E-Xplorer is looking at setting up a national championship and other grassroots programmes in India too.
05 Jan 2024 | 7806 Views | By Unnatee Gidithuri, Autocar India
The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is coming to India, with the electric motorcycle off-racing series signing a nine-year exclusive partnership with Indian sports management company Kankanala Sports Group. As part of the deal, India will host the upcoming season’s grand finale in November 2024. Additionally, an Indian team will also ...
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The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is coming to India, with the electric motorcycle off-racing series signing a nine-year exclusive partnership with Indian sports management company Kankanala Sports Group. As part of the deal, India will host the upcoming season’s grand finale in November 2024. Additionally, an Indian team will also compete in the series.
Valentin Guyonnet, CEO and co-founder of E-Xplorer, says the series is keen to collaborate with Indian motorcycle manufacturers. "India is on the brink of becoming the world’s leading two-wheel market. Our enduring nine-year partnership is a testament to our commitment to a long-term vision, especially in collaborating with Indian motorcycle manufacturers," he added.
He also shared that E-Xplorer is looking at setting up a national championship and other grassroots programmes in India too.
While the final location still needs to be confirmed, India will host the 2024 finale scheduled from November 29 to December 1. Further details regarding the Indian team set to participate in the 2024 season, along with its riders, will be shared in the coming weeks.
The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is an endurocross series featuring electric motocross bikes, fielded by a mix of factory and private teams.
These teams have to develop their own e-bikes and there are two categories. The Hyperbikes category is for prototype machines with batteries up to 7kWh and a standard MX bike wheelbase. The GT category is for bikes based on production models, but they’re heavily modified for racing. Each team has to field one male rider and one female rider.
For its inaugural season, the E-Xplorer World Cup raced across Europe, with rounds held in Barcelona, and the Swiss mountains of Crans Montana, among other locations. For its second season, the series is expanding to Asia. Japan is set to host the season-opener on February 16-17, while India will host the finale in November.
The courses feature a mix of obstacles such as rock piles and logs, as well as dirt jumps and bumpy sections. The races aren’t just about outright speed; they’re about rider skill and strategy.
Each round consists of three separate 10-minute races for both men and women. The four best teams – based on their scores from the earlier races – then face off in a relay duel. The best teams then progress to the final.
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