Meet Chip Yates. Later on this year in June, this 39-year-old chap will contest the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in something special. That something special is a 240bhp electric superbike.
Following the bike's debut in January this year - where he raced petrol-powered bikes and scored two podium finishes after just six laps of testing - Yates will contest this monstrous machine in the annual race to the clouds, in the Exhibition Division.
The superbike, the most powerful bike to compete at Pikes Peak, is powered by a liquid-cooled electric motor with 240bhp and 365lb ft of torque - more powerful than a MotoGP bike. Something certain to change the colour of Rossi's hair...
Says Chip: "Our engineers are busy developing new traction control software and mapping that will automatically adapt based on my position on the mountain."
While it won't be the first electric bike to race up the mountain, Chip reckons his bike will prove electricity isn't boring. "First, our superbike makes 240bhp at sea level and 240bhp at 14,110 feet. We don't suffer any power loss," says Chip.
"Secondly, our 365lb ft of torque is available from 0rpm as soon as I open the throttle."
The bike will undergo a two-day test ahead of the 26 June race. More on this as we get it...
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