{"id":10890,"date":"2016-06-09T22:18:53","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T05:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=10890"},"modified":"2016-06-09T22:18:53","modified_gmt":"2016-06-10T05:18:53","slug":"2016-isle-of-man-tt-zero-seven-years-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/2016-isle-of-man-tt-zero-seven-years-in\/","title":{"rendered":"2016 Isle of Man TT Zero: Seven Years In"},"content":{"rendered":"

Electric motorcycles are a recent addition to a historic race on a tiny island neatly centered in the Irish Sea between Scotland, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Wales.\u00a0 Its 75,000 inhabitants cluster in villages that look like movie sets of rustic, pre-war England.<\/p>\n

Manx cats come from the island, tailless little creatures with long back legs that look almost rabbit-like.<\/p>\n

Bonus fact: Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb (the Bee Gees) were all born on the Isle of Man.<\/p>\n

Having so few people to share the 688 miles of roads could make speeding a huge temptation.\u00a0 The two-lane roads are twisty and narrow, though, and even without an official speed limit on many thoroughfares, speeds rarely average over 50 mph.\u00a0 Drivers are limited to that speed for the first two years after they get their license, and it\u2019s the qualifying minimum speed for motorcyclists wanting to compete in the annual race.\u00a0 That means a run around the Snaefell Mountain course (37.73 miles) in 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

\"Anstey,

Anstey, McGuinness and Dunlop enjoy the moment of victory<\/p><\/div>\n

The race has been run with a six-year break for WWI and an eight-year break for WWII since 1907.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dangerous affair, with the race\u2019s 249th<\/sup> and 250th<\/sup> rider deaths on the same day this year.<\/p>\n

The original rules for the 2010 TT (Tourist Trophy) Zero race included this line: “The technical concept is for motorcycles (two wheeled) to be powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic\/noxious emissions<\/em>.” \u00a0In the seven races, no fossil fuels have stained a pit in the TT Zero, and the bikes are approaching records held by fire-breathing super bikes.\u00a0 One big difference: petrol-powered motorcycles take six laps around the course.\u00a0 Battery development limits the electrics to one lap.<\/p>\n

Still, the first four TT Zeros were won by Motoczysz, a team lead by Michael Czysz that broke the ton (a 100-mph lap) in their second outing.\u00a0 Since then, the 2015 time of 18′ 58.743 (119.279 mph) has been the fastest green run around the island, with this year\u2019s winner taking about seven seconds longer. \u00a0Mugen has won the last three races.<\/p>\n

\"John

John McGuinness with Mugen Shinden and Mugen team<\/p><\/div>\n

RoadRacingWorld.com <\/a><\/em>reports this year\u2019s results.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Bruce Anstey (Mugen), 1 lap, Total Race Time\/Best Lap Time 19:07.043, Race Average Speed\/Best Lap Speed 118.416 mph<\/li>\n
  2. William Dunlop (Victory), 19:32.504, 115.844 mph<\/li>\n
  3. Daley Mathison (University of Nottingham prototype), 22:39.864, 99.884 mph<\/li>\n
  4. John McGuinness (Mugen), 23:50.538, 94.949 mph<\/li>\n
  5. Allann Venter (Brunel), 23:55.383, 94.628 mph<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n