Historic motorcycle marque revived for 2014 Isle of Man TT
This week, a Belgium-based team confirmed their entry, under the 'Sarolea Racing' banner, for the 2014 SES TT Zero Race for electric and zero-emissions motorcycles.
Scotland's Robert Wilson will ride the Sarloea SP7 for the Belgian clean emissions team. Saroléa Racing will also compete in this year's FIM eRoad-Racing World Cup
Designed and built in Belgium, the SP7 motorcycle showcases the company's latest developments in technology. The bike is built up around the innovative carbon fibre monotube chassis and its ultra-efficient axial flux motor.
During the design process, the focus was on achieving a high power to weight ratio and on aerodynamic efficiency. Extensive use of carbon fibre and lightweight alloys helped reduce the overall weight. The result is a very compact and agile motorcycle.
The team say they've always put a strong emphasis on racing to advance their technology, a tradition that will continue with the 2014 Saroléa SP7.
Along with technical partners Bridgestone and Beta Tools, the team will treat this year's TT Zero and eRoad-Racing campaigns as data-gathering exercises for future development of the SP7.
Since his TT debut in 2011, Scotsman Wilson has recorded five top twenty finishes in his three year career including a highest placed thirteenth in the 2012 Monster Energy Supersport Race. Belgian Thijs De Ridder, developer of the electric powertrain, will race for the team in the eRoadRacing World Cup , but will support the team at the TT Races.
Project Manager Torsten Robbens will lead the Saroléa Racing campaign. Under his guidance, the SP7 will undergo extensive track testing, prior to its race debut.
He commented: "The Isle of Man TT is the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world. Its 37.73 Mile laps (approximately 60km) also make it the most challenging event for both rider and machine. The TT zero testing programme will focus on optimising the race strategy and aerodynamic efficiency. The combination of the TT Zero challenge and the FIM world cup represents a really ambitious racing programme for us."
Further details and news on the 2014 Isle of Man TT can fbe found at www.iomtt.com
Image: courtesy of Isle of Man TT press office
Sarolea History
Sarloea was Belgium's first motorcycle brand. Originally established as a weapons factory in 1850, Sarolea diversified into bicycles from 1892, followed by motorcycles shortly after.
By the late 1920s, virtually all Sarolea motorcycle components were built in house, including single and twin-cylinder engines, some of which were exported for use in other marques. The company was also prominent in European motorcycle competition, mostly long distance runs and hillclimbs.
Production was dented firstly by the Great Depression, then World War II. After the war, production resumed and a Sarolea won the inaugural European Motocross Championship in 1952.
In that same decade, a joint venture with other Belgian brands FN and Gillet resulted in Sarolea's operations being merged with that of Gillet in 1955, with the Sarolea name disappearing altogether in 1963.
