FIM Announces e-Power International Championship Without TTXGP

TTXGP FIM Breakup?

The FIM recently issued a press release detailing a new electric motorcycle race series called FIM e-Power International Championship. At first glance this sounds like old news. After the success of he TTXGP at Isle Of Man in June, the FIM had announced an all electric race series in collaboration with TTXGP under direction of Azhar Hussain, founder of the eGrandPrix organization. If you look closely at the e-Power FIM press release attached below, the TTXGP brand, eGrandPrix or Azhar himself are strangely absent.

I contacted Mr. Hussain on the matter but he could not give details on his involvement or lack of involvement with the e-Power race series but he mentioned a statement would be published by the TTXGP organization soon.

Wait until we hear from TTXGP to draw any conclusions but it seems there was some sort of rift in the original FIM/eGrandPrix agreement. With yesterdays announcement that Jeremy Burne was appointed as US Director of TTXGP racing, it seems the TTXGP US Championships series  scheduled to kick off at Infineon Raceway in May will not be affected. However, it will be interesting to see if TTXGP still plans an international series without the FIM.

FIM e-Power Championship Press Release:

Concerned about the preparation for the future of motorcycle sport and in order to promote Alternative Energies, the FIM is pleased to announce the launch of its new Electric Motorcycles Championship: the FIM e-Power International Championship. The events will be held during the opening race of a few rounds of our prestigious championships as of 2010.

Vito Ippolito, FIM President stated: “The FIM, as the governing body of motorcycle sport, must take into account current environmental problems. This is why, in the framework of our agreement with the United Nations Environmental Programme, we put in place every year initiatives aimed at making the motorcycle world aware and reminding us of our duties towards our planet. With the same goal and in order to promote new energies, the FIM is pleased about and proud of the creation of the FIM e-Power International Championship that will be managed by the Road Racing Commission (CCR). We hope to gather many teams around this project in preparation for the future of our sport.”

Claude Danis, Road Racing Commission President added: “The CCR is enthusiastic to support this new championship. We have already seen the interest of the organisers, who like us, are concerned about environmental issues and who want to be involved in competitions using new energy for the benefit of the motorcycle racing of tomorrow. Details on the organisation of this championship will be announced in the coming weeks and other dates should be added to the 2010 provisional calendar.

The provisional 2010 FIM e-Power International Championship calendar is the following:

Date Place Country

18 April, Le Mans (Opening race of the Le Mans 24hours), France
Date to be confirmed, Albacete (Opening race of the Albacete 8hours), Spain
12 September, Nevers-Magny Cours (Opening race of the Bol d’Or), France
14 November*, Doha (Opening race of the Doha 8 hours), Qatar

* To be confirmed

All riders, teams, organisers and National Motorcycle Federations interested in the FIM-e-Power International Championship are invited to contact:

Paul Duparc paul.duparc@fim.ch or Alex Goldenberg alex.goldenberg@fim.ch