TTXGP Begins at Infineon Raceway Today!

Sorry this is so late, but the inaugural TTXGP race for the 2010 season will begin today at Infineon Raceway in California. The series will have 13 rounds and will end with a huge Grand Finale event in Spain. It is a historic weekend for all motorcycle racing - this is the first ever global electric racing series! You may be able to catch some of the action on your local motorsports TV channel if you cannot get to the track...check your local schedule. In the meantime, take the link below to learn more.

http://tinyurl.com/397dhpu

TTXGP Changes Racing & Hungarian MotoGP in Doubt

The Azhar Hussain series, the TTXGP, will be a race to own series. Yes, it sounds a bit odd as it is a new way to handle racing management. Each team will earn shares in the TTXGP series as the race and the teams are all involved in the rule making and racing decisions. This is called Trust.eGrandPrix.Org (TEO) and it is all Hussain's idea. It's a very good plan for keeping your series relevant and I would hope it would encourage more teams to join up. For your details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yevykc4

The Balatonring circuit in Hungary may never get finished now after a huge Hungarian bank has refused to give the operating group any more funding. This all went down on Friday and the principals involved said the bank refused due to some problems found while doing due diligence...This could mean a huge delay, or the end, of top-level racing in the nation of Hungary...

http://tinyurl.com/yevpp2h

Thursday Afternoon Moto News - The Electric Confusion & PINK AMA Supercross

Mark Gardiner has done a great job of covering the stink between the TTXGP and the Isle of Man - with their TT Zero race. As you may already know, the Isle of Man race organizers switched away from Azhar Hussain's race series, the TTXGP, to their own version which they call the TT Zero. There is a great deal which went on behind the scenes when this decision was made. For some of that knowledge and to get some history on the whole affair, take the link to the two part article...it is worth your time!

http://tinyurl.com/yfovtr6

Well, we read that the Kawasaki 24-hour charity ride for the Cure was a success; we also heard that the AMA Supercross race held the next day was also used to bring in some money in the fight against Breast Cancer - they raised over US$27,000! Well, there is also an auction for various autographed goods from your favorite racer. Just take the link to learn the details. Susan G. Komen is loving this, and they are most grateful!

http://tinyurl.com/yeuzhlw

More Morning Moto News - Isle of Man TT & Moto2 Test

A minister in the Isle of Man government, John Shimmin, is upset that he was mislead into splitting the TTXGP from the Isle of Man TT event. Shimmin did want the island to become a leader in zero-emissions racing, so he helped with the first TTXGP. He just cannot understand why the original deal fell apart after only one year...I bet it has to do with finances - everyone wants a part of the future!

http://tinyurl.com/yhdveg9

Shoya Tomizawa, on the Technomag-CIP Suter MMX bike, was fastest on the first day of the Moto2 test at Catalunya, Spain. Roby Rolfo managed to dislocate his shoulder in a fall, which will have him out for four weeks and he will miss the next Moto2 test at Valencia. Jules Cluzel and Yonny Hernandez were second and third on the day. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhdt9xw

Monday Evening Moto News - Isle of Man and TTXGP & Nicki Pedersen

The Isle of Man Government has finally issued a statement about their decision to run their own zero emissions motorcycle race instead of Azhar Hussain's TTXGP. The officials cite problems with finances and scheduling as the issues which forced their hand. Of course, the TTXGP denies this and says that the Isle of Man Government is not being honest and open. The story continues...

http://tinyurl.com/yhpjyzo

Another Speedway Champion, one Nicki Pedersen, who you should know, is getting ready to assault the paddock in the 2010 FIM series. He lost his crown last year to Australian Jason Crump, and only managed to finish in sixth overall. Pedersen has the goal to regain his position on top. Hopefully it will have a similar broadcast arrangement (or better) that we were all lucky to see last season.

http://tinyurl.com/yayeb22

More Afternoon Moto News - TTXGP Out of Isle of Man! David Bettencourt RIP & Norton, New

The TT Zero event, which just happens to be run by the ACU, is displacing the Isle of Man round of the TTXGP. There is a great deal of information after the link, so you should probably just go there to read the details. But, it just gets really sad when money and politics (which are everywhere) start to make our sport more complicated and harder to deal with. This move by the Isle of Man Tourism people is simply idiotic. I hope that the TTXGP sues them!

http://tinyurl.com/ycbw8nq

David Bettencourt has died while fighting leukemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant. David's father, Dick, founded Bettencourt Honda over 65 years ago, and the name is a big part of the motorcycling culture. The dealership has sponsored hundreds of racers in its time. David was a championship-level dirt track and ice racer and will be remembered as a good friend to many people.

http://tinyurl.com/ydhfvx4

Nort0n, the new Norton that is, will be at the MCN Motorcycle Show in London. Honestly, did you expect any different? Of course Norton will be there!

http://tinyurl.com/ya7kceh

TTXGP Opens Rules to Crowdsourcing for 2011 Season

So, yes, it is ahead of the curve a bit as 2011 is another year in the future, but the news is about now. The man behind the TTXGP, Azhar Hussain, has put the rules online in Wiki format. The idea is to develop rules and regulations by soliciting experts, competitors and the involved companies' ideas for the future of the series. Attorney Harry Mallin will be acting as chief moderator just to be sure that everything is covered. This is a first for a series with worldwide participation, and may be a first in all of motorcycle racing.

http://tinyurl.com/ykuhgwz

Preview of Electric Motorcycle Racing in 2010 - TTXGP & eGrandPrix

Yep, it is almost 2010 - in fact, it is only a few weeks away. So, are you ready for the electric motorcycle racing in the new year? If not, take the link below and get all of the information you need on these new road race series. This is the beginning of something huge which we will all be seeing more of in the future, so get yourself ready!

