Victory Motorcycles To Compete In TT Zero Race

Victory Motorcycles has announced it will enter two electric motorcycles in this year’s TT Zero race on the Isle of Man. The Victory entries rely heavily on the Brammo Empulse RR bikes that Victory inherited when it acquired Brammo motorcycles earlier this year. The Victory effort is a full-on factory campaign and will feature two top tier motorcycle racers — William Dunlop and Lee Johnston.

The Victory race machines will have 150 horsepower and 166 lb-ft of torque. The both have upgraded 17 kWh  batteries, (more than what most plug in hybrids have) new motor controllers and an improved aerodynamic package to help them make it around the challenging 37.7 mile Isle of Man mountain race course as fast as possible.

According to a Victory Motorcycles press release, this will mark the first time the company has entered a European race and its first contest using an electric motorcycle. The motors for the TT Zero machines are made by Parker Hannifin, a highly regarded manufacturer that also worked with Brammo before the sale. The race will take place on Wedesday, June 1oth.

“I’m more than excited to race this prototype at the Isle of Man,” says rider William Dunlop. “Electric powertrains have many advantages, and the Isle of Man is one of the greatest tests in motorcycle racing.” Professional Rider Lee Johnston will be riding the second entry for Victory Racing at the Isle of Man TT. He says “I’m excited to make history by racing the new Victory electric race prototype. It’s thrilling to be part of the emerging electric motorcycle movement.”

If you are not familiar with Parker Hannifin, it may surprise you to learn that it has annual sales of more than $13 billion and is the world’s leading diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, providing precision-engineered solutions for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company employs approximately 57,500 people in 50 countries around the world.

Victory Motorcycles will host live updates and feeds from the race on its website and on its Twitter feed, @VictoryBikes. The Isle of Man always provides some of the most exciting motorcycle, automobile and sidecar racing in the world. Be sure to tune in.