Noted Honda tuning company Mugen has revealed the second generation version of its electric racebike which will race in the TT Zero at the 2013 Isle of Man TT. The Shinden Ni (“Shinden” meaning “God of Electricity” while “Ni” is the number two in Japanese) will once again be ridden by 19-time TT winner John McGuinness.

Mugen has been working on the Shinden Ni since last year’s TT Zero, using data collected in the race and during tests at circuits in Japan. Mugen worked on making improvements through optimizing motor output and increasing battery capacity. Mugen engineers also managed to remove a significant amount of weight. According to the specs sheet (see below) the Shinden Ni has a curb weight of 240 kg (529 pounds), which is 44 pounds lighter than the first Shinden. Continue Reading »

Honda is serious about showing off the racing prowess of the CBR500R. Sharing much of the same components as its siblings the CB500X and CB500F, it’s easy for critics to question whether the CBR500R is worthy of the CBR designation. The first thing Honda did to try to dispel those worries is to secure the CBR500R as the spec race bike for the 2013 European Junior Cup, a racing series for youths held at select rounds of the World Superbike Championship.

But Honda also wants to show the CBR500R isn’t just for beginners. That’s why Honda factory rider John McGuinness will ride the new Honda CBR500R in the Lightweight TT class at the 2013 Isle of Man TT. McGuinness is second in all-time Isle of Man TT victories with 19, so his involvement gives the 500R instant credibility. Continue Reading »

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 »

Noted Honda tuner Mugen announced it will compete in the 2013 TT Zero on the Isle of Man with an updated version of its Shinden electric sportbike.

Mugen entered the Shinden at last year’s TT Zero, with Isle of Man veteran John McGuinness finishing second with an average speed of 102.215 mph. Team Mugen managed to break the 100mph barrier but fell short to the race winner Michael Rutter who rode the MotoCzysz E1PC.

For 2013, McGuinness will ride the Shinden Ni (a.k.a. Shinden 2), the second generation version of Mugen’s electric racer. Developed from data from last year’s race, the Shinden 2 is said to be lighter and more aerodynamic than its predecessor. Continue Reading »

Last week, we wrote about retired Formula One racer Michael Schumacher taking part in a track day at France’s Paul Ricard circuit on a Ducati 1199 Panigale. The event’s sponsor, Monster Energy, has released a video offering a behind-the-scenes look at the event.

The seven-time F1 champion was joined by TT racer John McGuinness, retired MotoGP racer Randy Momola, Moto2 racer Pol Espargaro and Keith Flint, a musician from the group Prodigy and a racer in the U.K.’s  Hottrax Endurance Championship.

Schumacher rode on a Panigale dressed in the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team’s gray color (perhaps a bit awkward considering Ducati‘s new owner Audi). As expected, McGuinness rode on his Honda TT Legends team’s CBR1000RR, and Espargaro on his FTR Kalex Moto2 bike. Mamola rode a Yamaha YZF-R1,while Flint rode his Suzuki GSX-R1000 endurance racer to complete the varied collection of sportbikes.

Check out the video after the jump, and especially the shot of the four riders pulling wheelies just after the 3-minute mark. Continue Reading »

Formula One racing star Michael Schumacher is a noted motorcyclist, having competed in various motorcycle races after his initial retirement from car racing. Schumacher was no slouch either, and once received an open invitation to ride a Honda in the World Superbike Championship.

Schumacher recently got a chance to ride motorcycles on a track, taking part in a track day at the Paul Ricard circuit in France organized by Monster Energy and Mercedes-Benz. Schumacher was joined by some notable company as well, riding with retired Grand Prix racer Randy Mamola, TT racer John McGuinness, Moto2 racer Pol Espargaro and musician Keith Flint of Prodigy, who also happens to be an endurance racer.

The now re-retired Schumacher rode a Ducati 1199 Panigale (pictured in the red leathers below), and McGuinness says he acquitted himself well alongside the professional motorcycle racers. Continue Reading »

The Isle of Man TT is a very special event. Once the most prestigious motorcycle event in the world, the TT requires a certain type of character to ride superbikes at an average speed of over 130 mph through the quaint villages and over the rolling hills of the 37.73-mile Mountain Course.

But don’t take my word for it, take the word of 19-time TT winner John McGuinness. The Honda TT Legends rider holds the overall record for the fastest lap of the Mountain course, setting an average speed of 131.578 mph. McGuinness’ 19 wins puts him second overall behind only the late Joey Dunlop who has 26 wins to his credit.

In a typical British fashion, McGuinness talks us through a lap of the Mountain Course over a cuppa tea in a new video from Honda. McGuinness describes the sights, sounds, feelings, and even the smells of riding the legendary circuit. Continue Reading »

Isle of Man TT organizers cancelled the showcase 2012 Pokerstars Senior TT race after the track conditions were deemed unsafe. This marks the first time in the Isle of Man TT’s history the Senior TT was not held (excluding, of course, the years the entire TT was cancelled due to the two World Wars and an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001).

The race was initially scheduled for Friday, June 8, but wet weather forced organizers to postpone the race to the next day. Organizers initially hoped to shorten the Senior TT to four laps from five and the Lightweight TT from three laps to two for Saturday.

A number of officials and riders including active TT wins leader John McGuinness inspected the Mountain Course in the afternoon and decided the course was not safe enough for the Senior TT’s superbikes. The Lightweight TT was held instead in its full three-lap length as conditions were safe enough for the much tamer 650cc twins. Continue Reading »

Third time’s a charm. 2010 and 2011 TT Zero winner MotoCzysz, with rider Michael Rutter, finally became the first to average a speed of 100 mph on the Isle of Man‘s 37.733 Mountain Course on an electric motorcycle, capturing the long-sought after 10,000 British pound (US$15,000) bounty.

Wearing the #1 plate for winning last year’s TT Zero, Rutter completed the 2012 TT Zero with a time of 21:45.33 for an average speed of 104.056 mph on the new 2012 MotoCzysz E1PC. Rutter had passed the 100mph mark earlier in the week during practice but that was considered unofficial as it was done outside the actual competition. Rutter won last year’s race but fell agonizingly close to the 100 mph target with an average speed of 99.604 mph, Continue Reading »

John McGuinness put another notch in his belt, capturing his 19th career victory in the Isle of Man TT by winning the Royal London 360 Superstock TT race. Despite leading all active racers in TT wins, the Superstock victory was just the first in that category for McGuinness.

The Honda rider led from start to finish in the four-lap Superstock TT race. Kawasaki rider Ryan Farquhar put up a challenge on the first lap trailing by 0.17 seconds but McGuinness pulled away on the second lap to open a four-second lead before heading into the pit.

The lead grew to 12 seconds on Lap 3 as the focus shifted to the battle for second place. Farquhar held a 10-second gap going into the final lap  over fellow Kawasaki rider Michael Dunlop, nephew of TT legend Joey Dunlop and son of Robert Dunlop. Continue Reading »