Voxan Will Attempt To Set 12 World Speed Records

Way back in 2019, former WSBK champion Max Biaggi and Voxan announced their intentions of setting a new electric motorcycle land speed record in 2020. At the time, the team wanted to attempt smashing this world record at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia.  

Alas, 2020 happened—so instead of its original planned July world record attempt, Voxan contented itself with unveiling its Wattman electric streamliner. At the time, it also announced that its Bolivian salt flat world record attempt would move to summer of 2021, one year later than originally planned.  

2020 just wouldn’t be 2020 without yet another course correction, though. As of October 27, the Voxan team has announced that it’s hoping to give the world a treat by smashing no fewer than 12 world speed records.  

Between October 30 and November 1, 2020, to celebrate Voxan parent company Venturi’s 20th anniversary in the electric vehicle space, the team will hit the runway of the Châteauroux airport in France. This relatively local runway meets the FIM’s criteria for such attempts, so the team decided to go for it. 

“This will be our third time riding on the runway at Châteauroux airport. The performances in testing in June and August gave us confidence. We are more than ready,” Max Biaggi said in a statement. 

“This weekend, if the track is dry and the side winds are light, we will be able to beat several records. I can’t wait to bring these titles back to Monaco and the team!” 

As you’ll note from the photo, Voxan has three different versions of the Wattman available, in order to best accommodate a wide range of possible wind conditions. From left to right, there’s the non-streamlined Wattman, the lighter version of the streamliner, and the full streamliner is located all the way on the right. All three tools will be important parts of the Voxan team’s toolbox this weekend. 

Each 270kW machine will attempt records at ¼ mile, 1 mile, and 1 kilometer distances, both from a standing start and a flying start. In six categories, no record has previously been set, so it’s impossible not to set new records there. It’s the remaining six where Voxan is hoping to beat the previous times and sweep all its records attempts clean.  

Will the team succeed? Looks like we’ll only have to wait a few days to find out.