PPIHC: Carlin Dunne Sets Outright Best Motorcycle Time at Pikes Peak Tire Test on a Lightning Motorcycle

The competitors for the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have just concluded a two-day tire test at the Colorado road course, and it should perhaps come as no surprise that our boy Carlin Dunne has posted the outright fastest lap for a motorcycle during the tire test (the Santa Barbara native set the outright two-wheeled course record last year on his Ducati Multistrada 1200 S). What is surprising about Carlin’s result at the tire test is that he was on the Lightning Motorcycles electric superbike. That’s right, the fastest bike so far for 2013′s Race to the Clouds is a 200+ hp electric superbike that is refueled with solar energy. Petrol heads, eat your heart out.

Report: Indianapolis “Opting-Out” of 2014 MotoGP Race?

Talking to the Indy Star, Mark Miles (CEO of Hulman & Co, the parent company to Indianapolis Motor Speedway) has put some doubt into the historic venue’s commitment to host the MotoGP Championship. Having a contract to run the race through the 2014 season, Miles said that IMS might opt-out of the final year in its agreement with Dorna (IMS apparently has this option for a brief window after the 2013 Indianapolis GP). However while the news has focused so far on IMS’s ability to opt-out, both Dorna and Indianapolis Motor Speedway have options in their contract to go through with the 2014 round, and with a bevy of variables in the air, we may or may not see three American GP rounds next year.

2014 Yamaha FZ-09 – Three Cylinders of Naked

Surprise! America will be getting a 847cc three-cylinder naked bike for the 2014 model year, the 2014 Yamaha FZ-09. Replacing the Yamaha FZ8 in the Japanese company’s line-up, the FZ-09 is the first motorcycle from the tuning fork brand to sport the Yamaha’s new line of three-cylinder engines. The Yamaha FZ-09 comes about as the MIC is reporting its second-consecutive year of growth in the 751+cc sport bike segment, as well as increase in commuter riding over short-distance sport riding. With those trends in mind, Yamaha has punched out the displacement on its middleweight naked bike, and focused on giving riders a comfortable, yet stout, motorcycle. Priced at $7,990 MSRP, we think Yamaha hit the nail pretty much on the head with this one.

Trackside Tuesday: The Mind-Killer

In the past few years I’ve come to believe that, while superior physical differences (their reflexes and fine motor skills) are significant, it’s the mental differences that are the most interesting. I suppose anyone who has ridden a motorcycle even a bit beyond one’s comfort zone can appreciate some part of the physical aspect of riding a racing bike. For most of us, even the speed of racers in local events is impressive compared to our street riding. While the skills with throttle, brakes, and balance are on a level similar to the best athletes in other sports, I think that what really sets motorcycle racers apart is their ability to overcome fear.

Video: Still Think Electric Motorcycles Are Slow?

The progress in the last five years on electric motorcycles has been astounding. Taking their first laps around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course, a 87.434 mph pace was the best an electric motorcycle could do at the prestigious road race in 2009 — a pace that was on par with the 50cc record set in 1971. In just five years after the first laps were taken by electric motorcycles at Snaefell, these machines have grown their average lap speeds by over 20 mph at the TT Zero race, setting a new record of 109.675 mph in 2013, and boasting a rate of improvement of roughly 5 mph each year since 2009. If hitting 142.2 mph down the Sulby Straight speed trap wasn’t further proof of the speeds these bikes are achieving, maybe some visual evidence will help support the notion.

Here’s Your Feel Good Moment of the Week — Now, What’s Your Excuse for Not Riding Today?

Darius Glover is a dirt bike racer. Like you and me, he lives to ride, and when he is on two-wheels he feels the freedom that only other motorcyclists can truly understand. The thing is though, Darius is paralyzed from the waist down. Where others would give up their dreams and this sport, Darius at the age of 15 instead pushed onward. No pity parties, no excuses, just simply a daily example of where there is a will, there is a way, and a reminder that you can achieve anything that you put your mind to. It’s hard not to get a bit choked up listening to Darius tell his story, but you walk away feeling uplifted after feeling his attitude come across the screen.

Erzberg Rodeo – Red Bull’s S&M Playhouse for Motorcycles

Any race where 1,500 riders start, 500 qualify, and only 14 finish, has got to be an epic competition, and considering the fact that the Erzberg Rodeo starts in the excavation pit of an Austrian mine…well, it takes a special rider to be enticed by such an event. One such special rider is Graham Jarvis, who was the first of the fourteen men to reach the 20th and final checkpoint. Taking 2 hours and 52 seconds to complete the course, Jarvis made the 2013 Erzberg Rodeo look downright easy. However, with one look at the race-day conditions from this past weekend, we know it was anything but.

