Electric power proves its worth in first TTXGP practice session

The era of electric motorcycling began today when entrants in the first clean emissions Grand Prix proved their viability by lapping the famous IOM TT circuit in excess of 80 mph during the first practice session for Friday's race.

The honours in the first ever session went to the Indian Agni Motors entry based around a 2007 model Suzuki GSX-R600 road bike frame and fitted with two Agni 95 motors and 63 70AH Kokam lithium-polymer batteries. Rated by the team at around 40-50 bhp, the bike was the first electric motorcycle to complete a lap of the 37 mile course, with Team Agni rider Rob Barber averaging 84.81 mph to the time sheets.

In the Open class, for machines built within a UKP 30,000 budget, Team ManTTx rider Dan Kneen lapped at an average speed of 70.677mph on his 748R Ducati-based machine.

PRO Class times

• Team Agni (Rob Barber): 26:41
• Mission Motors (Thomas Montano): 33:45
• XXL (Thomas Schoenfelder): 34.07
• Brammo/Bike (Roy Richardson): 35:47
• Brammo/Bike (Mark Buckley): 35:52
• HTBLAUVA – TGM (Paul Dobbs): 41:53

Open Class times

• ManTTx Racing (Dan Kneen): 32:01
• Barefoot Motors Racing (Chris Petty): 33:35
• Electric Motorsport (Chris Heath): 36:26
• NSR - Kingston University (George Spence): 40:44

Full report shortly.