THE TT Zero race is being hailed as a showcase platform for the Isle of Man to promote itself as a nation at the forefront of innovative design and new technology.
The Department of Economic Development is giving the TT Zero its full backing for 2011 and beyond and will use the event to send a message worldwide about the Island’s ‘Freedom to Flourish’ initiative.
TT Zero has given the TT massive worldwide publicity over and above the traditional coverage of the TT as a unique motorcycling event. Many more TV crews and journalists from around the world arrived on the Island this year for the second running of the TT Zero race and even more interest is being shown in the 2011 race in the 100th anniversary year of the TT Mountain course.
“Running the electric bike race as part of the TT Races has given us an excellent platform to demonstrate the Isle of Man’s clean tech capabilities,” said Allan Bell, Minister for Economic Development. “This event continues to offer best in practice development and puts the Island at the heart of innovative design and groundbreaking technology.
“We have created a business environment on the Isle of Man that encourages small and developing businesses to flourish. We have more flotations on the AIM market than any jurisdiction outside the UK and we are proving particularly attractive for technology companies with valuable intellectual property.
“We already have a cluster effect with aerospace, carbon trading and commercial space projects and are in talks with a number of other businesses from associated industries.”
For the 2011 TT Zero race the department has also created a new ‘University Prize’ of £5,000, which will be awarded to the fastest University or College team. University teams representing Kingston, Imperial and Brunel have already experienced the event and will be among the favourites for the prize.
The Isle of Man Government has also confirmed that there will be an iconic ‘100 Club’ set up for the first 10 teams who are able to record a 100mph lap on an clean emissions bike. Each of the ten will also receive an iconic limited edition replica trophy, designed by a local Manx artist. Each of the trophies will be individually numbered.
It is not expected that all ten trophies will be given away in 2011. To date no team has achieved the landmark time around the TT course, with the current lap record holder for the class, last year’s winner, Moto Czysz, recording a winning time of 96.82mph (23:22.89) average lap speed.
This means that the £10,000 prize on offer from the Isle of Man Government to the first team to record the prestigious mark is also still available in 2011.
The event has already attracted a number of individuals, universities and businesses worldwide and to date 7 countries have been represented – UK, Isle of Man, USA, India, Germany, Austria and Sweden. This year new countries and teams are expected to participate in the race, which will take place on Wednesday 8th June 2011.
Interest in the TT Zero clean emissions bike race is growing since the first race in 2009 and North One Television, who control the sales and distribution of the TT Races, has confirmed that this year the programming will include an in-depth analysis of the TT Zero race in their international highlights package which will go out on leading broadcasters worldwide.
