The era of electric motorcycling began today when entrants in the first clean emissions Grand Prix proved their viability by lapping the famous IOM TT circuit in excess of 80 mph during the first practice session for Friday’s race.
The honours in the first ever session went to the Indian Agni Motors entry based around a 2007 model Suzuki GSX-R600 road bike frame and fitted with two Agni 95 motors and 63 70AH Kokam lithium-polymer batteries. Rated by the team at around 40-50 bhp, the bike was the first electric motorcycle to complete a lap of the 37 mile course, with Team Agni rider Rob Barber averaging 84.81 mph to the time sheets.
In the Open class, for machines built within a UKP 30,000 budget, Team ManTTx rider Dan Kneen lapped at an average speed of …Â Details
You’ve been on the highway at, or just slightly above the speed limit, when a gang of sport bike kamikazes (labelled “organ donors” by my pal Jim Kenzie) goes screaming past at unbelievable speeds cutting in and out of traffic.
The place for those with too much horsepower and too little regard for their own lives is the race track. Fortunately many such opportunities are available — they’re called Track Days. Every race track you’ve ever heard of, and hundreds more, open their doors to “organ donors” on a regular basis.
I never expect to have the opportunity to drive a Formula One car around a world famous race course. I did, however, have the opportunity to pilot a vehicle with an equivalent weight-to-horsepower ratio at Road America. Let me state clearly, the responsibility for this highly risky state of affairs rests on the shoulders of Don James…Â Details
