IMS - ELECTRIC-POWERED BIKES TO REACH 180 MPH IN AUGUST AT IMS

'Green' bikes to race in FIM eRoadRacing series during Red Bull Indianapolis GP

INDIANAPOLIS, Monday, June 17, 2013 - Electric-powered race motorcycles capable of reaching speeds of 180 mph will compete in a round of the FIM eRoadRacing series during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP on Aug. 16-18 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

FIM eRoadRacing is the world's premier electric motorsport series and includes races across three continents. The series is officially sanctioned by the FIM, the worldwide governing body of motorcycle racing.

The Indianapolis round will be part of the FIM eRoadRacing North American Regional Series, featuring teams from across North America competing on the 16-turn, 2.621-mile MotoGP road course at IMS. FIM eRoadRacing also conducts a European Regional Series. Top riders and teams in both series will race in the World Cup Final in November in Asia.

Among the riders expected to compete at Indianapolis is Steve Atlas, who won the World Cup and North American titles in 2012 for Team Icon Brammo. Former AMA Superbike standout Eric Bostrom also is scheduled to race for Team Icon Brammo at Indianapolis.

All of the motorcycles in eRoadRacing are high-performance racing machines, pushing the boundaries of electric vehicles and serving a vital role in the development of electric-powered technology.

An electric bike using the same specification as those to be raced in the FIM eRoadRacing event at IMS was the fastest bike overall in practice June 13 for the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, beating every gas-powered motorcycle. The team fielding that bike at Pikes Peak, Lightning Motorcycles, will race at IMS.

Lightning's bike is powered by exclusively by solar energy, which is used to fuel the motorcycle's onboard battery pack. The bike is one of the first racing vehicles in major motorsport to leave a zero-carbon footprint.

Lightning's bike also set a world-record speed for electric-powered motorcycles in August 2011 with a timed run of 215.907 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, reaching a top speed of 218.637 mph.

Series promoter TTXGP started the world's first international race series for electric motorcycles at the famed Isle of Man for the TT Zero in June 2009. A world series was launched in 2010 with regional championships in North America and the United Kingdom, with a world final event in Spain.

The FIM first staged E-Power electric races in 2010, continuing in 2011 and 2012.

TTXGP and the FIM combined forces in 2013 to create the FIM eRoadRacing World Cup.

The on-track schedule for the FIM eRoadRacing North American Regional Series event at IMS will be announced shortly.

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