Darvill Racing is pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached with the ACU and Southern 100 club to allow us to enter electric motorcycles into this year’s event.

Darvill Racing, which was established in 1957 will be the first team to complete in a pure road race alongside conventional ICE (Internal Combustion Engines) anywhere in the world. Darvill Racing is committed to developing technologies to reduce the ever decreasing gap between ICE bikes and eBikes

This ground breaking opportunity demonstrates the forward thinking of both the ACU and Southern 100 Club both of which are blazing the trail in the integration of this exciting technology.

During 2014 Darvill Racing will directly participate in an extensive programme of top-level championships. Competing in the Pre-TT, TT, Southern 100, Classic TT, Manx Grand Prix, ThundersportGB and Andreas Championships. We have committed to a number of international races and have some individual and diverse one-off events planned.

Darvill Racing will be factory supported by Brammo in the USA utilising their eSuperStock and TTXP2 machines.

From cutting-edge design to efficient manufacturing Brammo strives to elevate performance in every facet of the eMotorcycle arena, we are extremely proud of this relationship.


Alex Aitchison – Darvill Racing Team Principal:

“We are extremely pleased to be given the opportunity to be the first team to compete with ICE machines in a pure road race event anywhere in the world. We are looking forward to working with the ACU and Southern 100 club. Spending time with Gary (Thompson) and his team it is evident that the ACU are committed to being the leading light in the field.

Derek Nicholson – President of the Southern 100 Club:

“Since the first Southern 100 was run in 1955, the club has always been progressive in its thinking and this year is no exception as we will witness the very first motorcycle race which will see ‘conventional’ racing machines competing with and against electric powered machines at the 2014 Southern 100 International Road Races. A first for Billown and the Isle of Man, in fact for the world.”

Gary Thompson – ACU General Secretary and Clerk of the Course for the Isle of Man TT:

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Darvill Racing – a brand that is synonymous with success, passion for racing, and the development of innovative and cutting edge machinery. Electric Vehicles are now at an advanced enough stage that they can compete with conventional technologies and we are proud to be in a position to support the inclusion of the first mixed race on Roads anywhere in the world. It is truly an exciting time for motorcycle racing.




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Electric bikes for Billown

Electric bikes will race alongside conventional internal combustion-engined machines at this year’s Southern 100 International meeting.

It will be the first time that e-Bikes have raced side-by-side with regular fossil fuel driven machines in open classes on a public road course anywhere in the world.

It is hoped that two electric bikes will contest the 400/125 class in the Isle of Man Steam Packet-sponsored meeting between July 7-10.

The announcement was made at Southern 100 MCRC’s press launch in Castletown on Friday evening when Darvill Racing’s team principal, Alex Aitchison, was interviewed.

‘I happen to live in Castletown, next door to Southern 100 MCRC president Derek Nicholson, and I asked him if the club would be willing to consider allowing eBikes to race alongside conventional machines.

‘He put the idea to the committee, who were very interested in the proposal.

‘Approaches were then made to the Auto-Cycle Union. Again the response was very positive and wheels were quickly put into motion.

‘It is something to behold. We need to put eBikes on the roads. TT Zero is a segregation, we need to bring electric and ITC bikes together.

‘Darvill Racing is committed to developing technologies to reduce the ever-decreasing gap between conventional bikes and eBikes.

‘This ground-breaking opportunity demonstrates the forward thinking of both the ACU and Southern 100 Club, both of which are blazing the trail in the integration of this exciting technology.

‘We are extremely pleased to be given the opportunity to be the first team to compete with internal combustion-engined machines in a pure road race event anywhere in the world.’

Darvill Racing will be factory supported by USA-based Brammo, utilising their eSuperStock and TTXP2 machines that incorporate cutting-edge design and efficient manufacturing procedures.

The bikes will be ridden by Chris Foster and Ramsey resident Keith McKay, who said: ‘I got involved with electric bikes from the start and I can assure you that they are proper motorcycles, not toys.

‘You can now buy them to ride on the roads. Hopefully ours will be competitive against the 400/125cc petrol machines.

‘With the development of batteries, its onwards and upwards.’

Commenting on behalf of Southern 100 Motor Cycle racing Club, Derek Nicholson said:

‘Since the first Southern 100 was run in 1955, the club has always been progressive in its thinking. This year is no exception as we will witness the very first motorcycle race that will see conventional racing machines competing with and against electric-powered machines at the Southern 100.

‘It’s a first for Billown and the Isle of Man, in fact it’s a first for the world.’

Gary Thompson has described the news of the first mixed race on roads anywhere in the world as a truly exciting time for motorcycle racing.



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History-making Darvill Racing team receives Isle of Man Steam Packet Company backing

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will support the ground-breaking Darvill Racing team this year.

The long-established team plans to make history by racing an electric bike alongside conventional machines at the 2014 Steam Packet Southern 100 International Road Races, which are being sponsored by the Company for the 15th year in a row.

Darvill Racing will be factory-supported by Brammo in the USA, using the firm’s eSuperStock and TTXP2 machines, and it will be the first time ever that eBikes have competed against traditional internal combustion engine motorcycles at a pure road race.

The team has been asked to attend the International Business Festival in Liverpool in June alongside the Department of Economic Development to help promote the Island’s clean technology sector.

The Steam Packet Company will meet the cost of transporting the team and its machines to and from the event.

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said:

‘As long-time sponsors of the Southern 100, we are really excited that the Billown circuit will see a world first in 2014.

‘It is another example of the Isle of Man leading the way, and I’m pleased we are able to support Darvill Racing to attend the International Business Festival, to showcase what the Island is doing in the clean technology sector.’

Team Principal Alex Aitchison said:

‘We are extremely pleased to be making history at the Southern 100 and proud to have been asked to help represent the Isle of Man at the International Business Festival.

‘I’d like to thank the Steam Packet Company, which has been a supporter of the Southern 100 and road racing in the Island for many years, for meeting the cost of our team attending the festival and I hope there are other opportunities for us to work together in 2014.’



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