For the third consecutive year, electric bikes will also compete in the TT Races, with the TT Zero Race scheduled to take place on Wednesday 8th June. The Isle of Man Government have again offered a ?10,000 prize to the first team to record a 100mph lap around the course. The prestigious mark was first recorded on a conventional machine in 1957 and has not yet been achieved by an electric bike, although the American team MotoCzysz from Portland, Oregon clocked an average lap speed of 96.82mph in the 2010 TT Zero Race. The 2011 TT meeting will also feature some high profile celebrations for the 2011 Mountain Course centenary as well as a definitive programme of events to commemorate Yamaha’s 50th anniversary of competing on the Isle of Man. Further details of this activity will be released in due course. Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, Political Member, Isle of Man Tourism, commented: “Following the overwhelming success of the 2010 TT Races meeting that featured some of the closest racing in the event’s history, it makes sense to keep broadly the same programme.” He continued: “We have listened to comments from a number of teams and riders, both from the top of the grid as well as further down the field, as well as sponsors and other commercial partners and the overwhelming feedback is that we need to help them to reduce their costs during the tough economic climate. We have therefore decided to remove the first practice to reduce the time that they spend on the Island, whilst maintaining arrangements within the existing road closure schedule to maintain the amount of track time available for qualification.” “We have a thrilling event and programme lined up for 2011 and are looking forward to welcoming fans from around the world to join the experience and to help us celebrate the centenary and anniversaries as well as seeing history in the making.” - Ends -