We are only a day removed from a top-ten finish by Tytlers Cycle Racing’s Stefano Mesa aboard the Energica Eva Ribelle RS KCC in the second Super Hooligan race at Daytona, Round One of the season. The experienced and fast Colombian rider managed to significantly improve his lap-times compared to a year ago, but so did all the other main competitors.
The Daytona International Speedway – hosting the opening event of the year – is unlike anything else on a FIM-sanctioned championship calendar: in the MotoAmerica configuration it has a 3.51-mile (5.65 km) tri-oval course with infield curves. The seemingly endless straights (the front is 1,200 meters long and the “superstretch” is 910 meters) allow for a panoramic view from the grandstands. But it is the dramatic 31° high banking, originally designed for NASCAR, that is particularly intimidating to tackle on a motorcycle. Is it an easy track for electric? Perhaps not.
Motorcycle racing is the ultimate expression of competition: it is filled with adrenaline, excitement, challenges, joys and disappointment, and you hardly know which ones you are going to get on each occasion. A small technical issue, such as the one that prevented Mesa from finishing Race One, can also unfortunately happen.
The Future is Electric and our sights are always firmly set to what is ahead. More rounds await, after a big break. We will learn from Daytona and we will be ready to bounce back in Round Two at The Ridge Motorsports Park (June 28th – 30th).
The Super Hooligan National Championship is one of the fastest-growing series in racing, with 35 entrants at Daytona this year and over 9.2 million race viewers in 2023 (a 76% increase from 2022) and 30 million impressions in social media alone. It’s no wonder that the event has attracted new manufacturers while also dialing-up the big-time rivalries that have laid the foundation for this incredible championship. And Energica is proud to be part of it, pushing the boundaries of what an electric motorcycle can do against ICE counterparts.