Last year's MGP junior race winner Dan Kneen is to ride for the team fronted by software engineer and MGP rider Keith McKay from Ramsey. The bike is to be built by Phil Wall of Boal Engineering in Ramsey.

Entries for the TTXGP close at the end of this month ready for the race on June 12, which is expected to rely on battery power to propel bikes and riders through a lap of the TT course before the senior race.

Keith said the prototype electric bike brought over to the Island by TTXGP organiser Azhar Hussain in January had motivated him to become involved.

'When Azhar brought the demo bike over I was impressed with it and he was keen to see a Manx team involved,' he said.

Keith was reluctant to put an exact figure on expenditure but admitted it was 'well into five figures'.

'At the moment it is a huge pile of bits but we are quite certain we will be on the start line,' he added.

The team is in the process of buying a Suzuki GSXR600 as a donor bike and the battery system, from a supplier in America, is due next month.

'Technology in this area moves so fast there is an advantage in being late in the day. We can take advantage of developments that were not available six months ago,' said Keith.

The team is starting with a Suzuki model which is already a race bike so it benefits from modifications such as upgraded brakes and Ohlins suspension and has a more modern chassis design.

'And the latest battery technology is way in advance of the demo bike,' Keith added.

'Dan will be able to burn around the course as he wants and not worry about battery capacity.'

The electronic wizardry is in the hands of Andy Cowie and Joe O'Hanlon, who are working in their own time while their employer, the MEA, has offered the use of design and test equipment.

The team expects to be testing sometime around the end of April.

Former Carl Fogarty mechanic 'Slick' Bass is to test the bike using his eddy-current dyno – which will simulate the stresses of going round the mountain course.

Rider Dan said he was looking forward to being involved in the event.

'It will be good to have a go in the first ever event,' he said.

'It will be interesting to ride, as I'm told there is no engine braking. I don't know what the weight will be – once the batteries are fitted it might not be a lot lighter than the standard one.

'Really we need to get out and have a go, perhaps at Jurby airfield.'

The FIM has added its support to the green TT event at its annual press conference in February. So far teams from America, the UK, India, Germany and Austria have confirmed they are entering.

Government representatives, including Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle, and TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain, spoke at the Lord Austin dinner and lecture recently.