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TT News: McGuinness Wins the TT Zero Challenge, Victory Not Even Close, Dunlop's Health Status

John "Mr. Pint" Guinness set a new speed record in the electric bike class at the 2015 Isle of Man TT, in the SES TT Zero Challenge race that took place this morning. McPint lapped around the Mountain Course in 18"58.743, for a speed of 119.279 mph (191.919 km/h).
John McGuinness on Mugen machinery, TT Zero Challenge, Isle of Man TT 2015 1 photo
Photo: iomtt.com
The Mugen rider's performance took the electric motorcycle class very close to the almost mythical 120 mph (193.08 km/h) speed barrier. The 120 mph mark is currently considered the holy grail of e-bikes in the Manx Island, but judging by how fast Team Mugen was today, this goal will be reached and surpassed next year.

The other Mugen rider, Bruce Anstey, himself one of the fastest riders on the Island in several classes, was the second-best man in the electric race with a speed of 118.857 (191,240 km/h). Mc Guinness was clocked at 126.744 mph (203.979 km/h) at Bungalow, with Anstey being the only slightly slower.

Victory got on the podium with Lee "General" Johnston

Victory had a very good debut in European road racing, and got on the podium, thanks to Lee Johnston's 111.620 (179.596 km/h) lap. Guy Martin, who only very recently didn't know he would be riding an e-bike this year, substituted for injured William Dunlop and was fourth.

Sarolea's Robert Wilson was fifth, while Michael Sweeney and his University of Nottingham was last. Victory's debut is a major success, even though the gap between the team's best bike and the slowest Mugen rider is a significant one.

Racing on the Snaefell Mountain for the first time and ending up on the podium is not an easy task, and something tells us that Polaris and Victory are enjoying this result more than we can anticipate. And maybe 2016 brings some surprises, too...

Michael Dunlop takes the start in the TT Supersport Race 2

Even if Michael Dunlop initially decided not to take part in the TT Supersport Race 2, but he was on the starting list in the end. The doctors said he was fit to ride, despite a very hard crash in the Superbike race, while pushing really hard for a 132+ mph (212 km/h) lap.

The elder of the Dunlop brothers suffered no fractures but was bruised. He in fact managed to win a second place in the Subsequent Sueprstock race, but decided that he should focus on the Senior race on Friday.

Dunlop retired at the pits and will be traveling to Northern Ireland to undergo physiotherapy sessions before returning to the Island for the Senior race.
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