In electric motorcycle racing drama, the TTXGP camp seems to be ahead

[David Herron]

When an empire strikes back it's likely with the expectation that it's swatting a fly. Sometimes the underdog is able to win even though the empire looks like an 8000 pound gorilla that can smash anything in its path. These tortured allusions to movies and wildlife don't do justice to the strange battle brewing in the nascent sport of electric motorcycle racing. As noted in earlier reporting the old simple story (TTXGP and FIM collaborating to create electric motorcycle racing) has morphed first into two and now three competing electric motorcycle race series. The unfolding events include an announcement on Feb 8 from the Isle of Man Government seeking to clarify their position over why they replaced the TTXGP organization with their own race, the TT Zero. But their announcement doesn't really hold water.

The bigger picture is FIM and their role as the dominant organization. History is full of examples of dominating organizations who fear any newcomer will hurt their dominance, and then act to squash the newcomer. A quote has been found in a recent FIM report suggesting this is their point of view.

See: In electric motorcycle racing drama, the TTXGP camp seems to be ahead