RR » McGuinness confirms electric ride at TT

05 March 2012
'I've followed the electric bike race for the last couple of years and I was keen to take part if the bike was right' - John McGuinness
McGuinness confirms electric ride at TT
Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness says he is eager to test the new Mugen EV machine he will ride in the SES TT Zero Challenge race on the Mountain Course in June.

Honda TT Legends rider McGuinness, who took his tally of TT victories to 17 after an imperious double in the Superbike and Senior races in 2011, will ride Mugen's 'Shinden' model as he bids to snare the £10,000 prize up for grabs to the first rider completing a lap at an average speed of 100mph in the clean emissions race.

“I've not had a chance to test the bike yet. My first look at it will be in a few weeks, but the pictures look great,” said McGuinness. “I've followed the electric bike race for the last couple of years and I was keen to take part if the bike was right.

“There are a few other good machines in the line up so I think there's going to be a bit of competition this year, particularly with the chance to make history with the first 100mph lap.”

The machine, which has a carbon fibre frame and swingarm, was unveiled at the Suzuka race track in Japan at the weekend by M-Tec Company Ltd President Shin Nagaosa.

Mugen's EV offering has been specifically designed to tackle the Island's iconic 37.73-mile Mountain course.

The bike, christened 'Shinden', which means 'electricity of God', will be one of the early favourites to become the first electric bike to average a 100mph-plus lap of the course and with McGuinness aboard, who holds the outright lap record of 131.578mph set in 2009 on a Honda Fireblade, the team has every chance.

The Isle of Man Government's Economic Development Minister, John Shimmin, added: “Having the Mugen team enter the race is a real boost to the SES TT Zero and the Isle of Man's clean tech credentials.

"We are really pleased that the team has chosen the Isle of Man for the bike's first competitive outing and having John McGuinness competing in the event will generate even more interest in the race.”


Tagged as: John McGuinness , Isle of Man TT , Mountain Course , tt zero , Mugen
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Related Pictures

The Mugen TT Zero machine John McGuinness will ride at the event in 2012

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