Zero Motorcycles and Hollywood Electrics made racing history with six production-based Zero Motorcycles that all competed and finished with impressive times at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on June 30.
Jeff Clark, riding a 2013 Zero FX, was the fastest of the production-based group with a 12:00 flat run up the mountain, setting a new record for production-based electric motorcycles and putting him inside the top half of all motorcycles entered in this year’s event. Clark was closely followed by BE-EV.com sponsored rider Jeremiah Johnson, riding a 2013 Zero S and finishing in 12:05.
Rounding out the podium with a time of 12:24 in the special Exhibition Powersports Class-Z was Motorcycle.com editor and test rider Troy Siahaan, competing on a 2013 Zero FX. All three finishing times were faster than the previous electric motorcycle record time set by Chip Yates in 2011.
“This week exceeded all expectations,” said Harlan Flagg of Hollywood Electrics. “We came prepared and ready to race, but were blown away by how smoothly it went all week. Even after several crashes during practices days, one that sent a bike flying off a 15-foot embankment, the motorcycles only suffered superficial damage, a testament to how well designed these machines are by the engineering team at Zero Motorcycles. We came to prove just how much fun and how competitive electric motorcycles can be, especially production-based motorcycles, and I believe we proved a point.”
This year marks the first-ever Electric Motorcycle Division in PPIHC’s 91-year history. In addition to the top three finishing Zero riders, team members Ted Rich (12:53), Nathan Barker (13:14) and Brandon Miller (13:16) set impressive times as well. Hollywood Electrics organized and managed the efforts with motorcycles and technical support from Zero Motorcycles, represented on-site by Media Relations Coordinator TJ Aguirre. Hollywood Electrics entered several different model Zero Motorcycles in the event, including a number of stock and modified motorcycles.
“This is a landmark moment for electric motorcycles and the electric movement in general,” said Scot Harden, vice president of global marketing for Zero Motorcycles. “Our hats are off to Lightning Motorcycle and Carlin Dunne for setting the fastest two-wheeled time up the mountain. I am equally proud of the job Team Zero and Hollywood Electrics did at the event. A big thank you is in order for the Pikes Peak organizers for having the vision to include an all-electrics production motorcycle class at this year’s event. This was a great demonstration of the reliability and performance already available to the public at large. We are sure the electric motorcycle field will only continue to grow in the coming years.”
