AMA and Electric Motorcycles in AMA races

[Beagle]

MXEP, electric class thought off by Infront without consulting any electric manufacturer, and foreseen for 2026, is DOA.

Here is what Luongo said to Moto Verte:

Still no plan to integrate electric motorcycles into MXGP?
"No! The decision was made by us, but also by all motorsports on earth! There's no point mixing two engine types, two different technologies. It's not meant to be. Afterwards, we gave the possibility to create a separate championship following this "green" wave, but we don't feel any desire from the manufacturers nor any interest from the public. It's fine for having fun on the weekend without making noise, but in elite sport, with the passion of our fans, it doesn't seem appropriate to me."

Stark wasn't interested and other manufacturers are not ready yet so I don't know who would have raced anyway. Honda CR electric, or its production cousin, might be further away than what we thought.

Full points for the BS argument that nobody mixes electrics with ICE when Starks are racing all over Europe, Australia, South America and in FIM Superenduro world championship.

 

[Beagle]

David Herbreteau finished 12th in France MX Elite 1st round, that was a 30 min race (25 min + 2 laps). Against riders like Renaux, Febvre, Desprey.

Round 1 was the first time a Varg competed in France Elite championship.
Now at round 2 there will be 4 Vargs:
Herbreteau and Irsuti in MX1
Wade and Jayal in MX2

 

[Beagle]

France Elite MX, round 2

In MX1 Irsuti signed the first top 10 for Stark with 10th overall (10/12), things went sideways for Herbreteau in race 1 but he had similar pace to his teammate in race 2 for 15th overall (24/11).

In MX2 Wade showed some potential, DNF race 1 but 9th in race 2 got him 25th overall (still better than his rookie teammate Jayal in 36th).

Top10 in 30 min races in MX1 and MX2 at round 2, let's see where they go from there

 

[UKLee]

France Elite MX, round 2

In MX1 Irsuti signed the first top 10 for Stark with 10th overall (10/12), things went sideways for Herbreteau in race 1 but he had similar pace to his teammate in race 2 for 15th overall (24/11).

In MX2 Wade showed some potential, DNF race 1 but 9th in race 2 got him 25th overall (still better than his rookie teammate Jayal in 36th).

Top10 in 30 min races in MX1 and MX2 at round 2, let's see where they go from there

" Top10 in 30 min races in MX1 and MX2 at round 2"
30 minute races in a national championship, my kids can use a full battery in 20 minutes and nothing like that level. Must be some special battery not what us paying customers get.

 

[Beagle]

" Top10 in 30 min races in MX1 and MX2 at round 2"
30 minute races in a national championship, my kids can use a full battery in 20 minutes and nothing like that level. Must be some special battery not what us paying customers get.

They could be using the 7.2 kWh battery with factory software without limping mode, I don't expect anything much fancier than that. Curious to see if they can run 30 min at all tracks this year, so far 2 on 2.

 

[Theo]

" Top10 in 30 min races in MX1 and MX2 at round 2"
30 minute races in a national championship, my kids can use a full battery in 20 minutes and nothing like that level. Must be some special battery not what us paying customers get.

I'm not an expert but I have learnt something about those batteries and I doubt that they could have available anything so different from what we have. Just check the specifications of the battery of the Ducati V21L used in MotoE, where probably they are willing to spend more money: the energy density is nothing special:
https://www.ducati.com/gb/en/company/innovation/moto-e/prototype
expand the section "01. Battery pack".

 

[Beagle]

I'm not an expert but I have learnt something about those batteries and I doubt that they could have available anything so different from what we have. Just check the specifications of the battery of the Ducati V21L used in MotoE, where probably they are willing to spend more money: the energy density is nothing special:
https://www.ducati.com/gb/en/company/innovation/moto-e/prototype
expand the section "01. Battery pack".

Agreed, I don't see any motorcycle manufacturer going with anything other than commercial cells. They have neither knowledge nor means. Their innovation comes from the rest, the pack, module integration, electronics but not the core cells who are the main component dictating range. The other parts can optimize range, not revolutionize it.

Except maybe Honda, thanks to their car division, motorcycle sales are too tiny to deserve this on their own.

 

[Beagle]

Here's the muddiest battery swap I've ever seen (from France Enduro championship)

Radiopaddock on Instagram: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!"

3,881 likes, 73 comments - radio_paddock on April 20, 2025: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!".

www.instagram.com

OXMOTO on Instagram: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - ca

528 likes, 1 comments - oxmoto on April 22, 2025: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - catégorie E1 : ➡️...

www.instagram.com

 

[Beagle]

Stark is setting up some kind of international contingency program for amateurs

Stark Future on Instagram: "$2,000,000 USD Reward Fund - supporting the riders who represent our brand and the future of racing! ⚡️🏁 If anyone races a VARG, they can get paid, simple as that! We disrupted the industry with the Stark VARG, and now,

1,841 likes, 70 comments - stark__future on April 25, 2025: "$2,000,000 USD Reward Fund - supporting the riders who represent our brand and the future of racing! ⚡️🏁 If anyone races a VARG, they can get paid, simple as that! We disrupted the industry with the Stark VARG, and now, we’re...

www.instagram.com

It's open in 12 countries but so far only events in the US have been added. Pays up to 3rd if there's a minimum of 5 finishers in a class mixing electric and ICE.

