The TTXGP 2010 race season has been in a constant state of flux the whole year, so we should not be surprised at the latest news. Last week a couple blog posts surfaced claiming that the often rescheduled TTXGP Italy races were being canceled. Over the following days the TTXGP Twitter account was sending updates like "New track and dates set. Sadly can't share till tomorrow" and "Waiting for clearances for press release". Today they released an announcement that indeed the TTXGP Italy races have been canceled, and in its place they've put together a "TTXGP Euro" series on different days and in different venues.
The TTXGP Italian series never got underway, unlike the series in the UK and North America. While one wants to write about electric motorcycle races, the ensnarling entanglements burdening this incipient sport are important to understand. One issue is that somehow the TTXGP and FIM e-Power organizations chose to hold races on the same weekends in Italy, preventing teams from participating in both e-Power and TTXGP races and forcing them to choose between race series. As there are a small number of electric motorcycle race teams at all, much less in Italy, the schedule snafu meant splitting the few teams between two races leaving not enough teams in each race. Another issue appears to be transportation costs presumably for teams outside Italy to travel to Italy.
The TTXGP Italy 2010 had been developed with the support of the Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI), CRP-Racing and Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM). The TTXGP organization expressed thanks to those organizations, and looked forward to organizing the TTXGP Italy 2011 series. CRP Racing has developed an electric race bike (the eCRP 1.2) and will race with it in the TTXGP Euro series.
The TTXGP Euro 2010 schedule is four races split over two weekends. This ensures the Euro series consists of four races total as do the North American and UK championship series.
The remaining races of the TTXGP 2010 season are:
TTXGP Euro, Assen, NL - Sept 24/25, 2010: The "TT Circuit Assen" is a motorsport race track that's considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling, and is the host of the Dutch TT, making it a premier venue for the TTXGP to be in. The Sept 24/25 weekend coincides with the "MOTO73 Race of Champions".
TTXGP UK and TTXGP Euro, Brands Hatch, UK – Oct 02/03, 2010: The Brands Hatch weekend of the TTXGP Euro also coincides with the final race of the TTXGP UK series. Hence there will be three TTXGP races over the weekend, the final of the TTXGP UK and the two TTXGP Euro races. Should be a jam packed weekend of electric racing that's also jam packed with gas powered superbike and sidecar racing.
TTXGP Grand Final, Albacete Spain, Oct 23/24: This will consist of the winning teams of the North American, UK and Euro series. With up to 24 teams participating, it could be the largest electric motorcycle race to date.
Related Articles:
Lightning strikes at VIR to win the TTXGP North America 2010 electric motorcycle racingchampionship
The TTXGP UK series gets under way with first race at Snetterton
New TTXGP schedule for the UK and Italy championship series
With the TTXGP underway, what's happening with the e-Power and TTZERO races?
Zero/Agni wins at Infineon after battle royale with Lightning Motors
In electric motorcycle racing drama, the TTXGP camp seems to be ahead
Electric motorcycle racing soap opera between TTXGP and FIM
FIM launching the E-Power electric motorcycle racing series, without TTXGP
References:
The TTXGP relies on CRP Racing for the Italian league
TTXGP the ITA is officially canceled! [Waiting statement]
Electric Motorcycles - The 2010 TTXGP salutes Italy and Europe becomes
That Mess TTXGP Italian league ...
TTXGP Italy may be canceled or changed around or something - breaking news
TTXGP goes to the cathedral. The next generation of motorsport comes to Assen.
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