BMW target the TT with e-superbike

BMW are thought to be prepping a bike for the 2016 TT Zero electric race at the Isle of Man TT with the  awesome electric S1000eRR the firm showed last month.

BMW are remaining resolutely tight-lipped about the project, and went to great pains to explain this bike was a rolling test bed when it was revealed in mid-November, but MCN’s sources have said there is a high chance this bike will compete at the TT Zero in June 2016.

One insider, who didn’t want to be named, told MCN: “There’s no firm decision about TT Zero but it would be a perfect place to show off what this bike, and the technology it uses, can do.”

The TT Zero event has grown in stature over the past few years with major manufacturers like Mugen (which is essentially a Honda factory-backed team) racing against the
Victory/Brammo team, Belgium-based Sarolea, and a number of privateer teams too. BMW have made clear their intent to grow the the range of electric scooters and motorcycles they produce within a short period of time, and racing the S1000eRR would be a logical next step.

Head of BMW’s Research and Design division Karl Viktor Schaller told MCN: “This is an example of what can done at the cutting edge of electrical technical development. There is no production intent with this motorcycle but next year you will see something else that will give a little more information. We are not giving out any technical details on this bike at this time.”