It’s been a while since we reported on the eRoadRacing World Cup series, the love child merger of the TTXGP and FIM e-Power electric motorcycle racing series, and that is for good reason.
While Asphalt & Rubber is a big proponent of the electric motorcycle uprising, and there are a lot of interesting things developing in this space (be sure read to our ride reviews of BRD RedShift SM, Mission RS, and MotoCzysz E1pc) the racing side of the equation has been rather lackluster.
So, it doesn’t surprise to hear that the FIM has cancelled the eRoadRacing event at Miller Motorsports Park, which was supposed to happen August 31st & September 1st.
Instead, the North American part of the eRoadRacing series will consist of only two rounds: last month’s Red Bull US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, and this month’s Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
With only Brammo being the only entry on the “prototype” side of things, and with the racing in the “superstock” class a bit *cough* underwhelming, the Laguna Seca round was a dud from a spectator’s point-of-view.
Considering that round’s previous success, there is serious concern for the upcoming Indianapolis round, and that yet again the Brammo Empulse RR race bikes will effectively be racing themselves.
With the MMP round without an FIM event to piggyback off of, and the expectation that there will be virtually zero media coverage of the event, the question isn’t why the race was cancelled, but instead why it was scheduled in the first place?
To be honest, closed-circuit electric motorcycle racing really hit its zenith at the 2011 Laguna Seca round, where Mission Motors won some hearts and minds with its nigh-supersport performance levels in the hands of Steve Rapp.
Also participating in that race was MotoCzysz, Lightning, Brammo, Zero*, and CRP Racing — basically the Who’s Who of the electric two-wheeled world at the time, which made for some intrigue, and even better racing for the otherwise devout petrol head crowd.
Fast-forward to 2013, and 2011 looks like an anomaly. Instead of the racing continuing to improve, it has arguably gotten worse, with the real developments being made elsewhere, namely by Mugen and MotoCzysz racing at the TT Zero event at the Isle of Man TT, and Lightning Motorcycles’ run this year at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb event.
A much as I like to rib on TTXGP, the now promoter of the eRoadRacing World Cup, the fault honestly resides with the lack of commitment from the teams, who for a variety of reasons, have been unable to commit to the regularly running in these closed circuit events. It’s a shame really.
Source: FIM
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