Electric Bikes Given FIM World Championship Green Light

The FIM has this week confirmed that electric motorcycles will have the opportunity to race against internal combustion engine (ICE) bikes.

The move from the FIM marks the first time a world championship class has mixed petrol and electric motorcycles on the same grid. Alongside opening the door to the likes of Stark Varg and the Honda CR-E to race against the best, the governing body for motorcycle sport has also announced the FIM Youth SuperEnduro World Cup.

We at Visordown have long held the opinion that if there is one area where electrically powered motorcycles can compete with petrol bikes, it’s in the off-road segment. Shorter track times and long breaks between sessions mean the bikes aren’t as close to running out of power as they would be on a conventional racing track, and the time between races means batteries can be replenished and/or changed.

It’s a view that the FIM seems to share, despite previously standing down on a move to mix ICE and battery power on the same grid this time last year. That changes for 2025, as the FIM, alongside SuperEnduro series promoter Sport UP Agency and manufacturers, has rubber-stamped the move. It means we’ll be able to see bikes like the highly developed Stark Varg lining up with the likes of KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas.

Alongside a mix of bikes lining up on the same grid, the FIM has also announced a new youth class for the 2024/2025 season solely for battery-powered bikes. The FIM Youth SuperEnduro World Cup is aimed at riders aged between 14 and 18-years-old, and will give budding riders the chance to compete on the same stage as the biggest names in off-road motorcycle racing.

Speaking about the announcement, Jorge Viegas, FIM President said

“This is an exciting new chapter for the FIM, with electric motorcycles coming into SuperEnduro alongside combustion motorcycles. This is a natural evolution for the FIM having already introduced this technology into MotoE, Trial and E-Xplorer. For this to happen the FIM has invested time and research to find the correct balance in performance between the two competing technologies, so they can race side by side fairly and safely. To allow electric motorcycles into the Prestige class we have created new requirements, rules and safety standards including track stipulations to avoid any kind of bias towards either combustion or electric. Finally, the Prestige class remains open to all teams and motorcycles that comply with the existing regulations, so I am sure it is going to be an interesting and thrilling season of racing.”

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