[Stutz]

Electric Motorcycle Wins Race Against Normal Motorcycles


Author: Mike Werner | Location: Normandy, France
Via: FFM



It was bound to happen, but this is pretty quick. With electric motorcycles gaining not only in
popularity, but also in power and range, they are starting to compete with their fuel-guzzling
counterparts. There have been several races, from high profile ones like the TT of the Isle of Man,
to small local races, all performed by electric motorcycles. But in all these races, there's
been only electric motorcycles. Electric against electric. So their own race category; electric.



But in a small provincial town in France, Gironville Click for map, they were holding an official
FFM (French Motorcycle Federation) motocross race, like they do every year. One of the last races
on the program, is a free-for-all, where motorcycles ranging from 250cc to 450cc race around the
track, scramble fashion.



The difference in this race was that electric motorcycles also participated in their won category;
electric. Zero Open link in a new window and Quantya Open link in a new window both went to the
event with 5 motorcycles, 4 for Quantya and 1 for Zero. The importer of Zero motorcycle had not
heard of the challenge until 2 weeks before the race, so he scrambled to put together a racing
package, bike, support crew and rider.



So last 18 October, in front of thousands of spectators, Thomas Aubry on a Zero MX electric
motorcycle set out for 2 heats. The first heat was so-so due to a bad start, he ended in a 13th
overall position, which already was not bad, considering he was racing against "normal" motorcycles.



But in the 2nd heat, after already having won the electric category, he went flat out and beat
all other competitors, including all "normal" motorcycles. Even the 450's were not able to keep up
with the torque and maneuverability of the electric motorcycles. He started in 13th position, and
at the 1st curve he was in 5th position, followed by 3rd position right after that. When he went
over the finish line, he was in 1st.



Amazing! Granted, Aubry wasn't up against the Gods of motocross, but he was up against folks who
have been racing for years.

http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf...otorcycles.htm