Electric Motorcycle Wins Race Against Normal Motorcycles from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Electric Motorcycle Wins Race Against Normal Motorcycles

October
2009

  File under Electrical Racing Zero Motorcycles
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

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

, 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.

Aubry in the front (blue clothes, white bike)

The difference in this race was that electric motorcycles also participated in their won category; electric. Zero

and Quantya

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.

Thomas Aubry on a Zero MX

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.