Isle of Man team confirmed for TT Zero
Another team has confirmed it will contest the clean emissions race at the 2010 Isle of Man TT.
Team ManTTx Racing will compete in TT Zero.
The Isle of Man-based team raced in 2009, recording an average lap speed of 70.677mph around the Mountain Circuit. ManTTx Racing was class leader and second overall in the first qualifying session with rider Dan Kneen at the controls.
Unfortunately, Kneen was unable to ride in the race due to injury. He was replaced by experience campaigner James McBride.
The Manx team, is led by chartered accountant David Craine and includes Keith McKay, an international and Manx Grand Prix racer. The crew includes Formula 3000 Engineer Phil Wall with Andrew Cowie, Joe O'Hanlon and Sean Mulvey making up the electrical engineering crew.
The team’s machine has incorporated a Ducati spaceframe chassis. It has dual motors with a keyed output shaft. The powertrain is a one-to-one belt with a primary drive and wire-eroded pulleys. The battery system has 2x40Amp/Hr and 2x31 Amp/Hr packs.
The team is currently engaged in driveability testing at its workshop in Ramsey shipyard and has been running dynamometer trials. The machine has been tested at Jurby Circuit, and the team said it was not only very satisfied with the bike’s performance and handling, but it also gathered much information for ongoing improvements.
During the 2009 race the team was going well to Sulby, but then one of the motor brushes broke and damaged the remainder on the right hand side motor. The resulting short circuits overheated the motor and resulted in the bike’s retirement.
However, the team is confident it will have fixed the problem and is looking forward to competing again during the 2010 TT.
Team Manager David Craine said:
“We are really excited about flying the flag for the Isle of Man in this showcase event – everyone is determined to put together a really competitive bike. With James back on board this year we are confident that we can go well.”
Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle added:
“It is fantastic for us to have a competitive Isle of Man team in the TT Zero event as they very much help us to showcase what the Isle of Man can offer the world as a centre of technical, environmental and commercial development.”