Biofuel motorbike takes victory

A motorbike which is powered by biofuel and has lower emissions than rivals has won a race at the Norfolk Snetterton track.

Team Inzane's Ducati 800SS, adapted and developed to use biofuel, was driven to victory by Russell Joyner on September 14th.

The race, which Joyner won by just two hundredths of a second, was the "pinnacle of a fantastic season", said Team Inzane technical director Ian Calvert.

Since motorbike racing authorities first allowed the use of biofuels, Team Inzane has been the first team to field a biofuel powered bike.

It uses bioethanol E85, which is a blend of 15 per cent petrol and ethanol distilled from biomass.

The team was supported by the Energy Efficiency in Motor Sport government initiative, which aims to have by 2010 at least one championship in which fuel flow is regulated so environmental and energy efficiency design is stimulated.

EEMS project manager Dan Rapson said: "This is a great achievement by the team and demonstrates just how compatible the energy efficiency message is with the spectacle of exciting motor sport.

"In a relatively short space of time, Inzane has taken this from the test track to the podium - showing that with the full commitment of the team and the right support, significant steps forward can be taken."