Source: press release FIM E-Xplorer World Cup | Legendary Japanese racing outfit M-TEC Company Ltd (MUGEN), has secured a slot to enter as a factory manufacturer in the inaugural FIM E-Xplorer World Cup in 2022.

With a history in racing dating back to 1973, when it was founded by Hirotoshi Honda, M-TEC has become one of the most successful outfits in two and four-wheeled motorsport. Initially making its name in tuning and manufacturing OEM parts for Hirotoshi’s father’s business, Honda, the company was established to develop the most competitive racing engines in Japan.

After starting with cars, the company has enjoyed success with its own custom motocross bikes. Since its inaugural win in 1976, it has gone on to dominate the Isle of Man TT in recent years – including the all-electric, TT-Zero class. After proving its ability in motorbikes as well as Formula One, Super Formula and Sportscar racing over the years, M-Tec now embarks on a significant new chapter after joining the new all-electric motorcycle series as a manufacturer.

Set to commence in 2022, M-TEC sees the FIM E-Explorer World Cup as a competitive laboratory for the development of new and innovative technology for its electric motorbikes. Testing its pioneering all-electric technology on three demanding street circuits and off-road trails around the world, the outfit will go up against a roster of 20 top riders and 10 teams.

M-TEC’s interest sets the precedent for other motorbike marques and manufacturers to join the new, fast-growing global electric motorbike series. After becoming the dominant force in electrically powered motorcycles at the Isle of Man TT Races, M-TEC looks to its race-winning heritage in both motocross and road bikes to rise to the new challenge presented by the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup.

M-TEC Co., Ltd. Managing Director, S. Katsumata says:

“We are very pleased to be registered as an Official Manufacturer of the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup. We are confident that this race will be the best place for us to apply the know-how we have gained through our participation in the Isle of Man TT-Zero class (EV-Bike class) and the ongoing development of the EV-MX E-REX bike, and to challenge ourselves further. First of all, as an Official Manufacturer, we would like to collaborate on this advanced and wonderful event with the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup starting this year, so that our current know-how in terms of technical and sporting aspects will help lead to the success and development of the event. We are looking forward to working with you.”

About the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup

Founded by Valentin Guyonnet (Chief Executive Officer), Carina Munte (Chief Championship Officer) and Pierre Edouard Jumel (Chief Financial Officer), the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup is an international all-electric, all-terrain motorcycle series that fuses fiercely competitive racing and technical innovation with sustainability, progress and exploration. The series is backed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and the likes of Alejandro Agag and Eric Peronnard. It builds on the growing appetite for electrified motorsport while acting as a test bed for trailblazing technology that appeals to the next generation of climate-conscious fans.

The inaugural FIM E-Xplorer World Cup will commence in Q3 2022 and features three events that take place in both urban and remote rural environments. Ten teams, each with two riders – one female and one male – will compete in a mixture of time trials and head-to-head events. All designed to ignite the spark of adventure in its fans using pioneering two-wheeled technology developed by the world’s greatest motorbike manufacturers and marques.

About MUGEN Motorsport (M-TEC Company, Ltd)

M-TEC was founded in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda and Masao Kimura. Racing under the name of MUGEN Motorsport which means “without limit,” M-TEC originally began offering special parts of motocross bikes before specialising in tuning Honda engines and expanding into manufacturing specialist parts for Honda cars. Moving into motorsport, M-TEC has proven its ability in single-seaters, Formula One, Super Formula and Sportscar racing over the years, with the firm dominating the Isle of Man TT, winning five TT Zero races using its legendary Shinden motorbikes between 2014 and 2019.