TT Zero podium finish for University of Nottingham electric superbike

June 7, 2018, by Emma Lowry

TT Zero podium finish for University of Nottingham electric superbike

The University of Nottingham electric superbike took second place in the Isle of Man TT Zero race on Wednesday 6 June, splitting the two factory Mugen bikes, a historic feat never before achieved by a university team.

Daley Mathison, rider for Nottingham, secured the impressive podium finish after averaging 119.294 mph (18:58.600) the second fastest ever lap speed by an electric motorcycle at the world-famous motor-sport competition.

The Duke of Cambridge, a huge motorcycle fan, met track-side with the Nottingham engineers to hear all about their innovative e-bike design before he waved the chequered flag to start the race.

“The Duke was very enthusiastic about our superbike and chatted at length with our students about our experience in electric motor racing. It was a great honour for us all to meet him,” said Nottingham electric superbike race team leader, Dr Miquel Gimeno-Fabra, from the Faculty of Engineering.

Success is building for the Nottingham electric superbike race team – the first university team to ever break the 100 mph lap speed in the TT Zero race – who also finished third in 2016 and 2017.

Dr Gimeno-Fabra, said of this year’s outstanding outcome: “We stayed true to our guiding principles of team work and loyalty to our rider, Daley. We couldn’t be prouder of the result.”

Speaking at the SES TT Zero race press conference, Daley Mathison said: “Our lap time last year was good enough to put us in third place and I think this year we’ve done ourselves justice…..Second place I’m over the moon with that….I work with the Nottingham boys throughout the European Championships as well and they build a new bike from scratch every year. You can’t say enough for how hard they work. I’m just glad that they stick with me and keep putting me out there. I keep trying to prove to them that I’m worth it and hopefully today they’ve seen that and we’ll continue for next year as well.”

The Nottingham electric superbike has undergone considerable modification in the last 12 months, including a new powertrain with a different converter and a modified motor.

“Our collaboration with sponsors Würth Elektronik, Borg Warner and K-Tech Suspension to develop and tune our motorcycle has helped massively to make the bike faster and more reliable. They are all fantastic sponsors and technology partners,” adds Dr Gimeno-Fabra.

The hardworking race team took time out to celebrate together last night, but have their eyes firmly fixed on the next round of international superbike competitions this summer.

First, the e-bike will be flown out to Colorado, USA, where the team will attempt to break several drag racing world records and compete in the Pike’s Peak International Hill climb, followed by short circuit racing at the Moto-E 2018 European Championship. On 14-15 July they plan to make history as the first electric team to competitively race against petrol bikes at the Moto Time Attack events at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire.

The electric superbike is supported by the Propulsion Futures Beacon of Excellence which focuses on research into green electrified transport technologies at the University of Nottingham.

Read our tribute to Daley, who sadly died following a crash while racing for the MADMAX Race Team at the 2019 Isle of Man TT here.

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For more information, contact Dr Miquel Gimeno-Fabra on M.Gimeno-Fabra@nottingham.ac.uk or Emma Lowry, Media Relations Manager, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham on 0115 8467156 or emma.lowry@nottingham.ac.uk