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***Malcolm*** · 26-02-2016, 03:12 PM

Saroléa Racing (http://www.sarolea-racing.com) will return to race the IOM TT in 2016 with two riders racing the 2016 Saroléa Electric SP7 in the TT Zero Class.

Bradford’s Dean Harrison and Northern Ireland’s Lee Johnston are confirmed to ride for the iconic Belgian brand in their 3rd consecutive year at the Isle of Man TT.

Lee Johnston who raced the TT ZERO for the first time in 2015 and podiumed 3rd said:

“I’m buzzing to be on-board with Saroléa. I raced last year for a different team and podiumed 3rd, this year the plan is to podium again but faster!”

Dean Harrison now approaching his 6th year at the IOMTT said:

“It’s my first time racing the TT Zero and I cannot wait. I’ve been following the team since they raced for the first time in 2014 and I’m itching to get on the bike. The technology is off the scale and this year is going to be flat out.”

Saroléa Racing competed at the Isle of Man TT Zero for the first time in 2014; Robert Wilson taking the exquisite brand new all carbon SP7 to an amazing 4th, just 0.4 seconds off the podium and an average speed of 93.507mph. 2015 followed with significant technical advancements, and a ride that resulted in a solid 5th with an average speed of 106.510 mph, a phenomenal 13 mph improvement.

With TT Zero lap speeds and technological advancements evolving at an unprecedented rate, the 2016 TT ZERO is set to be one of the most exhilarating races in electric history.

Torsten Robbens, Saroléa said:

“Having multiple bikes on the 2016 TT grid, in combination with two of the best road racers in the world is another huge step forward in the Saroléa journey!”

The TT Zero Race created in 2010 for zero emission electric motorcycles is a one-lap race round the Island’s 37.733 mile Snaefell Mountain Course scheduled for Wednesday June 8th 2016, with qualifying laps on Friday 3rd and Monday 6th June 2016.

The 2016 Saroléa Electric SP7 will be unveiled later this year, stay tuned for updates! #SaroleaMoto

Robert Wilson on the Team Sarolea Racing machine through St Ninians Crossroads in the 2015 IOM TT

Lee Johnston

Dean Harrison

Sarolea is proud to be supported by: Bridgestone and DQ

Founded in 1850, Saroléa was the first Belgian motorcycle manufacturer and also one of the first ever global motorcycle manufacturers, producing fine machines for 7 decades until the factory closed down in the 1960’s. Twin brothers Torsten and Bjorn Robbens bought the rights in 2008, (Their great-uncle was a factory rider in the earlier years) and the brand was reborn. Torsten, a high profile racing team manager and expert in motorsport, military and space composite manufacturing together with brother Bjorn, an IT and Electronics expert, are now pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology far into the future with the Saroléa SP7 and the Saroléa MANX 7 100% Electric Superbikes.

Mugen · 29-02-2016, 12:30 PM

Good to see.
Sarolea are good people and have done an excellent job (with limited resources) in the 2 years they have competed in TT Zero, and 2016 with further development and an excellent rider line-up should be worth watching.

Smidsy · 29-02-2016, 01:51 PM

TT Zero race is very interesting, we do need more entries though.
Q for Mugen if I can, how long do you think it will be until we can run a two lap race, more or less at the current speed?

Mugen · 01-03-2016, 07:44 AM

(29-02-2016, 01:51 PM)Smidsy Wrote: TT Zero race is very interesting, we do need more entries though.
Q for Mugen if I can, how long do you think it will be until we can run a two lap race, more or less at the current speed?

At the moment we are using everything we've got to do the speeds we are over the one lap. You could go further but the speeds would be down.
A solution could be to swap battery pack after one lap but you have to consider that currently the battery pack is fully integrated into the frame and takes all day to swap, plus they cost 10's of thousands of pounds, so not practical just yet.
However battery development is constantly taking place (our 2016 cells are vastly more advanced than even our 2012 pack) so there will be a technological breakthrough that will take us to the next level, it is just difficult to say when that will be. But with all the development that is going on (F1, Le Mans, automotive etc) it's a fair bet it will happen.
As far as TT Zero is concerned, if we as a small independent team can do what we are doing you can imagine what a large manufacturer with a big budget might do.
In any case it is great to see more teams like Sarolea pushing the boundaries; last year there were 4 bikes over 100mph, this year hopefully there will be even more in the "ton-up club "

DBD 34 · 01-03-2016, 10:53 AM

Not a fan of TT Zero, it's a boring two horse race over one lap, should be part of a parade lap really. Would hate to see JM match or beat Joeys tally with a load of TT Zero wins, they shouldn't count in IMO.

kilbil · 02-03-2016, 06:13 PM

The way formula E is going in the car world the race organisers might have made the right call in sticking with the race.

kilbil

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