Rutter, Kneen, Hillier and Burrows join TT Zero for 2011 TT
TT stars Michael Rutter, John Burrows, Dan Kneen and James Hillier will join the electric bike revolution at the 2011 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy.
The organisers have announced they are among the riders due to contest the 2011 TT Zero clean emissions race, which has attracted new race sponsor SES Satellite Leasing Ltd.
Also due to compete are last year’s winner Mark Miller and rob Barber, who won the 2009 TTXGP.
Several new teams appear in the line-up for TT Zero, which is scheduled for 3pm on Wednesday June 8.
Teams from the UK, Isle of Man, America, Belgium, Spain, Japan and Italy have submitted entries - there are already four teams from America on the starting grid in 2011 and it is hoped that further teams from around the world will enter before the 2011 TT begins.
All the riders will be aiming not only to take victory, but also to claim the prestigious accolade of securing the first 100mph average lap speed for a clean emissions machine, which comes with a £10,000 prize donated by the Isle of Man Government.
The Motoczysz team from Portland, Oregon, is the current lap record holder, with 96.82mph, set on the way to victory in the 2010 race.
There are also 10 special trophies to be claimed for the first 10 teams to achieve the magic 100mph lap of the TT Mountain course.
The Isle of Man Government is also offering a £5,000 prize for the leading University team. The The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has entered for the first time and will be competing against established English teams Brunel, Kingston and Imperial for the fastest University title.
Economic Development Minister Allan Bell said:
“The growing success of this venture is helping us to showcase the Isle of Man’s Clean Tech capabilities as well as encouraging enterprise and innovation. The teams are making groundbreaking developments and their progress is setting the industry standard.”
“I’m delighted to see new teams from Belgium, Spain, the USA, Italy and Japan joining the line up, which highlights the international nature of the event.”