Controlling the Uncontrollable – The Role of Ritual in Racing

While normally, MotoGP fans never get enough of seeing Valentino Rossi on TV, there is one shot they would (for the most part) gladly be spared. As he leaves the pits, Rossi stands on the footpegs, and pulls his leathers from between his buttocks, before sitting back down again and leaving. These rituals – part useful limbering up, part invocation of Lady Luck – are something many riders perform, in their attempt to exert control over themselves, and over their environment. In a fascinating press release – by far the most interesting we have received in many months – the Aspar team today provided a discussion and explanation of what riders are trying to achieve through the use of these rituals.

Up-Close with the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc

Hoping to make it four wins in a row, it goes without saying that the MotoCzysz crew is working hard to close the gap to the John McGuinness and the Mugen team. However, having Team Principal Michael Czysz stuck back in the US, undergoing cancer treatments, must certainly add another level of motivation for the on-island MotoCzysz crew. Making time in their busy schedule, Asphalt & Rubber got to take some up-close photos of the 2013 MotoCzysz E1pc. The most obvious changes made to the MotoCzysz E1pc for the 2013 TT Zero race are the use conventional suspension pieces. Of course, it’s not a completely standard suspension setup, as MotoCzysz has developed its own adjustable triple clamp that incorporates tunable lateral flex parameters.

MotoGP: Max Biaggi To Test Ben Spies’s Ducati at Mugello, Michele Pirro To Replace Spies at Barcelona

Max Biaggi is to make a surprise return to riding a MotoGP machine. The former 250 and World Superbike champion will take a seat on Ben Spies’ Ignite Pramac Ducati as part of a one-day test at Mugello, as part of Ducati’s testing program, according to Italian site GPOne. Spies was scheduled to stay on at Mugello to take part in a two-day test, but after the first day of practice at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, it was clear to both Spies and Ducati that his shoulder was still too weak to ride a MotoGP machine. With work continuing on the Desmosedici, it was important for Ducati to get as much data as possible on their bike, and so Biaggi was offered the chance to ride the machine.

TTXGP Entries Announced

04/08/2009 @ 9:00 pm, by Jensen Beeler5 COMMENTS

TTXGP Entries Announced motoczysz ttxgp

Entries for the upcoming TTXGP have been announced, and five teams have entered to run the Isle of Man on electric wheels. Mission Motors, EVO Design Solutions, Kingston University, Brammo, and Motorczysz will make up the field. The teams have just 64 more days to get their bikes ready for competition, which could be a tall order for some of them, whose bikes still only exist as CAD drawings.

We have a very reserved opinion on how TTXGP will go down. While these teams have been able to gain a great deal of attention in the blogsphere about their projects, it would seem virtually all of them haven’t actually built even a prototype yet (excluding Brammo). In the tech industry, we call this Vaporware, and with less than 10 weeks before race day, we have a hard time conceiving how all these teams will be able to deliver in this short of a time frame. Never-the-less, the TTXGP will be a big day not only for electric motorcycle racing, but also for electric motorcycles in general. Continue reading for a description of each team from their press releases.

Mission Motors

TTXGP Entries Announced mission one ttxgp 560x301

Mission Motors will race in the TTXGP with veteran motorcycle racer Tom Montano on the Mission One. Mission Motors is touting the Mission One as the fastest production electric motorcycle, the TTXGP should be a fine time for them to back that statement up with fact. With 25 years of racing experience, Montano, has achieved top-level finishes at the AMA, AFM, WERA, FIM & the Isle of Man. He also holds the distinction of being one of the fastest Americans around the Isle of Man TT course. Mission Motors will enter the Mission One in the Pro A class of the inaugural TTXGP.

