Photo : ACO/Nikon - F.GAUDIN

The International Championship for electric motorcycles  that combinies the championship FIM e-power and the TTXGP  had its almost silent free practice and timed sessions  yesterday, Thursday, Friday and today.

The second timed practice session ended Friday morning at 10:20. There were only six of the eleven announced bikes expected.

Not surprisingly, Matthias Himmelmann, topped the timesheets of the two series (FIM e-power and  European TTXGP), lfinshed the session as leader and will start at front of the grid. His best lap was 1'52''939 a great improvement on the best time last year (2'19). Just behind, Alessandro Branet and Chinese rider Fung Ho Chi fought for second place but Branet finally prevailed over his opponent.

The first race weekend of the 24 Hours Moto was 8 laps. It was no surprise that German Matthias Himmelmann took the lead and flew to victory. He was 6 to 8 seconds per lap faster than his competitors. In a race that was free of incidents for the protagonists of the world championship, the Italian Alessandro Brannetti took second place. Chinese Ho Chi Fung completed the podium forty seconds behind. Alex Battistini was fourth, followed by the American Shelina Moreda. The last rider to cross the finish line was Yu Tang.

The podium was eclectic, with three different nationalities. Matthias Himmelmann also secured the title of world champion of electric motorcycles.

Photo: Mans, Sarthe (FRANCE), September 23, 2011. Matthias Himmelmann on electric motorcycle #99, wins the e-Power World Championship and the TTXGP Championship.