Mark Miller To Ride For Vercarmoto In 2014 TT Zero

After finishing in fifth place with Chris McGahan in the SES TT Zero in 2013, Italian based Team Vercarmoto, who made their debut in the event in 2012, has announced that American Mark Miller will ride for them in the 2014 race.

American Miller is seen as a specialist in the category and boasts a respectable track record in the Isle of Man TT Zero class with the runner up position in 2011 and 3rd place in 2012 to go with his 2010 race victory. The American is also one of only three riders to break the prestigious 100mph mark around the iconic 37.73 mile TT Mountain Course on an electric bike, a feat he achieved in the 2012 race.

“I’m very excited to be joining Team Vercarmoto for the 2014 TT Zero event,” said Miller.“I met the team owner Carlo Gelmi a few years ago when he told me he was building a very fast electric race bike and indeed he has done it. After their Vercar R6E finished in 5th place in the 2013 TT Zero Race I had a close look at their bike, a heavily modified Yamaha R6 with a gearbox intact. With loads of carbon fibre and other trick bits, it definitely looks capable of doing the business to fight for the podium and this will be our aim.”

In his statement, Miller, who had previously ridden for the radical and pioneering Motoczysz team, answered a lingering question as to the status of his old team’s status in this year’s race. Due to team owner and founder Michael Czysz battling health issues, the team will not be defending its TT Zero crown, which many were looking forward to considering the heightened efforts from the Mugen entry.

“I want to wish MotoCzysz and Michael Czysz all the best as they take a year off from racing and welcome this terrific opportunity to work with my new Italian team. I cannot wait to get the TT fortnight rolling again.”

Miller will compete riding the Vercar R6E, which, despite running on battery power, retains the Yamaha’s six-speed gearbox, extremely compact dimensions and chassis.

The Vercar R6E’s performance is estimated around 75 hp with a weight of about 496 lbs and a speed close to 155 mph. It features lithium-ion batteries and what the team consider a sophisticated “electronic management system” with regenerative braking.

By Troy Siahaan