Honda and Yamaha share the track for electric motocross demo at the Motocross of Nations
Two of Japan’s biggest brands will put their electric prototypes on track together at the Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France. Honda will run the CR ELECTRIC PROTO and Yamaha the YE-01 Racing Concept in joint demonstration laps on Saturday and Sunday, in front of the biggest crowd of the motocross season.
The 2026 edition of the Motocross of Nations takes place from 2 to 4 October. Both manufacturers present the demo as a step towards MXEP, an electric motocross racing series that is expected to launch in the near future. No launch date or format for the series has been announced yet.
Running the two projects side by side is also a statement in itself. Honda and Yamaha describe the joint appearance as a sign of cooperation between the two brands on electric off-road racing.
Honda CR ELECTRIC PROTO
Honda’s entry is the most proven of the two. The CR ELECTRIC PROTO raced in the 2024 FIM E-Xplorer World Cup with Team HRC. In its first season, the team won the Men’s Championship and finished second in both the Women’s and the Team Championship.
In Ernée, the bike will be ridden by Trey Canard and Justin Brayton. Canard became Honda’s first rider to race an electric motocross bike in 2023, in the All Japan Motocross Championship. Brayton brings years of AMA Supercross experience.
Yamaha YE-01 Racing Concept
Yamaha’s YE-01 Racing Concept made its public debut at EICMA in Milan last year. The Motocross of Nations will be its first appearance on track in front of a race crowd of this size.
The bike was developed together with French electric motorcycle manufacturer Electric Motion (EM). It combines chassis technology from Yamaha’s YZ450F with EM’s electric power unit. Yamaha frames the project as a “fun-first” approach to carbon neutrality: the aim is to keep what makes motocross appealing, while using the specific characteristics of electric power to offer a different riding experience.
Two experienced riders will be on the YE-01 in Ernée. Ben Townley is the 2004 MX2 World Champion and the 2007 AMA Supercross 250cc East Champion. Milko Potisek finished second in the 2011 MX3 World Championship and has won the Enduropale du Touquet three times.
Demo schedule
The electric demonstration laps with both bikes take place on:
- Saturday 3 October, 12:45 local time
- Sunday 4 October, 12:45 local time