With all the talk about safety issues causing the engine reduction size in MotoGP I started thinking about technical rules in the sport and in all motorcycle and automobile racing in general. Which lead to more thoughts on how racing technology trickles down to the typical consumer. Historically this had to do with tyres, horsepower, braking technology, electronics, etc. So why not introduce serious energy efficiency into the equation?

No, despite the eco-friendly title, I’m not some california hippy rueing the extinction of a particular strain of bacteria. On the other hand, I am very concerned about the Human Effect on The Planet and specifically the energy and climate issues. I promise not to mention any recent natural disasters. But my blood does boil when I have to lane split my sv650 between Hummers with single occupants… You’d have to be a complete fool not to see that the rise in gasoline prices, the UK fuel protests, the growing popularity of the Peak Oil theory are anything to be lightly dismissed or temporary. Whether the energy situation develops into a recession or a market correction or a complete human catastrophe is debatable and this is no place for such debate.

However, this makes for an interesting thought on the challenge of introducing alternative energy into the world of racing.

Think of the incredible money F1, NASCAR (sorry for the ‘N’ word), and even motorcycle racing, sinks into developing racing technology. Now imagine the racing organizations forcing the teams to introduce dramatic fuel efficiency requirements (the easiest way to do this is to force the gas tanks to be dramatically, say 30%-50%, smaller and in sport with pit stops limiting the number of pit stops or total fuel load per race allowed). Or even requiring engines to operate on alternative fuel blends. We’ve seen the successful introduction of ethanol in some forms of racing. There’s at least one team in the Indy Car Series that runs on ethanol. It’s a good start. How about an Ethanol Car/Motorcycle Series?

Yes, a few years ago I would have laughed at such a suggestion myself. But as petrol prices continue to rise and even U.S. consumers are actually starting to go out and buy hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles, I don’t think it’s such an absurd idea.

Why in racing? Relatively speaking, racing itself is hardly responsible for depleting non-renewable fuels. But historically, technology developed for racing ends up in consumer’s hands. It’s a great proving ground for new technology and can raise public awareness of the issues as well as the technology itself. At it’s highest levels motor racing is backed by the biggest factories and has the resources of some of the greatest scientific minds. Finally, competition on the racetrack forces specific technologies to develop even quicker than in the finest labs in the world which often have to depend on fickle (I use the term politely) government funding.

Wouldn’t it be cool to see a motorcycle series where the bikes get 50+ mpg even at 200mph???

I know Sete Gibernau would approve…

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