Electric MotoGP support series set for 2019

The MotoGP World Championship is set to feature an all-electric motorcycle race on its support bill at select European rounds from 2019.

Talks of such a series began just before the start of the 2017 season, and the planning stage for it has moved on significantly from then, according to Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, who spoke Autosport.com on the subject.

The plan is for a one-make series to feature on the support package for five European rounds in 2019, with all of MotoGP’s satellite outfits and several top-flight Moto2 teams guaranteed entry if they so chose. Races are expected to last 10 laps, with solar panels rather than generators set to charge batteries.

“The project is very advanced,” said Ezpeleta.

“It’s most likely that in 2019 we will have several support races in Europe. We already have four offers from brands on the table (to supply machinery).

“It will be one-make, with all bikes the same, and the races a minimum of 10 laps long. We want batteries to be recharged from solar panels, not from generators like in other championships.

“This way, we can leave something profitable for the circuits where the series races.”

Official details on exactly which manufacturers have expressed interest in supplying the 200km/h bikes for MotoGP’s electric support series have not emerged, though motorcycle news outlet Bennetts revealed in March that Honda, BMW and Italian firm Energica are rumoured candidates.

With entries opened to current teams on the MotoGP and Moto2 grids, it is hoped the series will see 18 riders competing. However, with the world championship calendar set to swell up to 20 races by 2019, a situation may arise where team bosses become reluctant to further put their riders at risk for a non-championship event.

MotoGP’s electric support series will not be the first of its kind. In 2013, the FIM set up the eRoadRacing World Cup, with races taking place across Europe, America and Asia. However, only six events were held and the series was canned for 2014.

Currently, the only electric bike series taking place on the planet right now is the Zero TT event at the Isle of Man TT, which began life back in 2010. Even this has few entries, with only Mugen Motorsport running a factory effort.