The TT Zero has been dropped for the next two years, promoters have said.

Due to ’increasingly difficult’ circumstances with the running of the class and attracting sufficient competitors, it has been decided that these races would not go ahead in 2020 and 2021.

This follows a ’successful’ 10 year programme, the Department for Enterprise (DfE) said. It will now use the moratorium to establish long-term plans for clean emission motorcycle racing and technology development in the island.

Rob Callister MHK, member with responsibility for tourism and motorsport, said: ’As an island we remain committed to the principles and passion that continues to motivate everyone associated with the TT Zero class and the clean tech industry.

’Our intention is to have a moratorium on the event to allow the motorcycle industry as a whole to catch up on the leading edge developments that some manufacturers and individual race teams and universities have achieved to date.

’We remain incredibly proud of everything that has been achieved in clean emission racing at the TT and will work closely with the industry and with manufacturers without the pressure and focus of delivering a race format to build on the success to date.’

The TT Zero race has premiered all-electric prototype and production machines on the TT course. A highlight includes the Japanese Mugen team raising the lap records over a number of years which now stands at over 121mph.

The DfE is looking to arrange a series of clean tech industry and race team stakeholder sessions in the island with the first one planned for early 2020.

It wishes to hear from stakeholders and organisations to provide input into determining the future look of the TT Zero Races.