Going Green at Isle of Man
Ron Lieback
AllAboutBikes.com Staff Writer
The first ever clean emission Time Trial Extreme Grand Prix will be held at the world-famous Isle of Man on June 12…but don’t think speeds will be lacking; these carbon-free machines reach 150 mph.
If the advancement of green motorcycle technology needed to be exploited, what can be better than a green Grand Prix at one of the world’s most famous tracks? The idea is iconic, and will be a reality on June 12 at the Isle of Man, where the world’s first clean emission, carbon-free Time Trial Extreme Gran Prix (TTXGP) will be held.
Occurring during the middle of Isle of Man TT weekend, this first ever emission-free race will certainly make history, and further encourage research and development of high performance electric motorcycles. Yes, it’s a race, but just because it’s emission-free, involving electric-powered motorcycles, don’t think these machines will be slow. The top speed reported on most bikes was around 150 mph.
And what better place to race than the Isle of Man TT Circuit? The 37.733-mile course runs along public roads with over 200 corners, the course ascending from sea level up to Hailwood’s Rise at an altitude of 1,384 feet. Three classes of zero-emission machines will compete: Pro, open and free. The Pro class will feature sophisticated prototypes backed by corporations; the open only uses machines converted with off-the-shelf components; and the free is an exhibition of amateurs and emergent technology.
Twenty-four confirmed entrants, 16 teams and seven different countries including the UK, Isle of Man, Italy, USA, India, Germany and Austria, have answered the challenge of British entrepreneur Azhar Hussain, who founded the TTXGP to prove that going green doesn’t mean going slow.
Here’s a list of participating teams and corresponding riders:
• HTBLAUVA – TGM (Austria) Martin Loicht
• eROCKIT (Germany) Rigo Richter
• eROCKIT (Germany) David Madsen-Mygdal
• XXL (Germany) Thomas Schoenfelder
• TORK (India) Garth Woods
• ManTTx Racing (Isle of Man) Dan Kneen
• Rondine Racing Team (Italy) Alessio Corradi
• Brunel X-team (UK) Steve Harper
• EVOdesign (UK) Mick Grant
• EVOdesign (UK) Olie Linsdell
• EVOdesign (UK) Paul Owen
• Imperial TTxGP (UK) Chris Palmer
• Kingston University (UK) Maria Costello
• Team Agni (UK/India) Robert Barber
• Barefoot Motors Racing (USA) Chris Petty
• Brammo/BIKE (USA) Roy Richardson
• Cool World Team (USA) Steve Macdonald
• Cool World Team (USA) Antonio Maeso
• Electric Motorsport (USA) Chris Heath
• Electric Motorsport (USA) Marie Hodgson
• KillaCycle Racing/Lightning Motorcycles (USA) Alan Connor
• Mission Motors (USA) Thomas Montano
• MotoCzysz (USA) Mark Miller
