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Electric Motorcycle

FW357FW357 Member Posts: 435 ✭✭✭
edited October 2012 in General Discussion
DAYTONA BEACH --
During this weekend's Fall Cycle Scene motorcycle activities, for the first time in track history, Daytona International Speedway is hosting an electric motorcycle race with the TTXGP.

TTXGP, the world's first zero carbon sanctioned motorsports event, held practice sessions on Friday with qualifying Saturday and the five-lap main event scheduled for Sunday morning.

This is the fourth season for the TTXGP and the first time the series has held a World Final in North America.

Veteran motorcycle competitor Eric Bostrom is among the five racers entered for Sunday's race riding for Team Icon Brammo. He has high hopes for the series and the continued development of the electric motorcycle.

"I think that it's definitely going to become a part of the motorcycle industry," Bostrom said. "How long it takes us to get the bike to be competitive for long race distances against the gas bike, that's going to be our immediate hurdle. Right now we are already proving that we can run the lap times of the gas bike. The initial part is really positive."

Daytona International Speedway is putting the electric motorcycle's straightaway speed to the test this weekend and Bostrom has been impressed by how the bike has handled the steep 31-degree banking.

"It's a lot like a gas motorcycle without the noise," Bostrom said. "We have been working on the handling of the machine and its super planted. It sails around the banking. That was the most outstanding thing. I didn't know what to expect coming here. We've never been on a fast race track before. Daytona puts a different kind of stress on everything. I thought the bike was going to peter out at top speed and it didn't. It kept pulling."

Bostrom said he posted a top speed in the 160 mph range but hopes to see that improve with the continued development of the bike.

One biggest adjustment in riding the electric motorcycle is the absence of the noise typically heard on a motorcycle powered by gas.

"It's something to adjust to but there's certainly a real peacefulness when you're riding it," Bostrom said.

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