TT Zero

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 96.820Â 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 500Â 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 87.434Â 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 121.9Â 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
[edit]Entrants
[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
[edit]Description
- Prototype electrically propelled motor-cycles. Powered solely by stored electricity (battery/accumulator)
Weight
- Motor-cycles minimum weight is 100Â kg and up to 300Â 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 75.46Â mph for 1 lap of the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course without stopping.[8]
TT Zero Race Results
[edit]2010 TT Zero Race
[edit]10 June 2010 1 Lap (37.773Â Miles) Mountain Course.[9]
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MotoCzysz E1pc / MotoCzysz | 96.820Â mph | 23' 22.89 | |
| 2 | Agni Motors / Agni Racing | 89.290Â mph | 25' 21.19 | |
| 3 | Man TTX / Man TTX Racing | 88.653Â mph | 25' 32.13 | |
| 4 | Agni Motors / Agni Racing | 88.228Â mph | 25' 39.50 | |
| 5 | Peter Williams / Kingston University | 64.705Â 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
[edit]9 June 2011 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MotoCzysz | 99.604Â mph | 22' 43.68 | |
| 2 | MotoCzysz | 98.288Â mph | 23' 01.93 | |
| 3 | Kingston University | 88.435Â mph | 25' 35.90 | |
| 4 | MIT | 79.163Â mph | 28' 35.81 | |
| 5 | Team Prozza | 69.877Â 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
[edit]6 June 2012 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MotoCzysz | 104.056Â mph | 21' 45.33 | |
| 2 | Mugen Shinden | 102.215Â mph | 22' 08.85 | |
| 3 | MotoCzysz | 101.065Â mph | 22' 23.97 | |
| 4 | TGM IOT | 78.221Â 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
[edit]5 June 2013 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MotoCzysz | 109.675Â mph | 20' 38.461 | |
| 2 | Mugen Shinden | 109.527Â mph | 20' 40.133 | |
| 3 | RW-2 / Ohio State University | 90.403Â mph | 25' 02.467 | |
| 4 | Kingston University | 88.096Â mph | 25' 41.822 | |
| 5 | Yamaha R6E | 83.857Â mph | 26' 59.755 | |
| 6 | Komatti-Mirai Racing | 81.515Â mph | 27' 46.300 | |
| 7 | Imperial | 71.983Â mph | 31' 26.933 | |
| 8 | Brunel BX/Brunel University | 71.738Â 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
[edit]4 June 2014 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 117.366Â mph | 19' 17.300 | |
| 2 | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 115.048Â mph | 19' 40.625 | |
| 3 | RW-2x / Ohio State University | 93.531Â mph | 24' 12.230 | |
| 4 | Team Sarolea Racing | 93.507Â mph | 24' 12.600 | |
| 5 | Vercar Moto | 85.828Â mph | 26' 22.828 | |
| 6 | TT Zero | 81.515Â 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
[edit]10 June 2015 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 119.279Â mph | 18' 58.743 | |
| 2 | Shinden San / Team Mugen | 118.857Â mph | 19' 02.785 | |
| 3 | Victory Racing | 111.620Â mph | 20' 16.881 | |
| 4 | Victory Racing | 109.717Â mph | 20' 37.987 | |
| 5 | Team Sarolea Racing | 106.510Â mph | 21' 15.256 | |
| 6 | University of Nottingham | 73.156Â 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
[edit]7 June 2016 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shinden Go / Team Mugen | 118.416Â mph | 19' 07.043 | |
| 2 | Victory Racing | 115.844Â mph | 19' 32.504 | |
| 3 | University of Nottingham | 99.884Â mph | 22' 39.864 | |
| 4 | Shinden Go / Team Mugen | 94.949Â mph | 23' 50.538 | |
| 5 | Brunel | 94.628Â mph | 23' 55.383 |
- (7 Starters)
2017 TT Zero Race
[edit]9 June 2017 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shinden Roku / Team Mugen | 117.710Â mph | 19' 13.924 | |
| 2 | Shinden Roku / Team Mugen | 113.632Â mph | 19' 55.331 | |
| 3 | University of Nottingham | 109.209Â mph | 20' 43.748 | |
| 4 | Sarolea | 108.064Â mph | 20' 56.924 | |
| 5 | University of Nottingham | 91.197Â mph | 24' 49.385 | |
| 6 | Brunel University | 90.963Â mph | 24' 53.229 | |
| 7 | Moto Corsa | 78.848Â mph | 28' 42.662 | |
| 8 | University of Bath | 77.415Â mph | 29' 14.549 |
2018 TT Zero Race
[edit]6 June 2018 1 Lap (37.73Â Miles) Mountain Course.
| Rank | Rider | Team | Speed | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |