TTXGP

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TTXGP Logo Ttxgp logo.jpg
TTXGP Logo

TTXGP are the official promoters of FIM eRoadRacing, an electric motorsport race series. Founded by Azhar Hussain MBE & Hersh Patel in 2008, TTXGP started life as the first zero-carbon, clean-emission race to take place at the Isle of Man TT as teams from around the globe raced electric motorbikes.

Contents

TTXGP then grew to become a world championship before the company took up the official role as promoters of FIM eRoad Racing when TTXGP and FIM e-Power joined forces in 2013.

Origin

The TTXGP was a new event for the 2009 Isle of Man TT races, promoted by Azhar Hussain & Hersh Patel, who took the idea forward after a number of different Manx individuals mooted the initial idea. Engineer Peter Hindley and civil servant Brian Hammond had proposed the idea of a zero-carbon TT motorcycle race on the Isle of Man to the IOM government in 2008. Hindley's proposed format, which was largely adopted, was based on that of the original 1907 TT race which valued fuel economy as well as speed.

The 2009 TTXGP was a one-lap, 37.733-mile (60.725 km) race for racing motorcycles "powered without the use of carbon based fuels and have zero toxic/noxious emissions." [1] For 2010 the event was replaced by TT Zero, also created for zero-emissions motorcycles. In 2010, Hussain organized electric motorcycle races in North America and Europe that culminated in a world championship race in Albacete Spain. [2] The series expanded to include Australia in 2011 along with races in the United States and Europe. [3]

2009

TTXGP bikes in the paddock before their first practice session in the 2009 Isle of Man TT Ttxgp bikes isle of man tt 2009.jpg
TTXGP bikes in the paddock before their first practice session in the 2009 Isle of Man TT

Machines

For 2009 the classes were established to cover different types of energy systems. This was changed for the 2010 season to focus exclusively on electric.

Professional Class (officially denominated as "Best Buy Pro Class")

Open Class

Weight

Official qualification time

TTXGP participants - 2009 Isle of Man TT Races

TeamClassMotorcycleNoRider
Mission Motors PRO3a1 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas Montano
Kingston UniversityOpen3 Flag of Scotland.svg George Spence
EVOdesignPRO3a4 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Paul Owen
MotoCzysz PRO3a5 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Miller
KillaCycle Racing /Lightning MotorcyclesPRO3a6 Flag of Ireland.svg Alan Connor
eROCKITPRO3a7 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg David Madsen-Mygdal
Barefoot Motors RacingPRO3a8 Flag of England.svg Chris Petty
Imperial TTxGPPRO3a10 Flag of England.svg Chris Palmer
Brammo/BIKEPRO3a11 Flag of England.svg Roy Richardson
Team AgniPRO3a12 Flag of England.svg Robert Barber
HTBLAUVA - TGMPRO3a14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Dobbs
ManTTx RacingOpen16 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg Dan Kneen
TORKPRO3a17 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg John Crellin
XXLPRO3a18 Flag of Germany.svg Thomas Schoenfelder
EVOdesignPRO3a19 Flag of England.svg Olie Linsdell
ElectricMotorsport.com / Native Cycles Open21 Flag of England.svg Chris Heath
ElectricMotorsport.com / Native Cycles PRO3a22 Flag of Ireland.svg Roger Maher
Peace e-riderOpen23 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio Maseo
Brunel X-teamPRO3a24 Flag of England.svg Steve Harper
Brammo/BIKEPRO3a26 Flag of Scotland.svg Mark Buckley

[4]

2009 TTXGP Best Buy PRO Class final standings.

12 June 2009 1 Lap (37.733 mi (60.725 km)) Mountain Course. TTXGP for Carbon free emission motor-cycles in PRO classes 3a-3d

