FIM rubberstamp the SuperEnduro World Championship rulebook to allow electric motorcycles to race and announce new FIM Youth SuperEnduro World Cup Youth Class.

With a lot of work behind the scenes from the FIM, the new SuperEnduro promoters Sport UP Agency, and the manufacturers, for the first time ever in world championship enduro racing, electric motorcycles will line-up alongside the petrol-powered counterparts – allowing Taddy Blazusiak and Eddie Karlsson to compete against Billy Bolt and Jonny Walker in the upcoming season.

It is news Enduro21 covered almost 12 months ago when the stage was set, following a dramatic switch by Taddy Blazusiak to race for the Stark Future race team, for electric bikes to race indoors.

But an eleventh-hour U-turn by the FIM, and a remarkable silence behind their reasoning, left most people including Taddy and Stark, scratching their heads. 

With seemingly all parties conforming to the requirements, including Stark meeting demands of safety regulations, it was a baffling U-turn which basically left Blazusiak taking an involuntary year-off.

Indoors natural first place to race

But they’re in it to win it again this season with a new rule book drawn up for regulations around bike weight and power, data logging, plus safety considerations with the bikes at the races.

Enduro21 understands there will be a maximum power limit and a minimum weight limit to ensure fairness on track.

If you needed proof electric bikes can race ICE bikes then the night’s racing in Newcastle at the Indoor Enduro of Champions saw Jonny Walker win on the new Triumph and Blazusiak take second and set-up the 2024/2025 SuperEnduro season nicely.

Avoiding any bias

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “This is an exciting new chapter for the FIM, with electric motorcycles coming into SuperEnduro alongside combustion motorcycles.

“For this to happen the FIM has invested time and research to find the correct balance in performance between the two competing technologies, so they can race side by side fairly and safely.

“To allow electric motorcycles into the Prestige class we have created new requirements, rules and safety standards including track stipulations to avoid any kind of bias towards either combustion or electric.

“Finally, the Prestige class remains open to all teams and motorcycles that comply with the existing regulations, so I am sure it is going to be an interesting and thrilling season of racing.”

Tomasz Gagat, CEO of Sport UP Agency, adds,“Opening the door for electric motorcycles in SuperEnduro required meticulous coordination of safety and technical requirements. Thanks to successful collaboration between the FIM, manufacturers, and Sport UP Agency, we have developed solutions that allow electric bikes to compete in the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship.

“This will undoubtedly elevate the excitement of SuperEnduro and take competition to the next level. Currently, electric motorcycles are only allowed in SuperEnduro, which shows how unique the upcoming season is going to be.”

New Youth World Cup class

The inclusion of electric motorcycles in the Prestige class comes with another first, the launch of the Youth class which will add to the evolution of the sport under new promoters this coming season.

The new Youth class is for riders aged 14–18 with the chance to compete on 125cc motorcycles. The new FIM Youth SuperEnduro World Cup aims to nurture young talent, offering them opportunities to develop and race in the same arenas and on the same tracks as the pros, helping grow the next generation of SuperEnduro champions.

The 2024/2025 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship begins on December 14, 2024 in Gliwice, Poland.

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi