The following is a press release from MiniMotoSX…Electric bike manufacturer Quantya USA has reached out to former AMA Supercross Lites champion Damon Huffman and asked him if he’d be interested in running one of their bikes at the inaugural ECX (Energy Crisiscross) – the first-ever electric vs. gas-powered indoor motocross race – part of this Friday’s (May 7th) GEICO MiniMotoSX, presented by Monster Energy, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Huffman said he thought for a minute, then fired back – via text – with a couple questions of Quantya USA. Once things were agreed upon, Huffman figured he’d have at least a week to shake this most unique bike down before gating for his first-ever GEICO MMSX.
Boy did he figure wrong.
“I just actually looked at it (Quantya USA’s dirt bike) on the Internet for the first time today,” said Huffman. “I’ll ride it for the first time Friday, burn through a couple batteries in the Orleans’ parking lot I guess.”
Huffman’s a two-time SX Lites champion from the 1990s and, more recently, GEICO EnduroCross overall podium placer the last three straight years (2nd in 2007-’08, 3rd in ’09). Well-known in motocross circles for his spot-on deadpan humor, he’s admittedly not a mini bike racer (“I’ve kind of always been anti-mini bikes … I’m 6’-1” and not into bent ankles and scraped knees.”). However, with the 16” front rim on the Quantya USA EVO 1 Track model, Huffman likes his chances.
“Just like Tiger Woods, Damon Huffman doesn’t put himself in any event unless he’s prepared to win,” said Huffman. “Let me say that again … ”
Noting that Quantya USA will outfit his electric race bike with a rear pedal brake so, as Huffman puts it, “I wouldn’t be going for the clutch and grabbing a bunch of rear brake all the time,” the SoCal native also had an interesting way of training for his first electric bike adventure. “I let my kids (two boys) go crazy, scream their heads off while I read some very small print.”
Of course alluding to the sound – or lack of with an electric MX bike – Huffman’s well aware of the importance of the new eco-friendly electric MX bike movement. “You can ride them up in the hills and be totally quiet, no emissions … there’s definitely a pretty big future for these bikes.”
And that might come sooner than later for the former Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider who’s running private motocross lessons these days, much like one-on-one golf lessons with a pro, and contemplating what he’s going to do for the upcoming GEICO EnduroCross season.
“It could be a pretty cool connection – electric bikes and EnduroCross,” he says. “Werun 250Fs around in first and second gear, so you don’t rely on a great deal of power in EnduroCross, more balance, patience and timing. So we’re definitely in an arena where an electric bike could possibly cross over.”
Until then Huffman will get his first competition run at one this Friday, provided he wires the thing in the parking lot first.
Note: You can still buy a ticket to witness MX history! A consistent sellout since its inception in 2004, GEICO MMSX fans and those in town for the finals of Monster Energy Supercross are urged to get their ticket in advance as seats for this historic event are filling up rapidly. For more information, including a view of the track map, link to www.minimotosx.com.