http://tinyurl.com/yehtabw

Summary of FIM Rule Changes for 2010

We have already read most of these here as the changes have been reported one or two at a time over the last several weeks. Now, though, we have a nice summary of those changes and some of the effects we have already seen from them. So, take the link and educate yourself before the 2010 season begins!

http://tinyurl.com/yd9zx4l

ZERO Motorcycles Joins With TTXGP eGrandPrix Series

Well, at least I expected to hear something about this - I just interviewed Saiki and he mentioned that something like this was coming - and now we all have! Zero will join the eGrandPrix series in 2010. The series is part of the TTXGP series and will run the first event in the US (yes, believe it or not) at Infineon Raceway in California. It is believed that Zero will use the frame and fairing of the Mavizen TTX02 (based on the KTM RC8R) with Zero's own batteries and motor. Looks like the TTXGP has one-upped the new FIM e-Power series. There will be many more announcements coming soon - stay tuned!

http://tinyurl.com/yh58ydf

More information on the current commitments to the TTXGP series:

http://tinyurl.com/yzqbje9

TTXGP Still Racing in Britain - Three New Races Scheduled

So, along with the TTXGP at the 2010 Isle of Man TT and the recently-announced Infineon round, the three new TTXGP races in the United Kingdom will make it five races in the series - so far. And, of course, there is the finale, which has yet to be scheduled - so, six events. That is not bad for the first year of a series using motorcycles which were designed just months ago - some may not have even reached the drawing board yet. 2010 will be a good year for motorcycle racing.

http://tinyurl.com/ylla2mf

Why We Should Be Thankful the FIM Split from TTXGP

Well, the reasoning in this article is very good and makes sense. However, we still have not seen Azhar Hussain have any issues related to his participation in the TTXGP and his Mavizen electric motorcycle. It is easy to see that a conflict of interest could arise in that situation, though. So, maybe it is better that the FIM created their own series for racing e-motorcycles. Honestly, though, the racing in this class has only just begun, so no one really knows where it will go...I bet it does very well!

http://tinyurl.com/yznpsbz

New Entrant Into Electric Motorcycle Production - Italy's CRP Racing

From a press release, CRP Racing has announced that they will be building an electric motorcycle for the various TTXGP races scheduled for 2010. Their new machine, the eCRP1.0, will debut at the Motorsports Industry Association (MIA) event Cleaner Racing Conference on 13 January 2010 in the U.K. It seems that more and more companies are now working for the future of motorcycle racing.

http://tinyurl.com/yafrxjk

http://tinyurl.com/yczozf2

FIM Announces e-Power International Series - Electric Motorcycle Racing

Already the FIM has four races scheduled in its e-Power Series - an all new series which has yet to even be completely defined - and they are promising more; it will be run in conjunction with the FIM Endurance series. It is simple to see why, electric motorcycles are the future and they may become an important class in motorcycle racing as well. The most important part of this announcement is that the FIM has 'pulled the plug' from the TTXGP eGrandPrix series - Azhar Hussain is not too happy with this. Learn some more and get the dates from the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yexpz3v

More on the TTXGP's disappointment with this development: http://tinyurl.com/y8kdm3p

Mavizen MAY be Developing TTX03 Electric Supermoto Motorcycle

It turns out that an announced electric supermoto class to run along with the TTXGP - which I must have missed - may be bringing Mavizen (owned by the man behind the TTXGP at the Isle of Man TT, Azhar Hussain) into the electric supermoto motorcycle business. As ZERO Motorcycles is the only electric motorcycle company producing a supermoto-spec electric bike, it is odd that a class would be created with only one supplier. So, some words leaked from Mavizen and the creation of that class help make the TTX03 seem realistic.

http://tinyurl.com/ybysa7q

Here it is! The Mavizen TTX02 Has Been Unveiled at SEMA

It turns out that the major manufacturer which Azhar Hussain is working with is KTM! I had thought it might be the Piaggio Group - one of their companies - but it turns out he went to Austria. If you look at the photo for even a short period of time, you will easily see this machine is derived from the KTM RC8. It looks sleek and sweet, especially for an electric motorcycle. I can imagine that the handling will also be on par with the RC8 since it uses the frame and suspension of that machine. However, there is much more to this machine than what is on the surface; it is a fully wi-fi enabled race machine which you can tune with a so-equipped laptop. And, the price is not that bad - £25,000 complete and race-ready! Only 50 will be built, so take the link and look into the future...

http://tinyurl.com/yz4m3aq

Even more details! http://tinyurl.com/yfu6gb5

Piaggio Group Invests €12 Million into Moto Guzzi - With Some Stipulations

The European Investment Bank loaned Piaggio Group €150 million in December of last year, but they required that the funds also be used to create electric or hybrid motorcycles. So, if the €12 million comes from this loan, Moto Guzzi may be entering into the electric or hybrid world. Of course, we also heard that Azhar Hussain is working with a large European motorcycle manufacturer for his new Mavizen project - could this be related? In either case, it is good to know that Moto Guzzi will be releasing some new designs in 2011 - 2012...

http://tinyurl.com/yh8mbw9

Azhar Hussain Will Unveil Electric Superbike at SEMA in Las Vegas

Hussain, who organized the TTXGP at this year's Isle of Man TT, has announced that he will reveal his new Mavizen electric motorcycle at the SEMA show in Las Vegas on 3 November 2009. He did not release many details, but he produced a photo (very small and only of one single part) and said that testing went very well at the Zolder circuit in Belgium. The other data is that the bike is designed specifically for motorsports, will be open-source programmable via USB ports, and it will be supported by a factory - though which one it is remains to be known...

http://tinyurl.com/yg2yz5d

http://tinyurl.com/yzbssa4

P.S. The TTXGP entry is pictured at left.