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 MotoCzyszE1pc was also the first American manufactured motor-cycle to win an Isle of Man TT Race since Oliver Godfrey won the 1911Senior 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
Entrants
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
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]
2012 Isle of Man TT TT Zero - Michael Rutter on MotoCzysz during practice for the 2012 TT Zero race.
2012 Isle of Man TT TT Zero - (2) Mark Miller Motoczysz E1pc followed by (3) John McGuinness MUGEN Shinden in a race won by Michael Rutter Motoczysz Elpc 6 June 2012 .
^REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June p27 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
^50 Years of Moto Grand Prix page 47 editor Dennis Noyes Motorcourse (1999) Hazleton Publishing Ltd Presented by Dorna; Jarrod Book Printing ISBN978-1-874557-83-8
^REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June page 2 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
^REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
^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."
^REGULATIONS TT ZERO – 2010 International Tourist Trophy – Isle of Man 29 May – 11 June Appendix C page 25 ACU Events Ltd (2010)
^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
^TT News Race Edition Two page 11 10 June 2010 Isle of Man Newspapers ISSN 1471-7905
^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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