Just Electric

WSBK champion and Venturi set electric bike record

Two-time Superbike World Champion Max Biaggi and the Venturi Group have achieved 11 electric motorbike world records over a three day event.

The Voxan Wittman bike, powered by the same Mercdes engine Venturi runs in Formula E, claimed the title of the fastest electric motorbike, reaching speeds of 408 km/h.

Venturi had intended to run the record attempt in July, on the Salar de Uyuni plains in Bolivia. However, the attempt was rearranged due to Covid concerns, and the event took place on the 2.17 mile runway of the Marcel Dassault Airport in Châteauroux in France.

The most desirable of the 12 records Biaggi attempted was the 1 mile flying start, partially streamlined, a record previously set by Ryuji Tsuruta and Mobitec EV-02A.

FIM regulations state the world record must be set by measuring the average speed across two runs, each run over 1 mile from a flying start. The two runs must be in opposite directions to one another.

The Voxan Wittman managed an instantaneous speed of 408km/h, with an average speed of 366.94km/h.

Biaggi, who was crowned WorldSBK champion in 2012 and 2010 as well as winning four world championships in 250cc in the 1990s, also set the record in the non-streamlined attempt over the same distance, and nine other records over different distances from flying and standing starts.

“It was important to me to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Venturi Group’s electric adventure, said Venturi president Gildo Pastor.

“Given the health situation, it hasn’t been easy, but thanks to the hard work and mentality shown by Max and my teams, we proved ourselves up to the challenge. Twenty years after buying Venturi, I am delighted that the Group can now claim to have created the fastest ever electric vehicles on two and four wheels, but also in the four-wheel fuel cell category.

“On each project, we have worked openly with major companies to share with them our expertise in the field of ground-breaking technologies, and in doing so continued to improve eco-mobility.”

Biaggi added: “When Gildo Pastor approached me about this project, I was curious, very motivated and at the same time a little uncertain. Having said that, right after our first meeting, I quickly realised that, like Gildo, his teams were driven by an incredible belief and determination. They told me “we came close to 600km/h on four wheels, and now we want to flirt with 400km/h on two wheels, nothing’s going to stop us!” These records make me a happy man! I am proud of the team and delighted to bring these titles back to Monaco.”

Venturi aims to take more records in the future.

Image courtesy of Venturi Group.

Bethonie Waring

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