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of England.svg Rob Barber AGNI87.434 mph (140.711 km/h)25' 53.50
2 Flag of Germany.svg Thomas Schoenfelder XXL 77.841 mph (125.273 km/h)29' 04.93
3 Flag of Scotland.svg Mark Buckley Brammo 75.350 mph (121.264 km/h)30' 02.64
4 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas Montano Mission Motors 74.091 mph (119.238 km/h)30' 33.26
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Paul Dobbs HTBLAuVA - TGM62.575 mph (100.705 km/h)36' 10.63
6 Flag of England.svg Stephen Harper Brunel X-team 40.092 mph (64.522 km/h)56' 27.89

[5]

2009 TTXGP OPEN Class final standings.

12 June 2009 1 Lap (37.733 mi (60.725 km)) Mountain Course. TTXGP for Carbon free emission motor-cycles in OPEN class.

RankRiderTeamSpeedTime
1 Flag of England.svg Chris Heath ElectricMotorsport.com / Native Cycles 66.022 mph (106.252 km/h)34' 17.30
2 Flag of England.svg Chris PettyBarefoot Motors62.219 mph (100.132 km/h)36' 23.06
3 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg John Crellin TORK60.475 mph (97.325 km/h)37' 26.01

[6]

Conflict with FIM

Shortly after the inaugural TTXGP race on the Isle of Man in June 2009, discussions commenced between Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the international governing body of motorcycle racing, and TTXGP regarding the FIM sanction of an eGrandPrix world championship. The TTXGP Technical Rules, which dealt with class specifications, safety of riders and marshals, and, generally, guidelines concerning the mitigation of possible hazards presented by the electric systems of the motorcycles; were shared with FIM during these discussions. In November 2009, talks broke down and, thereafter, FIM organized its own electric motorcycle racing series, denominated the e-Power. Motorcycling's publication of record in the UK indicated that "the split arose after the FIM reneged on its original agreement with TTXGP series organisers, threatening to withdraw its backing pending payment of half a million Euros. A witness to the proceedings claims the FIM then demanded full rights to the series. When the demand was refused the FIM then insisted the rule book – drafted by TTXGP organisers – could not be used outside the FIM’s own hastily-organised series." [7] Another publication indicated "The FIM knew a good thing when it saw it and started working with Hussain to push electric motorcycle racing onto a much bigger stage. Things were looking rosy until the FIM walked away — and took the TTXGP’s rule book with it — in November and announced the E-Power series, four races slated to begin in May." [8] By January 2010, TTXGP had announced a 2010 series of races that would commence in May at Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California, and would include races in Canada, Italy, UK and Spain. [8]

Conflict with IOM

TTXGP had planned to return in June 2010 to the Isle of Man to hold the second annual electric motorcycle race on the Island. In January 2010, however, the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure announced that it would be holding its own electric motorcycle race, the TT Zero, without involvement by TTXGP. [8]

2010

TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki

In January 2010, TTXGP announced that it was going to utilize a wiki-based rules model. Hussain said, "We have created a rules wiki at www.egrandprix.com/wiki. You can take the 2010 rules posted there and let us know how you think they should be amended via the wiki systems. . . Our strength is our recognition that inclusion and diversity are the among the core elements of success in our new endeavour." [9] At the time, Motorcycle News called it, "another inspired move by Hussain which helps keep his series closer to the pulse of modern race fans and participants, while leaving rival FIM look lead-footed." [10]

TTXGP UK 2010 participants

TeamMotorcycleNoRider
Morris Motorcycles Racing Team 2010Mavizen61 Flag of Sweden.svg Annie Seel
Kingston UniversityPWI62 Flag of England.svg Adam Palfreman
ManTTx RacingManTTx63 Flag of the Isle of Man.svg James McBride
MRB Racing/ The Tuning WorksSuzuki64 Flag of England.svg Russell Licence
TORK INDIAT002X65 Flag of England.svg Jim Lovell
Kingston University/LiFeBATT/LiFeTech RacingCagiva66 Flag of England.svg Harry Hardi
Imperial TTXGPSuzuki/Lemco67 Flag of England.svg Daniel Jackson
Electric HussarsMavizen68 Flag of England.svg Pete Ward
Team AgniSuzuki/Agni69 Flag of England.svg Rob Moon
Team AgniSuzuki/Agni77 Flag of England.svg Jenny Tinmouth

2011

According to a joint press release by FIM and TTXGP, the two organizations combined forces for the first time in July 2011. "In a spirit of collaboration and with the common goal of promoting electric clean emission racing, the FIM e-Power & TTXGP Championships will combine both series in a support race during the FIM MotoGP World Championship Round to be held this weekend at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, California (USA)." [11] Both championships were won in 2011 by German Münch Racing Team as constructor and Matthias Himmelmann as rider on a Münch TTE-2.

