By PlugBike.com

Zero MX Rider Injured At Motocross WohlenLast weekend on April 24 the first race of a Swiss e-Moto MX series was held at Motocross Wohlen in Wohlen, Switzerland. During the first lap of the first heat Tommy Heimburg of ERIDE Motorcycles suffered a serious crash in which his Zero MX frame failed near the head tube. Sources say the crash was a result of the frame failure. Tommy’s injuries are said to be serious and included a concussion and two broken vertebra but they were not life threatening.

Originally posted at: PlugBike.com

By Chuck Squatriglia

A small DIY, low-buck grassroots motorcycle racing team wants to make a run at the TTXGP electric motorcycle championship but needs help to get there — and the deadline is just days away.

Jennifer Bromme and the crew at Werkstatt Motorcycles — a small San Francisco shop founded and run by women — is scrambling to raise the cash to get a Mavizen TTX02 electric superbike to the states in time for the TTXGP California race at Infineon Raceway. It’s a long shot, because they’re well short of the $21,000 they need. But they aren’t giving up because they’re committed to seeing electric motorcycling succeed in the States.

That’s where you come in. You could get a chance to ride the bike of the future.

Read the reset at: Wired

By Ivar Kvadsheim

Here’s what the FIM forgot to mention about the first e-cup race:

The race was cut down from 8 to 6 laps because they were worried they’d get an empty podium. The scooter (the one they’ve “forgotten” to publish pictures of) was too slow, one of the Betti bikes had lead-acid batteries for maximum 3 laps and the other had power for 6 laps. Of the five bikes starting, three finished the race.

Surely the most pathetic race in FIM’s history? If the e-cup wasn’t destroying what little credibility e-bikes have built the last year or so it would at least be funny. As it is, there’s no reason to laugh.

Please FIM, this horse is dead, stop flogging it.

Source: Ivar Kvadsheim’s most excellent blog

Electric motorcycle industry titans Zero and Quantya set to face off against legendary mini racer Scott “The Burner” Burnworth

Photos: Tony Scavo

ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 14, 2010) – It’s all come down to this at 2010 GEICO Powersports MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster Energy, at Vegas’ Orleans Arena: The first-ever American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) professional dirt bike competition that pits the up-to-now compulsory gasoline burning four-stroke engine technology versus what many believe to be the future of the sport – the new electric powered motocross bikes.

Dubbed the ECX (Energy Crisiscross), electric MX bike industry leaders in California-based Zero Motorcycles and Swiss-made Quantya USA – with American operations based in New York – will square off against one of the legends of Motocross and longtime Mini Bike racer: California’s Scott “The Burner” Burnworth, mounted on a BBR-tuned 16-inch Honda CRF150F. He is the defending MMSX 16-inch class champion and will be joined by a full field of fellow gasoline powered competitors that will face off against the electric bikes.

“GEICO MiniMotoSX has been the only major American motorcycle competition forum to feature electric bikes at our event – something we’ve highlighted for the last three years,” explained Mike Karsting, VP of Events for Source Interlink Media. “We’ve seen marked progress in the performance of both Zero and Quantya’s bikes and feel it’s time to put them up against the traditional gasoline powered mini bikes that dominate our field at GEICO MiniMotoSX.

“The ECX is truly a watershed moment in the sport of motorcycle racing and we expect the world’s motorcycle industry to be tuned-in to the May 7th GEICO MiniMotoSX at the Orleans.”

Originally from: MiniMoto SX

By Motorcycle.Com Staff

Only six teams signed up, even with a cash incentive.

The International Federation of Motorcycling has released the entry list for its first e-Power electric race, but the size of the grid does not bode well for the future of zero emission motorcycle racing.

Set to take place April 16 ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans World Endurance Championship race in Sarthe, France, the official entry list has six entries and five teams. With six entries, the e-Power series will have fewer participants than the rival TTXGP and possibly also the Isle of Man’s TT Zero.

Originally from: motorcycle.com