham | 91.197 mph | 24' 49.385 |
6 | James Cowton | Brunel University | 90.963 mph | 24' 53.229 |
7 | Adam Child | Moto Corsa | 78.848 mph | 28' 42.662 |
8 | Matthew Rees | University of Bath | 77.415 mph | 29' 14.549 |
2018 TT Zero Race
edit6 June 2018 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Rutter | Mugen Shinden Nana / Team Mugen | 121.824 mph | 18' 34.956 |
2 | Daley Mathison | University of Nottingham | 119.294 mph | 18' 58.600 |
3 | Lee Johnston | Mugen Shinden Nana / Team Mugen | 105.566 mph | 21' 26.668 |
4 | James Cowton | Brunel University | 97.372 mph | 23' 14.934 |
5 | Adam Child | Moto Corsa | 81.332 mph | 27' 50.042 |
6 | Shaun Anderson | Brammo / Duffy Motorsport | 74.789 mph | 30' 16.155 |
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: Michael Rutter – 121.824 mph (18' 34.956) on lap 1.
2019 TT Zero Race
edit6 June 2019 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.
Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Michael Rutter | Bathams Mugen | 121.91 mph | 18' 34.172 |
2 | John McGuinness | Bathams Mugen | 120.98 mph | 18' 42.738 |
3 | Ian Lougher | Team Mirai | 102.69 mph | 22' 02.697 |
4 | Matthew Rees | University of Bath | 94.85 mph | 23' 52.100 |
5 | Allann Venter | Brunel University | 91.48 mph | 24' 44.815 |
6 | Mike Norbury | Duffy Motorsport | 83.29 mph | 27' 10.800 |
7 | Shaun Anderson | Duffy Motorsport | 72.03 mph | 31' 25.831 |
Fastest Lap and New Race Record: Michael Rutter – 121.91 mph (18' 34.172) on lap 1.
Fastest race lap by year
edit(practice & qualifying session laps not included)
Year | Rider(s) | Machine | Lap time | Average speed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||
2010 | Mark Miller | MotoCzysz E1pc / MotoCzysz | 23:22:89 | 96.820 | 155.817 |
2011 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 22:43:68 | 99.604 | 160.297 |
2012 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 21:45:33 | 104.056 | 167.462 |
2013 | Michael Rutter | MotoCzysz | 20:38:461 | 109.675 | 176.505 |
2014 | John McGuinness | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 19:17:300 | 117.366 | 188.882 |
2015 | John McGuinness | Shinden Yon / Team Mugen | 18:58:743 | 119.279 | 191.961 |
2016 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden Go / Team Mugen | 19:07:043 | 118.416 | 190.572 |
2017 | Bruce Anstey | Shinden Roku / Team Mugen | 19:13:924 | 117.710 | 189.435 |
2018 | Michael Rutter | Shinden Nana / Team Mugen | 18:34:956 | 121.824 | 196.056 |
2019 | Michael Rutter | Shinden Hachi / Bathams Mugen | 18:34:172 | 121.91 | 196.195 |
Gallery
edit-
2012 Isle of Man TT TT Zero - Michael Rutter on MotoCzysz during practice for the 2012 TT Zero race.
-
2012 Isle of Man TT TT Zero - (2) Mark Miller Motoczysz E1pc followed by (3) John McGuinness MUGEN Shinden in a race won by Michael Rutter Motoczysz Elpc 6 June 2012 .
-
2013 Isle of Man TT TT Zero Practice Session
Mark Miller (2) MotoCzysz E1pc at Parliament Square, Ramsey 3 June 2013. -
2014 Isle of Man TT TT Zero Practice Session
Bruce Anstey (5) Shinden San / Team Mugen at Parliament Square, Ramsey 1 June 2013.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June p27 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
- ^ 50 Years of Moto Grand Prix page 47 editor Dennis Noyes Motorcourse (1999) Hazleton Publishing Ltd Presented by Dorna; Jarrod Book Printing ISBN 978-1-874557-83-8
- ^ No TT Zero races in 2022 or 23 IoM Today, 10 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022
- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June page 2 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2017 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 27 May – 9 June Appendix F page 105 ACU Events (Isle of Man) Ltd (2017) TT Development Manager - Isle of Man Department of Economic Development. "12.Operating Voltage. The voltage is limited to 800 volts nominal between two points (i.e. higher charging voltages are permitted."
- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
- ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2017 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 27 May – 9 June page 40 Section 8 Qualification and allocation of riding numbers ACU Events (Isle of Man) Ltd (2017) TT Development Manager - Isle of Man Department of Economic Development
- ^ TT News Race Edition Two page 11 10 June 2010 Isle of Man Newspapers ISSN 1471-7905
- ^ 2017 Isle of Man TT Result Sheet - TT Zero Race Gary Thompson, Clerk of the Course - ACU Events Ltd (2017) Isle of Man TT Press Office 9 June 2017 Isle of Man Department of Economic Development