TT Zero

2013 Komatti-Mirai EV with Hatsune Miku livery
MotoCzysz E1pc, the winning bike of the first TT Zero race in 2010.

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

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Entrants

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  • 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

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Description

  • 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

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

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TT Zero Race Results

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2010 TT Zero Race

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10 June 2010 1 Lap (37.773 Miles) Mountain Course.[9]

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 United States Mark Miller MotoCzysz E1pc / MotoCzysz 96.820 mph 23' 22.89
2 England Rob Barber Agni Motors / Agni Racing 89.290 mph 25' 21.19
3 England James McBride Man TTX / Man TTX Racing 88.653 mph 25' 32.13
4 England Jenny Tinmouth Agni Motors / Agni Racing 88.228 mph 25' 39.50
5 Scotland 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

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9 June 2011 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England Michael Rutter MotoCzysz 99.604 mph 22' 43.68
2 United States Mark Miller MotoCzysz 98.288 mph 23' 01.93
3 Scotland George Spence Kingston University 88.435 mph 25' 35.90
4 Isle of Man Allan Brew MIT 79.163 mph 28' 35.81
5 Japan 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

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6 June 2012 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England Michael Rutter MotoCzysz 104.056 mph 21' 45.33
2 England John McGuinness Mugen Shinden 102.215 mph 22' 08.85
3 United States Mark Miller MotoCzysz 101.065 mph 22' 23.97
4 England 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

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5 June 2013 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England Michael Rutter MotoCzysz 109.675 mph 20' 38.461
2 England John McGuinness Mugen Shinden 109.527 mph 20' 40.133
3 England Rob Barber RW-2 / Ohio State University 90.403 mph 25' 02.467
4 Scotland George Spence Kingston University 88.096 mph 25' 41.822
5 England Chris McGahan Yamaha R6E 83.857 mph 26' 59.755
6 Wales Ian Lougher Komatti-Mirai Racing 81.515 mph 27' 46.300
7 Isle of Man David Madsen-Mygdal Imperial 71.983 mph 31' 26.933
8 Wales 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

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4 June 2014 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England John McGuinness Shinden San / Team Mugen 117.366 mph 19' 17.300
2 New Zealand Bruce Anstey Shinden San / Team Mugen 115.048 mph 19' 40.625
3 England Rob Barber RW-2x / Ohio State University 93.531 mph 24' 12.230
4 Scotland Robert Wilson Team Sarolea Racing 93.507 mph 24' 12.600
5 United States Mark Miller Vercar Moto 85.828 mph 26' 22.828
6 France 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

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10 June 2015 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England John McGuinness Shinden San / Team Mugen 119.279 mph 18' 58.743
2 New Zealand Bruce Anstey Shinden San / Team Mugen 118.857 mph 19' 02.785
3 Northern Ireland Lee Johnston Victory Racing 111.620 mph 20' 16.881
4 England Guy Martin Victory Racing 109.717 mph 20' 37.987
5 Scotland Robert Wislon Team Sarolea Racing 106.510 mph 21' 15.256
6 Republic of Ireland 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

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7 June 2016 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 New Zealand Bruce Anstey Shinden Go / Team Mugen 118.416 mph 19' 07.043
2 Northern Ireland William Dunlop Victory Racing 115.844 mph 19' 32.504
3 England Daley Mathison University of Nottingham 99.884 mph 22' 39.864
4 England John McGuinness Shinden Go / Team Mugen 94.949 mph 23' 50.538
5 South Africa Allann Venter Brunel 94.628 mph 23' 55.383
  • (7 Starters)

2017 TT Zero Race

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9 June 2017 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 New Zealand Bruce Anstey Shinden Roku / Team Mugen 117.710 mph 19' 13.924
2 England Guy Martin Shinden Roku / Team Mugen 113.632 mph 19' 55.331
3 England Daley Mathison University of Nottingham 109.209 mph 20' 43.748
4 England Dean Harrison Sarolea 108.064 mph 20' 56.924
5 Spain Antonio Maeso University of Nottingham 91.197 mph 24' 49.385
6 England James Cowton Brunel University 90.963 mph 24' 53.229
7 England Adam Child Moto Corsa 78.848 mph 28' 42.662
8 Wales Matthew Rees University of Bath 77.415 mph 29' 14.549

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2018 TT Zero Race

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6 June 2018 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England Michael Rutter Mugen Shinden Nana / Team Mugen 121.824 mph 18' 34.956
2 England Daley Mathison University of Nottingham 119.294 mph 18' 58.600
3 Northern Ireland Lee Johnston Mugen Shinden Nana / Team Mugen 105.566 mph 21' 26.668
4 England James Cowton Brunel University 97.372 mph 23' 14.934
5 England Adam Child Moto Corsa 81.332 mph 27' 50.042
6 England 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

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6 June 2019 1 Lap (37.73 Miles) Mountain Course.

Rank Rider Team Speed Time
1 England Michael Rutter Bathams Mugen 121.91 mph 18' 34.172
2 England John McGuinness Bathams Mugen 120.98 mph 18' 42.738
3 Wales Ian Lougher Team Mirai 102.69 mph 22' 02.697
4 Wales Matthew Rees University of Bath 94.85 mph 23' 52.100
5 England Allann Venter Brunel University 91.48 mph 24' 44.815
6 England Mike Norbury Duffy Motorsport 83.29 mph 27' 10.800
7 Northern Ireland 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

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(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
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June p27 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ No TT Zero races in 2022 or 23 IoM Today, 10 December 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022
  4. ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June page 2 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
  5. ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
  6. ^ 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."
  7. ^ REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
  8. ^ 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
  9. ^ TT News Race Edition Two page 11 10 June 2010 Isle of Man Newspapers ISSN 1471-7905
  10. ^ 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
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