AMA and Electric Motorcycles in AMA/FIM races

[Beagle]

I wonder how much engine noise those riders can hear anyways when the crowd is cheering hard. Remember James Stewart in Toronto in 2014? Dozens of thousands of spectators screaming vs 20 motorcycles.

Also, it's on the rider doing the overtaking to make sure it's on the right side of "acceptable", wether you're on a gas or electric bike it's on you.

Stark riders are acutely aware of this and so far, after 2 years of racing, they haven't been involved in more sketchy situations than their competitors.

 

[Beagle]

Here are the Equivalence Of Technologies / Balance Of Performances for FIM Superenduro

https://www.fim-moto.com/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/2026/2026_0_SUPERENDURO_ELECTRIC_EOT-BOP_30.11.2025.pdf?t=1765722958

Minimum weight 117 kg (they sure could shed some cells for 7 min enduro races if they were allowed to) and no limits on power output.

 

[Karinshi]

no power limit on enduro? didnt know that... MX limit is 59hp right?

 

[Beagle]

no power limit on enduro? didnt know that... MX limit is 59hp right?

See previous page, for FIM WSX, electrics are surprisingly limited to 73 hp (54 kW) for SX1 and 60 hp (44 kW) for SX2. Presumably to take the extra weight into account.



In all other championships, Starks are limited to 60 hp in SX1 (like when Hicks wins in AX UK) and 48 hp in SX2 (like when Hicks wins in SX tour).

 

[Beagle]

I remember reading that FIM had either mandated rear foot brake or banned rear handbrake, it was something odd.

Zaragoza appears to allude to something like that here

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He was obviously using left hand rear brake in South Africa, not sure if that was the case for all WSX races. It could be that rear foot brake was made mandatory by the FIM and that they needed some time to get a dual rear brake system working and giving him the feel ans stopping power he expects from his usual "hand rear brake only" system?

Edit: found it, read 54.03. It's written in red meaning it was updated during the season so they may have started with just "rear brake must be operational and operated by the rear brake pedal" and may have added the rest later to allow a dual system.

2025_3_MOTOCROSS TECHNICAL REGULATIONS_02.09.2025 | FIM

www.fim-moto.com

 

[Karinshi]

nice investigation... i think is bad that they change it in the middle of the competition... no it makes sense why we saw the double rear brakes

 

[Theo]

nice investigation... i think is bad that they change it in the middle of the competition... no it makes sense why we saw the double rear brakes

Actually, from that paragraph in red font, it seems like they should have had only one rear brake caliper and multiple master cylinders, whereas what I have seen, at least, were two brake calipers. One thing that I've noticed just now is that there were both a foot operated master cylinder and a hand operated one, though.

 

[Beagle]

Found 2025 motocross technical regulations version 2 from May 2nd, no mention of electric bikes, no mention of mandatory rear brake pedal.

2025_2_MOTOCROSS TECHNICAL RULES_02.05.2025 | FIM

www.fim-moto.com

So this was only introduced in the latest version, 3 from August 28th.
It was not changed during the WSX season but Stark only had a couple of months to adapt to this request. I would love to get the reasoning behind the FIM behind mandating foot pedal, just seems odd and was never an issue in national championships.

Did not seem to hinder Hicks too much

 

[Beagle]

Actually, from that paragraph in red font, it seems like they should have had only one rear brake caliper and multiple master cylinders, whereas what I have seen, at least, were two brake calipers. One thing that I've noticed just now is that there were both a foot operated master cylinder and a hand operated one, though.

Can you post some pics?

 

[Theo]

Can you post some pics?

Alreay done; here is the post, #7:
Stark - dual rear brake set up

 

[Beagle]

Alreay done; here is the post, #7:
Stark - dual rear brake set up

Thanks, I can well see the rear brake front lever and master cylinder, as usual.
Not sure where I can see the second master cylinder next to the pedal but it must be there for sure.
I haven't seen the 2 calipers?

 

[Theo]

Thanks, I can well see the rear brake front lever and master cylinder, as usual.
Not sure where I can see the master cylinder next to the pedal but it must be there for sure.
I haven't seen the 2 calipers?

The foot operated master cylinder is in the usual location like where you would find it on a regular Varg with foot brake.
In both the pictures you can clearly see two calipers but only provided you magnify a lot.

 

[Beagle]

Thanks, finally saw it!


You wanna know why Hicks wasn't bothered by the his odd technical rules?
He never uses the rear hand brake lever on his Varg (nor on his Alta)!

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