Source: press release FIM E-Xplorer | The FIM E-Xplorer World Cup has announced its outline calendar plans for 2024, with five events including three double-headers planned in two continents as the electric motorcycle series ups a gear for next season.
The series, which fields a male and female rider in each team whilst promoting sustainability through the electrification of the sport, has carved the way for the future of motorcycle racing and the announcement of a truly worldwide calendar is testament to the success of its inaugural year.
After a very successful first season in 2023 – where the ‘World Cup’ featured across European rounds – racing in Barcelona, the Swiss mountains of Crans Montana, the volcanic woodlands of Vollore-Montagne in the Auvergne region of France, and the sandy beachfront of Sardinia; the series is planning to expand from Europe and take its electric motor racing message to Asia.
The 2024 campaign will kick-off in Japan in February, before heading to Norway in May, France in June, Switzerland in September, and finally India in December.
Provisional 2024 calendar:
- 16-17 February – TBA, Japan*
- 3-4 May – TBA, Norway**
- 21-23 June – Vollore-Montagne, France
- 20-22 September – Crans-Montana, Switzerland
- 29-1 November/December – TBA, India*
NOTES:
*City to be announced
** Subject to contract
Carina Munte, FIM E-Xplorer Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, said: “We are so excited to announce the outline details for 2024. We have agreements in place with some incredible locations for 2024. We are very happy with the expansion to Asia, the leading market for electric two-wheelers. We had a great first season and proved we have what it takes to create a World Cup and have the support of the FIM and several promoters who all can see the value of electric motorsport in general and electric motorcycle racing in particular.”
The current calendar represents the promoters and countries who have signed a multi-year contract with the series following the success of the 2023 campaign, which saw a race to the final in Sardinia – coinciding with Rounds 7 and 8 of the 2023 Extreme E Series.
The Japanese MIE team took the overall honours, closely followed by Gravity and Maddwill. The 2023 season saw a strong field of nine teams and 18 riders contest – one female and one male in each team – with some high-profile names amongst the grid such as Robbie Maddison, Kiara Fontanesi, Camille Chapeliere, Sandra Keller adding their weight to this nascent championship.
Valentin Guyonnet, FIM E-Xplorer Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, said: “We are delighted with the first year of FIM E-Xplorer, and now our attention is fully on a successful 2024 season. It is the time for sustainable sport to have its day. We are committed to establishing a footprint in the world of motorsport, and we are hopeful of more manufacturers joining our championship, which will lead to technological innovations and developments on a much wider, global scale. We proved the concept and have the approval and support of FIM and of course our partners and promoters. We have long term agreements in these countries and will be looking to add some additional events and series announcements before the end of the year.”
The details of the championship will be announced in the coming weeks and combined with new sporting regulations and specific locations will guarantee a unique backdrop for motorcycle racing.
In 2024, there are two categories competing in E-Xplorer:
- Hyperbikes, which enables prototype machines with batteries of up to 7kwh and a standard MX bike wheelbase to compete.
- GTs, a shorter bike weighing below 112kg, with batteries producing up to 6kwh. The GTs are based on regular production models but are heavily modified for racing.
Endurocross combines the high speeds of motocross with the challenging obstacles synonymous with enduro racing. The tracks will be at least 400 meters long and range from 4 to 10 meters in width. To challenge the riders’ skills, the courses will feature a mix of tough obstacles such as rock piles and logs, as well as dirt jumps and bumpy sections to enhance the spectacle. E-Xplorer races will take place in both the wilds of nature and the buzz of cityscapes. These races are not just about speed; they’re about the rider’s skill, strategy, and promoting the latest tech.
Here’s what to expect on a race day:
- Free Practice: A chance for riders to get to know the track.
- Qualifying Rounds: Where riders race against the clock in ten-minute sessions to fight for the best gate selection in the main races.
- Main Events: Three separate 10-minute races for both men and women follow the E-Xplorer opening ceremony.
- Team Play-Off: The best four teams — based on their scores from earlier races — will face off in a sprint relay duel. Each rider does a lap, and the best teams go through to the finals.
