Electric motorcycle racing takes a step into a whole new chapter with release on Thursday of the name of a new series, eRoadRacing World Cup, and the provisional calendar for the 2013 racing season. This series replaces both the TTXGP and FIM e-Power series that went before. The eRoadRacing organizers are the same as had organized TTXGP and e-Power, but during the process of merging the organizations they agreed to do away with the old names and start afresh with a new one.
The merger, announced on March 5, 2013, offered healing for a schism that has divided electric motorcycle racing into multiple camps. The road of healing meant both the TTXGP and e-Power series had to be replaced by a new one.
The name for that series is: eRoadRacing World Cup.
For the 2013 season, eRoadRacing will run a truncated schedule with three dates in Europe (14 July, Valencia; 18 August, Oschersleben; 21 September, Le Mans) and three dates in North America (21 July, Laguna Seca; 18 August, Indianapolis; 31 August, Salt Lake City). The rules are expected to be largely the same as were used during 2012.
The schedule may gain additional dates. The date and location of the 2013 eRoadRacing World Final has not been decided, other than it will be in Asia.
What's most interesting is the longer range plan for the eRoadRacing World Cup. The long range goal is for the "World Cup" races to focus on prototype bikes where power is no limit. The current crop of these prototype bikes come from Brammo, Lightning Motorcycles, MotoCzysz, Mission Motors, Muench Racing, and Zongshen Racing.
At the 2012 TTXGP World Championship race at Daytona International Raceway, the two Brammo Empulse RR's were hitting speeds around 170 miles/hr in race conditions.
What's uncertain is the long range place of the bikes other than the top end prototypes. Historically the TTXGP and e-Power series has supported both fast and slow bikes. Today the manufacturers are selling today production bikes with 100ish miles/hr top speeds that are competitive against 250cc gas bikes. During the 2013 season the grid will contain both the top end prototype bikes, and these slower production bikes. Word is that in the 2014 season the slower production bikes will be running in a completely separate racing series.
This and several other details have yet to be determined. In the meantime the release of the provisional calendar for the eRoadRacing World Cup means that the teams can finally prepare for the racing season.
Source: ElectricRaceNews
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