“Historic” Battle Between Electric and Gasoline Powered Bikes Developing @ Vegas MiniMotoSX

Electric
motorcycle
industry titans Zero and Quantya set to face off against legendary mini
racer
Scott “The Burner” Burnworth

Photos:
Tony Scavo

ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 14,
2010) – It’s all come down to this at
2010 GEICO Powersports MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster Energy, at
Vegas’
Orleans Arena: The first-ever American Motorcyclist Association (AMA)
professional dirt bike competition that pits the up-to-now compulsory
gasoline
burning four-stroke engine technology versus what many believe to be the
future
of the sport – the new electric powered motocross bikes.

Dubbed
the ECX (Energy Crisiscross), electric MX bike industry leaders
in
California-based Zero Motorcycles and Swiss-made Quantya USA
-
with American operations based in New York - will square off against one
of the
legends of Motocross and longtime Mini Bike racer: California’s Scott
“The Burner” Burnworth, mounted on a BBR-tuned 16-inch Honda
CRF150F. He is the defending MMSX
16-inch class
champion and will be joined by a full field of fellow gasoline powered
competitors that will face off against the electric bikes.                                                                                         

“GEICO
MiniMotoSX has been the only major American motorcycle competition forum
to
feature electric bikes at our event – something we’ve highlighted
for the last three years,” explained Mike Karsting, VP of Events for
Source Interlink Media. “We’ve seen marked progress in the
performance of both Zero and Quantya’s bikes and feel it’s time to
put them up against the traditional gasoline powered mini bikes that
dominate
our field at GEICO MiniMotoSX.

“The
ECX is truly a watershed moment in the sport of motorcycle racing and we
expect
the world’s motorcycle industry to be tuned-in to the May 7^th
GEICO MiniMotoSX at the Orleans.”

Keep
in mind the electric bikes have their work cut out for them. Defending
GEICO
MMSX 16-inch class champion Burnworth is the undisputed veteran King of
American mini bike racing lore, having won four CMMC Minicycle
Championship
titles and one NMA Minicycle Championship title dating back to the mid
to late
1970s. A former AMA 125cc Rookie of the Year (’80) and runner up in the
’83 250cc MX Nationals’ overall title chase, Burnworth’s
motorcycle racing heritage continues – in a sense going back to where it
all began with his recent success racing adult mini bikes. And you’d
better believe he doesn’t want an *asterisk next to his name as the guy
who lost the first-ever AMA championship to an electric bike.

“I’ve
seen the electric bikes run, but really haven’t had a chance to get out
and really shake one down on a track,” said Burnworth.
“They’ve made light speed technology advancements in the past
several years and, depending who’s on them, should make for an
interesting gate in the 16-inch class on May 7^th.”

Neither
Zero nor Quantya is showing their hand yet in terms of rider selection,
though
both electric MX bike companies are pumped with the opportunity to
compete for
the first time ever for an AMA No. 1 plate.

“I’ve
spoke with the principles at both Zero and Quantya and all are in favor
of the
ECX and looking forward to seeing how their industry-leading electric
powered
technology stands up to the traditional gas powered mini bikes that put
motocross racing on the map here in the States back in the 1960s,” said
Lance Bryson, Director of Sales & Marketing for GEICO MiniMotoSX.
“The May 7^th GEICO MiniMotoSX at the Orleans will be a
historic moment in the timeline of American dirt bike racing.”

You
can buy a ticket to witness MX history! A consistent sellout since
its inception in 2004, GEICO
MMSX fans and those in town for the finals of Monster Energy Supercross
are
urged to get their ticket in advance as seats for this historic event
are
filling up rapidly. For more information, including a view of the track
map,
link to www.minimotosx.com

The
annual GEICO MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster Energy, is the largest
indoor
motorsports competition of its kind. With more than 600 registered riders in 2009 the event literally allows
for mini
bike enthusiasts to become part of the show. As one racer put it: “At
GEICO MiniMotoSX you don’t just show up and watch racing in Vegas –
you boot up and get on the track yourself to race in front of a packed
house at
the Orleans.” Featuring numerous classes at all age and ability levels,
GEICO MiniMotoSX delivers an unforgettable day of racing action for both
fans
and racers alike, along with an affordable ‘Vegas experience’ given
the hotel and ticket package at the Orleans Hotel and Arena.
Registration for
the event is open right now on www.minimotosx.com