is it time to switch off the electric bikes?
#motorbikes #motorcycles #electric #TTZERO #tt #isleofman #racing #tt #guymartin
For those of you who follow road racing, you'll already know the 'TT Zero' race is the least popular class for quite some time. A combination of a small field of riders, just one lap and zero soundtrack mean it's failed to capture the imagination of fans in its seven-year history.
They've even drafted in Guy Martin for 2017 to try and pique interest in the class. Here's an image that sums up the problems with TT Zero.
Three finishers in practice. Not what you'd call a competitive field...
Things were progressing well for the first couple of years as the bikes got quicker and more teams joined the grid in search of TT glory. 2013 was the highlight of competition when Motoczysz battled it out with Mugen Shinden for the win, separated by only two seconds after a twenty minute race - McGuinness on the Mugen and Rutter on the Motoczysz.
The Mugen Shinden dominates the class - costing £1m each
It's all been a bit stale since then, with Mugen dominating proceedings with their Shinden machine. It's rumoured that Mugen has thrown tens of millions of pounds at developing their bike towards the current 120mph average lap speed around the TT course, with each bike costing a cool £1m.
This sort of investment early on in electric bike technology means it's now leagues ahead of the competition, with no sign of a worthy contender any time soon. Motoczysz has dropped off the radar of late and even the crazy looking Sarolea with all that carbon and beauty failed to hold a candle to the Japanese Mugen.
Sarolea's SP7
crossroads
It would appear the class is now at a crossroads.
Either the TT organisers can convince more people to build competitive electric machines, or the Mugen will continue to dominate - all the while fans and potential competitors will lose interest until the class dies a premature death.
Here's hoping it's the former, and electric technology can prosper from the competition of TT racing.
Let us know what you think about the TT Zero in the comments
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Comments (3)
The motoczysz founder died last year after a long battle with cancer. When a small comoany loses its visionary, its inevitable it will change for less. Would prob have one more competitor or two bikes if not for the loss of Michael Czysz. Struggling to see the significant Mugen investment doing anything for the popularity of electric bikes. I personally would rather see 20 bikes battle out for 100mph avg, instead of 3. It's no longer a spectator sport!
www.visordown.com/news/general/michael-czysz-loses-cancer-battle
They should change it to 6 laps and give them a set time to complete it. It would be a huge challenge for electric bikes to travel 200 miles so the prize should reflect that. See if they can get some green energy sponsorship. And invite engineering colleges to compete for the prize
All those saying it's not a real TT or real race-sorry you're wrong!the ethos of the TT has always been to design and build a bike and pit bike and rider against the course in a time trial!
The riders don leathers practice under race conditions and then race under race conditions risking life and limb doing so-and always attempting to be the 1st across the line!to say it isnt a race insults them and their efforts and those of the bike builders!
These bikes have been running since the ttxgp race in 2009 and in those ten years look at how fast they have developed-their speeds have consistent increased and have beat the ton and are now coming up to matching petrol engine classes...yes they do one lap-and I have suggested in the past to put it on one of the 3 other TT courses ie billown which would give them 8 laps for the price of 1 mountain course lap. They could do more laps of the mountain but at the cost of speed...
Remember the TT came from humble beginnings...to say there arent enough bikes or riders just remember the 1st ever race in 1907 for the single cylinder had only 8 finish out of 17 and took 4hrs 8mins (38.2mph)
The twin cylinder 3 finish out of 8 nd took 4hrs 21 (36.2mph)