Agni Motors win landmark electric grand prix

Indian-Anglo company Agni Motors has etched itself into the history books by winning the first ever electric grand prix at the Isle of Man.

The victory was emphatic, with rider Rob Barber completing the one-lap race at an average speed of 140kmh in just under 26 minutes.

That was well ahead of the XXL Racing Team, which finished second at an average speed of 125km/h, followed by Brammo (121km/h). Six teams finished the pro class.

Barber was riding a 2007 model Suzuki GSX-R600, with the in-line four-cylinder engine jettisoned for two Agni 95 Reinforced motors producing 50hp and fed by lithium-polymer batteries - not the lithium-ion variety used by most other teams.

The batteries feature 63 separate cells of 70 of 70AH, totalling about 16kW hours of energy.

The result is a real flip for Agni, especially as the project wasn't exactly a drawn out affair. The company only purchased the donor GSX-R600 in April, and all the battery and electrical connection were completed in early May.

Only when the team ventured to the Isle of Man did the lithium-polymer batteries get installed.

The just in time approach was successful though, and Agni dominated the inaugural electric TT - despite some inevitable smirks from the internal combustion set…

However, some people probably laughed at no-name marque Honda when it turned up at the Isle of Man in 1959 with some engineers and small team. Now it's the biggest manufacturer in the world...

There were four DNFs in the electric TT, including the high profile entry from the students at Kingston University and ridden by regular Isle of Man female competitor, Maria Costello.

In the open class, as opposed to the pro division which Agni won, Electric Motorsport was the victor with an average speed of 106km/h, from Barefoot Motors (100km/h) and TORK (97km/h).

Tragically, John Crellin, who rode the TORK machine, died later that day after a crash in another event. RIP John.