(19-02-2015, 12:10 AM)spannerman Wrote: Mugen I would like to ask a technical question with no digs only a safety issue, some years ago before practice week close to the race office car park I wheeled out of the van an ex WSB Kawasaki to get items from the front of he van, I think it was Chief Scrutineer Harvey Garton who noticed the bike and came over to explain that the Carbon wheels and swing arm were banned and could not be used at the TT, I was quick to point out that I was aware of the rules and the wheels were on just to move the bike and swing arm was going to be changed as we had just taken charge of the bike and that I was fully aware of the dangers of using a carbon fibre or kevlar composite swing arm on the stressful mountain circuit and the use of composite construction is forbidden, in the rules for bikes it says,    Rear Fork (Swing-arm)   The rear fork may be altered or replaced from those fitted to the homologated motorcycle. The use of carbon fibre or Kevlar materials is not allowed,  The TT zero rules are poor with regards to safety other than all the rules regarding the electrics,  is the class a free for all regarding issues such as composite parts like frame and swing arm?   The 2015 TT rules say  The Clerk of the Course may on the advice of the Chief Technical Officer, disqualify any vehicle, or equipment, the construction or condition of which is deemed to be unsafe or inappropriate.   Should an incident happen as a result of composite failure who's going to take blame?, as I started this post I am not having a dig but just questioning what I think is a safety issue

It is true that because TT Zero is a prototype class there are different regulations in place. Apart from the usual scrutineering that every bike goes through each time it goes on circuit, the technical crew visit the TT Zero bikes in their garages and inspect them for overall safety and quality of build and I believe they assess each one on their respective merits. We have run full carbon frame and swing-arm since our first visit in 2012.
Composite construction these days, with the widespread use of FEA and materials development, should mean that a properly designed and executed composite component will be no less a safely engineered solution than any other material.