I got some great information on qualifying rules from Brunel X-Team Project Supervisor Dr. Koen Matthys during and email interview for Plugbike.com and thought I would share. Lots of bikes did not complete the practice laps this week so some
very knowledgeable folks like TT announcer Charlie Lambert have speculated not all bikes will be allowed to run. (thanks
BrammoFan for link)
How many TT Zero bikes will actually race? There are nine machines left after seven teams failed to show up. Of the nine, only five have satisfied the qualifying conditions: two from Segway MotoCzysz and one apiece from Kingston University, MIT (Massachusetts), and Team Prozza of Tokyo. Hopefully the others will be allowed to race or it won’t be much of a spectacle. It’s a huge shame that Agni and Brammo aren’t here this year and the fear is that the TT Zero will wither on the vine if it is not better supported.
Here is what Matthys says about qualifying and practice laps for TT Zero...
Further in response to your question of qualifying. In 2009 TTXGP, practice runs were officially qualifying runs. Since the TTZero they are just practice runs. But the procedure was nevertheless the same: Completing a lap in practice allows starting by default. In case a lap was not completed, race direction looks at rider experience. team experience and mileage performed in both practice sessions. It also listens to the team and considers the nature of failure, whether it can be repaired safely in time or not, etc. It then makes a decision whether or not the team should appear on the start line.
For example in our case. On Saturday we had a motor failure. That is simply a matter of changing the motor and that happens in all motorsport events like F1, MotoGP and even the petrol TT races I would imagine. The result of Monday practice was linked to strategic management. Given that we had limited spares, we urged the rider to complete a lap on one motor so as to get time on the bike and be comfortable all around the mountain course. But he was to run a 50mph lap only, hereby doing the minimum average speed one needs to come in within the qualifying session of 45 minutes. And not more than that. Well, racers are racers....Russ at some points was up to 90mph and that was not in agreement with the down-tuned one motor configuration. Luckily we have since obtained more spares and we are today setting up to full strength in a two motor configuration again for race tomorrow. Russ did quite a bit of distance on Monday, almost reaching Sulby, and race direction -having heard the team's narrative on the events in practice - therefore allowed starting on Wednesday for Russ and the BX-11 without hesitation.
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Topic: TT Zero Qualifying / Practice Lap Rules (Read 858 times)