Biaggi set to take it to the max
Former GP and WSB star Max Biaggi is preparing to take the electric bike speed record to a whole new level with the revamped Voxan Wattman. After setting no fewer than 11 new records late last year, the French-built Wattman is currently being readied for some new standard setting towards the end of summer – all while British firm White Motorcycle Concepts are finalising their own rival machine (MCN, June 30).
The battery-powered Voxan was initially intended 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 to organise.
In preparation for this latest attempt, at the runway of Châteauroux airfield in France, and to optimise the Wattman for this type of surface, the engine and transmission have been tweaked with assistance from partner and tyre supplier Michelin.
Back in November 2020, the Wattman hit 253.5mph. In order to beat that record, the engineering team at Venturi/Voxan have also worked on the motorcycle’s air penetration and stability. While testing in the wind tunnel plays a crucial role, the R&D department have also enlisted the help of specialists in fluid dynamics simulation, to take account of the incredibly high speeds targeted. Biaggi said: “Attempting to set new speed records barely a year after posting the very first is exhilarating! Eleven is great but... it’s not enough! I want to keep on and on developing electric mobility.”