In 2009, a tiny island in the middle of the Irish Sea played host to something spectacular. The place was the Isle of Man. The event was the TTXGP, the world’s first zero-emissions, electric superbike race. For 2010, the TTXGP is expanding in the U.S. and Europe, and California gets first dibs.

As it should. Ten of the 12 teams competing in the TTXGP North America are from our fair state.

When the four-race series kicks off on Sonoma’s Infineon Raceway on May 16, the competitors, who are running a mix of purpose-built and retrofitted electric motorcycles, will have a chance to max out their bike’s whisper-quiet motors as they run 12 laps on the 2.22-mile course. Though some of the bigger names in electric bikes are missing – Mission Motors from San Francisco and Brammo of Ashland, Ore. — a number of smaller players are filling the void to drive innovation in the fledgling field of electric propulsion.

We’ve got the exclusive on who’s competing — and what they’re riding…

Source: Los Angeles Times