Eleven time Isle of Man TT winner, Phillip McCallen, was once more the centre of attention on the famous 37 ¾ mile (60.75km) pure roads course as he piloted Kawasaki’s new Z 7 Hybrid motorcycle on a closed road demonstration lap witnessed by thousands of fans from across the globe.
The world’s first “strong hybrid” mass produced motorcycle, the Z 7 Hybrid – and its Ninja stablemate – are being shipped to Kawasaki dealers throughout the UK and Europe in the coming weeks, so what better place to highlight the innovative new machine than during the iconic week of all things two-wheeled at TT 2024.
Thanks to the cooperation of the TT organisers and the Manx Government, special permission was given for multiple TT winner and Kawasaki dealer, McCallen, to showcase the machine that can be ridden exclusively as an electric bike as well as relying on its twin-cylinder four-stroke engine; with the added benefit of a boost function that combines both motive powers.
New and alternative fuels are not unknown to the TT faithful. As early as 2010, the week-long celebration of road racing and motorcycling had its own TT Zero for electric powered zero emission machines.
While McCallen did not break any of his former lap records he did set a new one for Hybrid motorcycles.
“It felt different yet very interesting to ride through the TT paddock silently using 100% electric motive power then line up for a standing start lap of what is the most famous road racing course in the world. I engaged e-boost and got ready to be released but was not aware of quite how hard the acceleration would be using all the potential torque of the electric motor combined with the petrol engine – it was really impressive.
I think there were a lot of people around the course who were seeing a Hybrid motorcycle for the first time, and I hope it was as much fun for them as it was for me riding such an amazing bike in an equally amazing location.”
Witnessed by Mr Masa Tsuruno – Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors Europe – the Hybrid lap was just one highpoint in his first ever visit to the TT races.
“I had heard about the TT many times and have wanted to come here but the chance never arose, until now. It is an amazing two-wheel festival that celebrates every aspect of motorcycling. What better place, and what better audience than TT fans is there to demonstrate just one aspect of Kawasaki’s broad approach to a cleaner and greener future for motorcycling”.
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