E-bikes in pro ICE racing is the stupidest thing ever

While I do like the Stark and would like to see them raced professionally, I do agree that just throwing them in with 450 4strokes is pretty insane. At that point, why were there ever any classes in the first place? Because to me a Stark racing amongst 450s is probably more different than any combo of standard ICE bikes you could come up with. We can't get 250 2strokes to race with 250Fs professionally, but certain series' think a Stark should be able to race with 450s. I think E-bikes are coming from more brands, eventually. I'd rather just have an E-class and as more models pop up, then more get mixed in. Eventually that class could become more prominent, at some point. I dunno. It's a weird time right now and it's complicated. Much like the late 90s with the 4strokes, but even a bigger change, in my opinion. I didn't see anything about the AMA racing considering this, right? I feel like in the case at WSX, they are just looking for ways to bring attention. 

Ive been to an Arenacross that had E bike class, with fast guys, and it was the most boring thing to watch. Trust me, they are not going to take over the professional scene because promoters want to sell tickets and watching an E bike wont put butts into seats. 

WSX is allowing them to compete. 

Please share the link when you put your bikes up for sale. 

I think what ever the big 5 decide.... I really feel thats what youre going to get. haha. 

Remember when they forced 4-strokes down our throats? What makes this any different? Whenever they start selling them... you will be racing them. Thats how this works. 

I own a decent loaded Talria Sting setup for woods riding... and I still think they are a gimmick. Fun... but nothing compared to the beauty of a well running iCE engine across a long distance. 

My worthless $0.02

MotoAmerica did it two years ago. Rallycross did it last year. This is not new.

Motocross is one of the few motorsports where the person's skill is way more important than the motor.

The power characteristics and weight will be different. That doesn't mean the rules can't control both and let the different platforms compete. There is room for both.

I am absolutely salivating for the day when the thumper becomes obsolete. I hope Freise easily becomes the 2026 WSX champion and we change the name of his takeouts to "Electro-freezes." I hope electric bikes become so instantly superior that the Japanese engineer who brought us the YZ400F gets fired. 

Bring 'em on!

I wish we had an open class ...

Have you ridden one?

Justin Bogle is not a fan of the stark!!

Due to constant track closures from noise issues, electric will be the future of the sport.  My opinion is let electric compete in 450 or open class.  Let the ice bikes continue in 250 for a few more years.  When race teams realize ICE bikes cost 3x to race vs electric, we will see a depleted 250 class and a huge open class.  If ICE bikes are truly better, they will dominate the electrics.  But it won’t happen that way…

Electric bikes are way cheaper to own and easier to ride with correct form.  They are the future.  All the old motor heads can continue to ride their ICE bikes, just like the vintage guys do now.

I thought watching e bikes in ax was a snooze fest. But I do like the idea of e bikes for consumers for noise etc. I mean no one wanted a four stroke now it’s hard to find many two strokes. Time will tell. 

No reputable racing series will implement the Stark in a way that it competes against the ICE OEM’s. Only a second-rate racing series would find the need to take advantage of such shallow entertainment. It’s a gimmicky way of thinking. You won’t see it in Pro SX/MX stateside, and you won’t see it in MXGP. You won’t even see it in Pro MX in Canada, the UK, or Australia. There’s nothing to worry about. It will likely take over one day, but it will be when E-bikes are forced on us by regulations. Not by choice. 

Stark raced a couple of Nationals in Canada this year. Robbie Wageman raced it and it was a mudder. It didn't go well (DNS-19 for 21st). Another guy raced it at the last round (24-24 for 28th).

IMO, it shouldn't have been allowed. 

How crazy is it that you can race an ebike in some series against 450s but not a 300 two stroke?

My concern is that supercross/motocross, as a spectator sport, would lose part of it's spectacle if all the engines were silent.

Don’t forget, someone once thought it was fair to allow 250 4 strokes in the 125 class..

Exactly!!!!

I take it you find down hill mountain bike racing boring to watch too then?

So pretty much the way four strokes gained traction.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in adapting the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

If I could have one, I would.  I came very close to buying one, but I am at the end of my track days, it made no sense to spend that much for something that short term when you are turning to woods riding (which pains me).

That said, they are a niche in the MX world. As much as some wish, I don't see them "taking over", ever.  I know a lot of that stems from what manufacturers make, but competitive e-bikes have been around for 12 years now..  Still a niche 12 years later.  I know they are a hoot to ride, easy to work on, but are not going to take over MX racing on the grand scheme anytime soon.

The crash reels are epic 😄

WSX seems like the right place to test this out. It’s not SX, MX, or MXGP. See how it does, and we can decide if there is a place for it in the major series. No harm no foul here in my opinion 

Check this out then.