Photo: Mugen
Team Mugen confirms their presence in the TT Zero Challenge for the 2016 Isle of Man TT. The Japanese maker will field a bike called Shinden Go, and will have the usual rider duo at the helm of the two machines, John McGuiness and Bruce Anstey.
Just like the team did on other occasions, Mugen says that the Shinden Go machine will be an all-new design. Now, we looked back at the bikes Mugen brought at the Snaefell Mountain, and despite similar statements from Mugen, each new incarnation only sported minute, incremental changes.
For 2016, Team Mugen is sticking with the same two riders who brought 1-2 podiums in 2014 and 2015. 23-time TT winner John McGuinnness and 20-time Snaefell victor Bruce Anstey will be behind the handlebars of the two Shinden Go machines, with the team hoping to add new accolades to the existing ones.
The aim for 2016 is to break the 120 mph (193 km/h) lap time barrier, a success that the new Mugen machines might finally achieve. The Japanese bikes gradually improved their performance and are now comparable to the lap times of the petrol-powered Lightweight TT 650cc machines.
Frankly, we don't expect to see huge differences on the aesthetic side. Just like with the previous iterations of the machine, the biggest modifications were made in the tech department, and we guess that the "recipe" hasn't changed. And by the way, Mugen has not abandoned the Japanese numeral naming code: "Go" means "five" in Japanese.
Mugen's machine had little competition during the last two TT races, with the distance from the first two bikes and the third, which by the way, was a Victory Empulse, being a significant one. The rest of the machines were even further behind, namely Sarolea and the bike fielded by the University of Nottingham.
However, we came across an older message posted by Moto Czysz last year, in response to a question about the future, and which hinted at a TT Zero comeback in 2016, also with the (still) mythical 120 mph in sight. If Moto Czysz returns to the Isle, the electric TT will be all the more interesting, as Czysz' machines look like the only ones capable of giving Mugen a run for their money and put up serious competition.
With an increasingly strong presence in Europe, we wonder how long it will take until Zero Motorcycles starts thinking about preparing an SR for IOM...
For 2016, Team Mugen is sticking with the same two riders who brought 1-2 podiums in 2014 and 2015. 23-time TT winner John McGuinnness and 20-time Snaefell victor Bruce Anstey will be behind the handlebars of the two Shinden Go machines, with the team hoping to add new accolades to the existing ones.
The aim for 2016 is to break the 120 mph (193 km/h) lap time barrier, a success that the new Mugen machines might finally achieve. The Japanese bikes gradually improved their performance and are now comparable to the lap times of the petrol-powered Lightweight TT 650cc machines.
Mugen will show the Shinden Go at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show in March
The Tokyo Motorcycle Show is the moment Mugen chose to unveil the Shinden Go. On March 25, 2016, the team will pull the wraps off the bike, but spy shots are most likely to surface earlier.Frankly, we don't expect to see huge differences on the aesthetic side. Just like with the previous iterations of the machine, the biggest modifications were made in the tech department, and we guess that the "recipe" hasn't changed. And by the way, Mugen has not abandoned the Japanese numeral naming code: "Go" means "five" in Japanese.
Mugen's machine had little competition during the last two TT races, with the distance from the first two bikes and the third, which by the way, was a Victory Empulse, being a significant one. The rest of the machines were even further behind, namely Sarolea and the bike fielded by the University of Nottingham.
@mcderose Never underestimate the power of caregiving! MC = stay @ home Dad to 2 awesome sons... and planning "THE Return" #IOMTT'16 #120MPH
— MotoCzysz (@MotoCzysz) August 21, 2015 However, we came across an older message posted by Moto Czysz last year, in response to a question about the future, and which hinted at a TT Zero comeback in 2016, also with the (still) mythical 120 mph in sight. If Moto Czysz returns to the Isle, the electric TT will be all the more interesting, as Czysz' machines look like the only ones capable of giving Mugen a run for their money and put up serious competition.
With an increasingly strong presence in Europe, we wonder how long it will take until Zero Motorcycles starts thinking about preparing an SR for IOM...
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