Top finishers fit Dunlop Geomax in FIM E-Xplorer World Cup for electric racing bikes

(Photo: Dunlop)

Five of the top six riders in the opening round of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) E-Xplorer World Cup in Osaka, Japan fit Dunlop Geomax tyres with Team HRC winning ahead of Robbie Maddison Racing thanks to second-place finishes in the male and female classifications. Jorge Zaragoza of Robbie Maddison Racing topped the male standings, while Sandra Gomez of Inde Racing finished top on the female side of the event. The tyre was developed alongside top MXGP riders, as Wim Van Achter, motorsport manager at Dunlop Motorcycle Europe explains: “Dunlop’s vast range of enduro, trials and motocross tyres meant our teams could really tune the tyre choice to suit their innovative electric race bikes.

“The EN91EX was only launched a few months ago, and its new super soft rubber compound provided tremendous traction in the toughest of conditions. It’s now a World Cup winning tyre! We were proud to also have Dunlop as the sponsoring partner of the opening round. We believe in the values of the championship. With its focus on sustainability, innovation and diversity we believe it has an important role to play in the future of off-road competition.”

Team HRC used the new extreme enduro EN91EX on its Hondas, ridden by Tosha Schareina and Francesca Nocera. Maddison chose the versatile Geomax MX53, Dunlop’s medium to hard terrain motocross tyre, for team riders Jorge Zaragoza and Virginie Germond.

The Cup was created to allow zero-emissions electric motorcycles to compete in the toughest off-road trials. The five-round electric world cup series runs to similar rules as enduro championships, and each team must include a male and female rider. In Osaka, the full top three on the male podium, and two of the top three on the female podium used Dunlop tyres.

The next round takes place in Norway on 3-4 May with Team HRC and Robbie Maddison Racing leading the championship. Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), aims to promote the capabilities of zero emissions electric motorcycles in tough off-road competition. Throughout the year, it will hold rounds in environmentally conscious countries like France and Switzerland, as well as India, the world’s largest motorcycle market.