Stark Race Rewards

Stark Race Rewards is the official rewards program for Stark riders, offering cash incentives for race performance. Sign up, race, and get rewarded!

www.starkracerewards.com

 

[UKLee]

Stark is setting up some kind of international contingency program for amateurs

Stark Future on Instagram: "$2,000,000 USD Reward Fund - supporting the riders who represent our brand and the future of racing! ⚡️🏁 If anyone races a VARG, they can get paid, simple as that! We disrupted the industry with the Stark VARG, and now,

1,841 likes, 70 comments - stark__future on April 25, 2025: "$2,000,000 USD Reward Fund - supporting the riders who represent our brand and the future of racing! ⚡️🏁 If anyone races a VARG, they can get paid, simple as that! We disrupted the industry with the Stark VARG, and now, we’re...

www.instagram.com

It's open in 12 countries but so far only events in the US have been added. Pays up to 3rd if there's a minimum of 5 finishers in a class mixing electric and ICE.

Stark Race Rewards

Stark Race Rewards is the official rewards program for Stark riders, offering cash incentives for race performance. Sign up, race, and get rewarded!

www.starkracerewards.com

If they want to attract more sales they should start by honoring the warranty and giving us what we were promised, people ask me what the stark is like I tell them, not practical, no range, very unreliable, Much better off with a decent ICE bike.
I currently have a list of issues stark keep on fobbing me off with.
Since getting the stark (18 months ago) I have easily spent more time keeping the stark going than I have maintaining/ repairing 4 ICE bikes.

Here's the muddiest battery swap I've ever seen (from France Enduro championship)

Radiopaddock on Instagram: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!"

3,881 likes, 73 comments - radio_paddock on April 20, 2025: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!".

www.instagram.com

OXMOTO on Instagram: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - ca

528 likes, 1 comments - oxmoto on April 22, 2025: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - catégorie E1 : ➡️...

www.instagram.com

What a joke, enduro is supposed to be rider and bike, even with 3 helpers unplugging very sensitive connections with the bike covered in mud is asking for trouble. Even if you were allowed to do that still no chance it would get to each refuelling stop going a pace that would keep you on time.

Back garden toy (if it decides to work) or garage queen is all it is good for.

 

[Beagle]

MX Elite France round 3

In race 1 Herbreteau held 6th for the most part of the race but with 3 laps to go he lost about 30s and 3 spots to finish 9th. Irsuti, 14th, similarly lost around 30s in the last 3 laps so this could well have been related to technical limitations of the bike (battery range).

Funny thing is that he hasn't had the same issue for race 2, Herbreteau finished 7th, maybe losing about 5s in the last 3 laps, could be battery, stamina or playing it safe but much better than race 1. Irsuti only completed 1 lap.

Herbreteau ends up 5th overall, first top5 for Stark in Elite MX1, he sits 6th in the championship.

David Herbreteau on Instagram: "Yes, p5 Overall. First top 5 for the Varg. We learn, we progress. 📈⚡️🔋 Thanks team. @oxmoto @stark__future @iponelube @gobyracing @2f_mx @fivegloves @mxseat @mc_pays_des_olonnes @prorima_moto @alpinestarsmx

388 likes, 21 comments - davidherbreteau338 on April 27, 2025: "Yes, p5 Overall. First top 5 for the Varg. We learn, we progress. 📈⚡️🔋 Thanks team. @oxmoto @stark__future @iponelube @gobyracing @2f_mx @fivegloves @mxseat @mc_pays_des_olonnes @prorima_moto @alpinestarsmx...

www.instagram.com

In MX2 Wade got a terrible race 1, finishing 22nd, and an okay race 2 in 10th for 16th overall.

 

[Theo]

Here's the muddiest battery swap I've ever seen (from France Enduro championship)

Radiopaddock on Instagram: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!"

3,881 likes, 73 comments - radio_paddock on April 20, 2025: "Battery change for the Stark Varg! Even with heavy conditions it’s less than 3 minutes!".

www.instagram.com

OXMOTO on Instagram: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - ca

528 likes, 1 comments - oxmoto on April 22, 2025: "⚡️ Première manche du Championnat de France d’Enduro à Hénon pour nos pilotes @alixthedemon & @till_declercq46 au guidon de la Stark VARG EX ⚡️ Résultats Antoine - catégorie E3 : ➡️ P4 samedi ➡️ P5 dimanche Résultats Till - catégorie E1 : ➡️...

www.instagram.com

Apparently the procedure is:
• remove the fasteners, including the two rear skidplate bolts,
• start to remove the battery within the limits of the slacks of the cables,
• disconnect the cables,
• vice versa to reinstall it.
They have holes in the spoiler assembly so that they don't need to remove it; I've already seen that in another video.
They use compressed air to clean the interior of the plugs but we should be careful, since compressed air often contains condensed moisture and if you don't have a filter for that you could shoot some drops over the connector; I don't have a filter and, although I always drain the condensation from my compressor after every use, I've occasioanlly seen water droplets being sprayed by the nozzle I use to clean things. IMO either we should use a compressor with a filter or we should use canned air.