EVO Design Solutions

TTXGP Entries Announced evo design solutions ttxgp 560x416

The EV-0 RR was created by design firm Xenophya Design with the goal of creating an evocative and exciting concept that would inspire sponsors to buy into the electric sportbike concept. The bike certainly looks the part, but then again that’s what Xenophya does for a living. The real test will be whether or not the EVO Designs Solution team can create the bike in real life. For the TTXGP, EVO Design Solutions is supposedly bringing 2 different models for the race:

  • EV-0 RR (twin GMS-M1 motor, carbon monocoque construction, lithium based battery technology, micro generator)
  • EV-0 R (single GMS-M1 motor, carbon monocoque construction, lithium based battery technology)

UK team EVO Design Solutions is based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in the East Midlands. The EVO team will be entering three bikes into the TTXGP – the EV0-R (Open Class x2) and the EV0-RR (Pro Class). Olie Linsdell will ride the Pro Class entry, while Paul Owens and 7-times TT winner Mick Grant will ride the Open Class bikes.

Kingston University

TTXGP Entries Announced kingston ttxgp

Kingston University in the U.K. has entered the Firstest. Again, this another bike that as far as we know, still only exists in CAD form. The Firstest will be powered by Lithium-Ion Phosphate batteries, and is anticipated to do about 70 mph around the Isle of Man circuit. What really excites us about this entry is the fact that it is a student project. Additionaly, Maria Costello, Kingston University’s rider, is a Guinness World Record holder as the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT course.

Brammo – Enertia Electric

TTXGP Entries Announced brammo enertia ttxgp 560x373

Brammo, the US manufacturer of the Enertia Electric motorcycle, was one of the first commercial teams from America to enter the TTXGP. A modified version of its Enertia motorcycle is currently under development for entry into the TTXGP. The Enertia is already available for purchase in the US and there are plans in place to make the Enertia road legal and commercially available in the UK. The Brammo team’s entry into the TTXGP is called the Enertia TTR and seasoned TT racer Roy Richardson will be the rider.

Motoczysz

TTXGP Entries Announced motoczysz ttxgp

Recently announced through a cryptic blog entry on the Motoczysz website, Motoczysz has decided to enter an electric motorcycle that would seem to carry-over some of the design and technology from its C1 MotoGP attempt.  The rider will be Mark Miller.

Frame:MotoCzysz Carbon Fiber/Aluminum “Open Architecture”
Front Suspension:MotoCzysz 6X flex with gas filled single Ohlins damper
Rear Suspension:Ohlin’s with MotoCzysz swingarm and linkage
Front wheel / brakes:16.5 x 3.5 Carbon BST with 320mm Brembo
Rear wheel / brakes:16.5 x 6.25 Carbon BST with 220mm Brembo
Drive:MotoCzysz PMDC propulsion pack
Energy:Lithium Ion ‘Hot swap’ battery packs/digital configuration up to 15kWh
Control:2,400A with regen
Weight:195Kg
Power:115hp+
Torque:300 Ftlbs peak, 150 Ftlbs nominal
Max speed:150mph+ (w/ single speed gear box)
175mph+ (w/ multi speed gear box)

Imperial College

TTXGP Entries Announced imperialbike

The Imperial College of London will have an entrant as well. Basing their design off a production motorcycle, and adding an electric motor in place of the gasoline powered one, the students hope to benefit from the engineering already in place in modern sport bikes. Their bike is slated to make 50hp, and weigh 640 lbs. From what we can gather, a Suzuki Hayabusa will serve as the donor motorcycle.

Top 5 Related Posts:

  1. Twelve Entries for the FIM/TTXGP Round at Laguna Seca
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Comment:

  1. RennSau says:
    April 9, 2009 at 11:43 AM

    It is a shame that not one entry has released an actual picture of their racing cycles yet. You will know it when you see one it needs 20% MORE FAIRING BEHIND the rider than in front. The fairing design will be somewhat the genius of the team since the batteries, motors and controllers will be mainly sourced from outside suppliers.

  2. Alex Crookes says:
    April 9, 2009 at 8:01 AM

    Nice precis on the TTXGP, with some pics – http://is.gd/rBTd. most of them still prototypes, so could be a very small field

  3. IronWorks Magazine says:
    April 9, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    RT @EatSleepRide: Nice precis on the TTXGP, with some pics – http://is.gd/rBTd. most of them still prototypes…

  4. Mission Motors TTXGP Entry Spotted at Infineon - Asphalt & Rubber says:
    April 28, 2009 at 2:33 PM

    [...] 45 days remain until the start of the TTXGP, and electric hopefuls that once only existed on paper are starting to hit the pavement. We were delighted this morning to [...]

  5. BRose says:
    May 22, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    Man, I love what I’m seeing! Give it 5 years- these bikes will faster and actually more balanced than the conventional bikes – should be fun to watch.