Electric racing crisis sparked by FIM series – MCN DECEMBER 2009

Racing’s governing body sets up new electric championship. Copies rules and tries to poach staff from fledgling TTXGP race series. FIM leadership admit privately they are ‘appalled’

The FIM's shock decision to withdraw its backing From 2010’s fledgling eGrandPrix series has dealt electric racing a blow from which the FIM itself looks set to suffer most.

International bike racing's governing body is in disarray after launching its own electric championship, which even the chairman of its Alternative Energy Working Group and Vice President says he "knows nothing about".

Nor can the FIM – which controls everything from MotoGP to international scooter racing – consistently explain its reasons for withdrawing its support for TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain’s eGrandPrix series, as shown by its random press statements below.

Hussain says the real reason is an "out of the blue" demand for €500,000 by the FIM. Now the FIM says it had decided as long ago as October to launch its own electric series, yet it continued to co-operate with TTXGP until November 16, at which point it demanded all references to the FIM on TTXGP's website and literature be removed.

On November 19, the FIM announced it was launching a rival series – the e-Power International Championship – with plans to present a 15-strong grid. But so far they've failed to sign any teams, while Hussain has hit back with 34 signatories including Mission Motors and TTXGP winners Team Agni.

Critics accuse the FIM's Marketing Director Olivier Godallier of orchestrating the split, a claim supported by comments made by Vice President and electric racing advocate Robert Rasor. He told Norwegian journalist lvar Kvadsheim " As chairman of the FIM's Alternative Energy Working Group, I am a strong supporter of the TTXGP and the innovative, and rapid adaption of battery power to motorcycle sport. Regrettably, I have not been involved in the internal discussions regarding the organisation of FIM's actual series. I still support TTXGP and know nothing about e-Power. Talk to Olivier about that." Rasor is described privately as being 'horrified and ashamed' by the chain of events.

Godallier was appointed by the FIM in 2008 to "improve communications internally and externally and create new income."

Godallier has granted e-Power 'World Championship' status – the highest of the FIM's three designations and something TTXGP organisers were told couldn't be applied to such an unproven formula. Yet e-Power will rely almost entirely on rules drafted by TTXGP.

Though claiming a basis in FIM rules governing electric and solar racers dating from 1996, even its own spokesman concedes the organisation lacks up-to-date electric technical knowledge: "We should basically forget this old version."

Leaked emails sent in late November and seen by MCN reveal the FIM attempting to poach TTXGP technical staff. Extraordinarily, following the split, Hussain says he was told he would face legal action if he attempted to use the rules for his own series, though this is denied by the FIM.

The episode marks a remarkable turnaround from the summer, when FIM president Vito Ippolito announced following the inaugural TTXGP on the Isle of Man: "l am very happy to welcome this new series. We are convinced that very shortly the motorcycle World Championships will be accessible to non-polluting engines as far as gas and sound emissions are concerned.

"Now that this important decision is taken, we have to work on the rules and a calendar to be ready to compete in 2010.'

In spite of the fallout, Hussain says he still hopes to work with the FIM from 2011. "I never wanted to be a governing body," he says.

Tell us what you think: www.motorcyclenews.com