Race Results - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

PosRiderNationTeamClassTotal Time Km/h Gap
1Steve Rapp Flag of the United States.svg Mission Motors TTXGP12'40.597136.692
2 Michael Czysz Flag of the United States.svg MotoCzysz e-Power13'20.592129.8630'39.995
3Michael Barnes Flag of the United States.svg LightningTTXGP13'20.825129.8260'40.228
4Steve Atlas Flag of the United States.svg Brammo TTXGP13'40.456126.7190'59.859
5Alessandro Brannetti Flag of Italy.svg CRPTTXGP/e-Power13'40.814126.6641'00.217
6Matthias Himmelmann Flag of Germany.svg Münch TTXGP/e-Power13'41.076126.6241'00.479
7Thad Wolff Flag of the United States.svg Moto ElectraTTXGP12'51.894117.8551 lap
8Shelina Moreda Flag of the United States.svg CRPTTXGP/e-Power13'16.681114.1181 lap
9Ely Schless Flag of the United States.svg Proto MotoTTX7514'17.093106.141 lap
10Marcelino Manzano Flag of Spain.svg LGNe-Power14'25.614105.0951 lap
11Kenyon Kluge Flag of the United States.svg Zero TTX75DNF

2012

In 2012 both the FIM e-Power and the TTXGP the e-Grand Prix world titles were again won by the German Münch Racing Team as constructor with their Münch TTE-2. Its rider Matthias Himmelmann gained the FIM e-Power world title. With the TTXGP the e-Grand Prix he gained world vice championship and the European title.

2013

Following further, successful collaborations between FIM and TTXGP during the 2012 season, particularly at Laguna Seca, the two organisations announced in April 2013 they would be joining forces to create the FIM eRoadRacing World Cup.

The World Cup was announced as a one-off, season-long competition which would allow teams in Europe and the US to compete on their continents for a place in the world final. From 2014, the World Cup format would change to a World Championship meaning teams from both Europe and the US would compete at each round across three continents.

The first FIM eRoadRacing season was announced with races at Laguna Seca, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Circuit de Valencia, Le Mans, Oschersleben and Miller Motorsports Park with a world final expected to take place during the latter months of 2013.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ REGULATIONS - 2009 International Tourist Trophy - Isle of Man 30 May - 12 June p37-40 ACU Events Ltd (2009)
  2. ↑ "TTXGP World Champions 2010: MÜNCH RACING". 24 October 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "2011 TTXGP Race Calendar" . Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  4. ↑ Manx Independent p2 dated 5 June 2009 Isle of Man Newspapers ISSN 1358-4391
  5. ↑ "Final Results of TTXGP: Isle of Man June 12th 2009". TTXGP.com. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  6. ↑ "Final Results of TTXGP: Isle of Man June 12th 2009". 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  7. ↑ Procter, Guy (3 December 2009). "Electric racing crisis: Mission sign for TTXGP, FIM blamed for split". Motorcycle News. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 Squatriglia, Chuck (29 January 2010). "More Suds In Electric Motorcycle Racing Soap Opera". Wired Autopia. Conde Nast. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Hussain, Azhar. "TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki". eGrandPrix.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.[ failed verification ]
  10. ↑ Procter, Guy (11 January 2010). "TTXGP rules will be wiki-based in 2011". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  11. ↑ "TTXGP, FIM e-Power International Electric Motorcycle Racing Series Will Share Three Events In 2011". Roadracing World. 19 February 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
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