Joint Indian-English company Agni Motors’s claim of making quality, high
efficiency and high performance electric motors gained massive credence
today when it clearly bested the world’s fastest electric motocycles to
win the first clean emissions (AKA electric) motorcycle Grand Prix at
an average speed of 87.434 mph. It’s place in history is assured by the
landmark win, but it was the team’s dominance that was most surprising.
It averaged 10 mph faster around the 37 mile course than its closest
rival and established itself as the first superstar company to emerge in
a fledgling giant industry. India was the most prominent nation with
bikes on the podium in both classes. Just as Renault, Daimler, Ford and
Honda made their name at the dawn of motorsport, we suspect we’ve seen
some new and significant global brands for the first time.
In 1959, ominously 50 years ago this week, a small Japanese team of
three riders entered the famous Isle of Man (IOM) Tourist Trophy (TT)
races on a motorcycle previously unheard of at world championship level -
Honda. Though the team all finished, with the best result a courageous
sixth place to Naomi Taniguchi, the establishment greeted the newcomers
with polite amusement. They did not laugh for long.
The expeditionary Japanese riders of 1959 must have wondered what
they had encountered. The IOM mountain circuit is a natural road course
of 37.7 miles (60.7 km), comprising over 200 corners and is the oldest
racing circuit still in use, having been first raced on in 1907 when
average speeds were under 40 mph.
By 1959, 50 years of development had seen speeds rise dramatically -
125 cc four-stroke motorcycles were lapping at an average speed of
nearly 75 mph amidst the curbs, stone walls, and unique terrain which
stretches from sea level to an altitude of over 1,300 ft (396 m). With
completely different weather conditions experienced regularly on
different parts of the circuit during the same lap, the IOM TT races are
the most lethal motor sporting event in modern history having claimed
somewhere between 175 and 200 competitors in its 100 year running. It’s
not the most dangerous – that dubious honor must go the Dakar Rally
which averages two competitor deaths and an unknown number of spectator
deaths (thought to be more than one) per event – but the IOM runs a
close second and the inexperienced Honda contingent more than upheld its
honor.
ADDENDUM - As if fate needed to remind us of the TT's deadly
heritage, John Crellin, who finished third in the historic TTXGP in the
PRO class, died that very afternoon racing in another event. He was
doing what he loved. Motorsport remains the most costly sport in terms
of human life . RIP John.
Honda learned its lessons well from that first attempt. It recognized
that to conquer racing at world championship level with the unique
cultural, language, experience and skills necessary, it needed faster
bikes and seasoned riders and went about providing both for the 1960
season.
Just twelve months later Honda had redesigned many aspects of its
machinery, produced a lot more horsepower, given the bikes a lot more
grunt out of corners and had hired some of the best riders in the world.
Suddenly, seemingly from nowhere, Honda machines were beginning to take
podiums in both 125 and 250 World Championship events and the Honda
name was introduced to the world via the reliability and speed of its
machinery at the highest level. Just two years after its debut, it won
both the 125 and 250 world titles, and five years later, it swept to
victory in ALL classes 50, 125, 250, 350 and 500cc. Its machines were
technological masterpieces - a five cylinder 125 and a six cylinder 250
were amongst its finest engine creations.
The well-worn motto of “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” proved true
for Honda on an entirely new level to that enjoyed by the European
marques it obliterated. In 1959 when it first announced itself to the
world at the IOM TT, Honda sold 285,000 motorcycles in the entire year.
By 1961, it was selling 100,000 units a month, and went on to become the
world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer in short order.
Agni's hands-down win in this historic first races positions it
extraordinarily well for the next phase - it has now comprehensively
demonstrated its world-leading capabilities and millions of sales will
flow directly from this win.
Congratulations to Azhar Hussain for having the vision to create the
event, and the explosion of innovation which will surely follow. Brammo,
Electric Motorsport and Mission Motors joined Agni as the first global
brands of excellence and knowhow in a new era.
Rob Barber is the man whose name will go on the outright trophy in
the first race - congratulations to Rob. Your descendants will read your
name in the history books a thousand years from now.
A much bigger event took place for society with today's race. Azhar
Hussain has validated clean emissions transportation as viable. A new
industry was kickstarted with the running of this race and the win-on
Sunday, sell-on-Monday message that propelled Honda to global dominance
in the motorcycle industry was not lost on Electric Motorsport’s Chris
Heath.
As Heath accepted the trophy as the winner of the OPEN class, for
machines built for less than UKP30,000 he made sure the world knew where
to buy a TT-winning machine capable of averaging 66 mph. “It’s a
TT-winning bike, it’s a production bike, come and buy one. Electric Motorsport!” That's right folks - you can buy one.
Source: gizmag.com @ By Mike Hanlon
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