Is the Isle of Man TT Zero No More? Why Did They Stop Racing?
The last time an electric motorcycle took off down Bray Hill at the iconic Isle of Man TT course was in 2019, and we are yet to see another electrically powered motorcycle do the same.
Later in 2019, it was announced that the 2020 and 2021 editions of the TT Zero event were to be halted due to difficulties in running the class and finding competitors.
Then came along Covid-19 which halted the Isle of Man TT in its entirety until the 2022 event, the 2021 event looked to go ahead but once again was cancelled in favour of a fully supported 2022 event.
This has meant that we may have to wait even longer until the TT Zero event is back in full swing, if at all.
What is the TT Zero?
The TT Zero was an electric motorcycle racing event at the Isle of Man TT introduced in 2010 in place of the pre-existing TTXGP race. The motorcycles raced in this event are classified as “Motorcycles powered without the use of carbon-based fuels and with zero toxic/noxious emissions.”
The race was a single-lap race on the legendary Isle of Man course and was dominated by the Japanese brand Mugen from 2014 until the final race in 2019. Mugen was solely responsible for raising and breaking top speed records around the circuit pushing the 2013 average speed record of 109.675 mph up to a staggering 121.91 mph and a sub-21, 20 then 19-minute lap time.
The race attracted top talents including Michael Rutter, Bruce Anstey and of course, John McGuinness, all three taking victories for Team Mugen. Rutter was the most successful of the trio winning five of the 10 contested races in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2019, the final two for Team Bathams Mugen.
What were the issues with the TT Zero?
The major issues that the TT Zero faced in 2019 were a lack of interest from riders, manufacturers and fans alike with major participation costs that outweighed the money earned from competing and hosting the event.
The starting grids often saw single-digit rider lineups, with just seven riders finishing the race in the 2019 event. Additionally, the difference between the Mugens and their competitors ranged from an average of 20-50mph per lap, meaning they were impossible to beat, finishing nearly four minutes ahead of their third-placed competitor, Ian Lougher, in 2019.
No new major manufacturers were on the horizon looking to join the series, and fans’ interest in the class was getting lower and lower each year. In an official statement, the TT organisers said, “The running of this class and the participation of the associated competitors have been increasingly challenging.”
Will the TT Zero return in the future?
It’s important to know that the TT Zero was never actually cancelled per se, but instead simply paused for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
In the nearly four years since this cancellation, the world of electric motorcycles has changed dramatically from high-stakes motorcycle racing in MotoE to manufacturers such as BMW, Harley-Davidson, and Kawasaki all creating electrically powered motorcycles.
Electric motorcycles are now mainstream, and Ducati’s takeover of Energica as the sole supplier in the newly renamed MotoE World Championship shows significant support and promise for the electric industry going forward.
For the 2023 season, the MotoE Series was renamed from the MotoE World Cup to the MotoE World Championship and will feature more rounds than ever. The 2019 inaugural season featured only six races over four rounds; fast forward to 2023, and we will see 16 races over eight rounds and official recognition as a world championship, giving it the title of the world’s most important electric motorcycle series.
The Isle of Man Department of Enterprise’s goal is to improve the island’s technological side and develop long-term strategies that would not only support electric motorcycle racing but also support and sustain electric cars and vehicles all year, meaning it is possible we will see a return but changes must be made.
What needs to happen for TT Zero to return?
Returning to TT Zero, one of the biggest issues was Mugen’s dominance and a lack of competitors to challenge them. Year after year, manufacturers’ goals shifted from trying to host longer races to see who could go the fastest over one lap. This is not sustainable for a racing series that needs to rely on action to perform; one single lap wasn’t enough.
For TT Zero to return, there needs to be a significant uptake in not only interest in the series but also investment from brands such as Ducati, Kawasaki, Zero, Energica, and BMW to stop the dominance of Mugen. Additionally, the technology of these motorcycles must have advanced to the point where they can complete multiple laps of the race without losing power, or the manufacturers must be working towards this goal.
The Isle of Man government also needs to have invested enough in the infrastructure to warrant a return of electric-powered racing to the island, and there needs to be enough demand from riders, fans, and manufacturers to make this financially worthwhile.