Stark gains approval to race at Red Bull Erzbergrodeo
Stark’s electric Varg motorcycle has gained approval to race in a major competition next year.
The iconic Red Bull Erzbergrodeo race has agreed to let electric vehicles compete against traditional combustion-engine motorcycles.
It marks the first time in the event’s history that electric bikes can do that, and Stark Future has already confirmed that it will participate in the competition next June, with riders Eddie Karlsson and Toby Martyn.
The Varg is Stark’s flagship electric motocross model, and it will race under the same sporting and technical regulations as its combustion-engine rivals, despite some very important differences.
Stark owners will be admitted into the Open Class during the Prologue Qualification, which will give them the chance to qualify for the main race. A press release from Stark goes on to say that “electric participation has already been included within Red Bull Erzbergrodeo’s official athlete registration and event communications”.
What this also means is that charging stations will now be added. Riders will be able to swap batteries at the same location where traditional refueling is allowed.
Unlike riders using combustion-engine motorcycles, though, electric participants will have the advantage of receiving help from their service crew to swap batteries at the dedicated service point during the race.
It’s no secret that this is a major win for electric motorcycles and the EV industry as a whole, and it could lead to other competitions allowing electric bikes to race against combustion entrants in the future.
Karl Katoch, Founder and CEO of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, said this about the major announcement.
“The Stark VARG electric motorcycle is special to me because it is the world's first production off-road sports motorcycle that is competitive in almost every current competition and can realistically fight for top positions. This sporting performance also makes it particularly interesting with regard to the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo. Accordingly, the Stark VARG has already taken its permanent place in my garage - with an eye on the challenges ahead at Erzberg.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.