Monaco-based electric motorcycle brand Voxan has set its sights on breaking a new world speed record later this year, after achieving 11 world titles last November.
Venturi, owner of Voxan, announced on Wednesday that the Voxan Wattman is being optimised to compete before the end of the year in the under 300kg category. Once again, motorcycle world champion Max Biaggi will be in command of the machine.
The Voxan Wattman was initially designed for world record attempts on the planet’s biggest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. However, restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 crisis meant that journey was – and still is – impossible.
So in the autumn of 2020, the runway of Châteauroux airfield in France was chosen as the venue, and by the end of 2021 Voxan will be setting up camp on another asphalt track. In preparation for this latest attempt, and to optimise the Wattman for this type of surface, the engine and transmission have been tweaked with the usual expert collaboration of Michelin, partner and official tyre supplier.
The Voxan Wattman should weigh in at under 300 kilograms, enabling it to compete in that category. The increase weight is mainly due to the new battery used. President Gildo Pastor, Technical Director Franck Baldet, and the motorcycle’s designer Louis-Marie Blondel have chosen the company Saft to partner the project, a French firm with extensive experience in both motorsport and the aerospace sector.
In November 2020, the Voxan Wattman achieved an instantaneous speed of 408 km/h. In order to beat that record, the engineering team at Venturi/Voxan have also worked on the motorcycle’s air penetration and stability. While simulations in the wind tunnel play a crucial role, the R&D department has also enlisted the help of specialists in fluid dynamics simulation, to take account of the incredibly high speeds targeted.
Commenting on the motorbike’s new capabilities, rider Max Biaggi said: “I cannot believe the work we’ve done in just a few months. Last November, we were wondering if we’d be able to hit 400 km/h, but now that speed is just the starting point for our work. It’s beyond that pivotal value that we are learning and progressing. With our motivation, the team spirit at Voxan and our hunger to excel, I have no doubt whatsoever that we will succeed.”
Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi-Voxan, added: “Attempting to set new speed records barely a year after posting the very first is exhilarating. I’m fortunate to be able to rely on an inspired and inspirational team that has made the Voxan Wattman the world’s fastest electric motorcycle. Eleven records (confirmed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) is great but… it’s not enough. I want to keep on and on developing electric mobility.”
 
 
READ ALSO:
Gildo Pastor’s motorcycle team makes history books
Venturi to launch world’s first zero emissions polar explorer
 
Monaco Life with Venturi press release