Lightning Motorcycles has signed two-time Isle of Man TT race winner Cameron Donald to race in the 2013 TT Zero and the FIM’s e-Power championship.

The Australian native, who won races in both the Superbike and Superstock classes at the 2008 Isle of Man TT, will ride the latest version of Lightning’s electric motorcycle, a bike our own Troy Siahaan calls the fastest motorcycle he’s ever ridden.

Donald becomes the latest established road racer to sign up to race electric motorcycles. Last September, Miguel Duhamel rode the Lightning to victory at the Le Mans stop of the e-Power series. Earlier in 2012, overall Isle of Man TT lap record holder John McGuinness rode the Mugen Shinden in the TT Zero, and on this side of the Atlantic, Eric Bostrom rode for Brammo in the TTXGP’s North American Championship. Continue Reading »

Michael Dunlop added another chapter to the Dunlop family history in the Isle of Man TT, winning the second Monster Energy Supersport race of the 2012 event.

Dunlop led at the end of all four laps for his third career TT win. His uncle, Joey Dunlop, is the all-time leader in TT wins at 26 while his father Robert Dunlop has five.

It was actually his brother William Dunlop who took the early lead in the second Supersport race. Michael Dunlop took over the lead on his Yamaha R6 after his brother retired about halfway through the opening lap. Continue Reading »

Padett’s Honda racer Bruce Anstey won the first Monster Energy Supersport TT race of the 2012 Isle of Man TT by a mere 0.77 seconds over rider Cameron Donald. The race could have been even closer if Gary Johnson, another Honda rider, hadn’t run out of gas on the final lap. Before he ran out of fuel, Johnson was in the mix with Anstey and Donald with just 0.62 seconds separating the three riders.

It would have been a different story if Yamaha rider Michael Dunlop not retired on the third of four laps. Dunlop held a 22 second after the first two laps and look poised for the win until he came to a stop at the Ballig Bridge between the eighth and ninth milestones of the Mountain Course.

Dunlop’s withdrawal handed the lead to Johnson followed by Anstey and Donald with William Dunlop, Michael’s brother, fourth after three laps. Continue Reading »

Honda TT Legends racer John McGuinness won his 18th career TT race, capturing the Dainese Superbike race to kick off the 2012 Isle of Man TT. McGuinness is second on the all-time Isle of Man TT wins list behind the late Joey Dunlop who has 26.

McGuinness was aided by two very quick and efficient pit stops by his crew. The first pit stop came after the second lap after McGuiness set a race-best speed of 130.382 mph on the Mountain Course. McGuinness held a 2.16-second lead over Wilson Craig Honda‘s Cameron Donald when they both entered the pits but McGuiness emerged with a six-second lead.

Donald reduced that lead to 3.8 seconds during the third lap but couldn’t maintain the pace and McGuinness regained a 6.2-second lead at the end of Lap 3. McGuiness continued to separate himself from the other riders and after a pit stop on Lap 4 ,  McGuiness’ lead grew to 13 seconds. Continue Reading »