Greg Tracy to Ride Amarok P1A Electric Sportbike for Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Canada’s Amarok Racing has secured quite a coup in signing six-time Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winner Greg Tracy to ride its P1A electric superbike for the 2013 edition of the event.

Tracy has six class victories in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, winning in 1996, 1999, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. His victories have come riding motorcycles from several manufacturers: Honda, Yamaha, BMW and, more recently, Ducati. In last year’s Hill Climb, Tracy and his winning teammate Carlin Dunne became the first motorcycle riders to complete the event in under 10 minutes riding Ducati Multistradas in the 1205cc class.

For 2013, Tracy had been considering a switch from motorcycles and competing in a car, but decided instead to try his hand in event’s new electric motorcycle class after meeting with Amarok’s co-founder and chief designer Michael Uhlarik.

“It is truly exciting to be racing with Amarok. After talking with Amarok co-founder Michael Uhlarik, I knew this was a team of innovators who have pushed the limit building an electric motorcycle that I believe can set a record at Pikes Peak,” says Tracy. “I have been honored to race for the best factory team, for Ducati, and honestly I had planned that my next Pikes Peak pursuit would be in an enclosed vehicle.”

The Hill Climb has had electric car classes before, with Fumio Nutahara winning in 2012 in a Toyota EV, but electric motorcycles form a new class in the 2013. Chip Yates rode his SWIGZ.COM electric superbike last year, but only as an exhibition entry. He completed the climb in 12:50.094. Several riders have already signed up to race in the new electric class, including six riding Zero motorcycles, though none have had the success at Pikes Peak that Tracy offers.

Michael Uhlarik and the Amarok P1A at the 2012 Toronto Motorcycle Show.

“We are absolutely thrilled and very proud to have Greg ride for us.” says Uhlarik. “As a small, family run operation, our main objective is to work with people we like and who share our values. Amarok is about making up for big, by leveraging craft. After talking with Greg I felt like we had a lot in common.”

The Amarok P1A is equipped with a AGNI motor powered by a 7.4 kWh lithium polymer battery. Amarok claims the P1A has an output of 80 hp while weighing 324 pounds. Uhlarik concedes its competitors may have a power advantage, but he says the P1A will make up for it on the corners.

“There are electric bikes with much more power, but we want to own the corners,” says Uhlarik. “The 156 turns of Pikes Peak represent to us the best opportunity to prove our core belief that in vehicle design, you can do more with less.”

The 91st running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be held June 24-30.

[Source: PPIHC]

By Dennis Chung