New Victory RR electric superbike aims at Isle of Man TT Zero

American motorcycle manufacturer, Victory Motorcycle is taking aim at the title of 2016 TT Zero at the Isle of Man TT with the all new Victory RR electric motorcycle. The bike has been developed over the past year using data and experience gathered during last year's TT Zero and will be ridden by William Dunlop. The bike will be also tested in the Pikes Peak race in the USA and Victory's international research and development team is well underway using the bike as test beds for technology that will be used in its future products.

Victory Racing's team manager, Brian Wismann said, "Our electric Empulse RR race bike placed third on the podium in the TT Zero race last year, which we were thrilled with. Using the data we gathered on our laps of the TT course has helped us to develop a new battery module as well as improving the powertrain. We feel like we can return to the TT with more performance as well as being able to test this technology for our future products.”

Victory Racing has learnt a lot from its previous experience at TT Zero and, with the new 170-hp Victory RR superbike, it will make an effort to reach the top of the podium. Its inaugural TT Zero participation with the Brammo Empulse RR resulted in a third place finish courtesy of Johnston, while Dunlop's last-minute replacement, Guy Martin, managed to finish fourth without spending testing time with the Empulse RR, nor having any prior experience with the electric motorcycles.

The new Victory RR is also based on the previously used Empulse RR, however, the bike has been majorly transformed with a steel trellis frame in place of the aluminum twin spar and a significant power hike from 150bhp to 174bhp. The liquid-cooled motor takes power from a new lithium-ion battery pack that itself is an improvement in both overall energy and capacity. The bike weighs 240kg and producing a peak torque of 240Nm, which makes it capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph (96.56kmph) in under 3 seconds, with a top speed around 160mph (257.49kmph).

Practice sessions for the 2016 TT Zero are going to start from June 3, and the single-lap race will be held on June 8. Victory will have to fight fiercely as team Mugen's two brand new 163-hp Shinden Go electric superbikes will again be ridden by Isle of Man legends John Mc Guinness and Bruce Anstey, the two racers who held the top two positions in the electric race for both 2014 and 2015.