Dorna Tests Potential Electric MotoGP Race Bike Sarolea SP7
Belgian manufacturer joins Lightning as potential eMotoGP spec-bike provider
Retired racer and Dorna‘s MotoGP race direction representative Loris Capirossi recently completed a private test of the Saroléa SP7 electric race bike to judge its candidacy for the spec bike for MotoGP’s upcoming electric class.
Capirossi took the SP7 (pictured above during this year’s Isle of Man TT) for a private test at Motorland Aragon ahead of last weekend’s MotoGP round. Dorna Chief Executive Officer Carmelo Ezpeleta was on hand to watch the test, which also drew the attentions of members of Ducati‘s and Yamaha‘s race teams.
The electric class is set to join the MotoGP circuit in 2019, and Dorna is expected to name the supplier for the one-make series by the end of October. Capirossi has already tested other potential candidates, including the Lightning LS-218 which he rode at Circuit of the Americas.
Dean Harrison rode the Saroléa SP7 during this year’s TT Zero at the Isle of Man, finishing fourth with an average speed of 108.064 mph on the Mountain Course. GP racing will offer different challenges from the Isle of Man TT, so it’s important for Dorna to conduct tests such as these.
Companies such as Saroléa and Lightning hope to be in the running, but they certainly aren’t the only candidates. Energica would be another potential suitor, but it will be interesting to see if Mugen, the four-time reigning TT Zero winning manufacturer, shows interest in the series. Mugen is, of course, closely associated with Honda, being formed in 1973 by Soichiro Honda‘s son, Hirotoshi Honda, and its ties with the Japanese manufacturer – not to mention its TT Zero success – may give Mugen an edge.
Testing for eMotoGP 2019.
Thanks to our partners! #Electric #MotoGP #Dorna #AragonGP #ev #futureisclean #SaroleaMoto pic.twitter.com/RQGOenmrip
— Saroléa motorcycles (@SaroleaMoto) September 24, 2017
Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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Whoever gets chosen should have the manufacturing capacity and resources to support eMotoGP around the world. Honda already has this structure in place, but they recently pulled out of providing the 600cc for Moto2, so how long will their support for eMotoGP last? Lightning is not in full production with their bike. Never heard of Saroléa before, so don't know much about them. Pretty slim pickings for a eMotoGP bike right now.
I don't know why it has to be limited to one manufacture. Can someone explain?