Blazusiak Signs with Stark for SuperEnduro and EnduroCross
Cycle News Staff | November 27, 2023
Taddy Blazusiak, the five-time Erzberg Rodeo winner and five-time AMA EnduroCross and six-time FIM SuperEnduro Champion, has joined the Stark Future race team. The Polish rider joined the electric bike manufacturer with plans to compete in the FIM SuperEnduro and AMA EnduroCross Championships, but the team was not allowed to race at the opening round of the FIM championship this past weekend in France.
Sebastien Tortelli, a two-time FIM Motocross Champion, has been the primary development rider for the Stark electric motorcycle and has transitioned to the race director position while still helping with the testing department. He filled in Cycle News on the partnership with Blazusiak and what transpired with the FIM that forced them to sit out the event.
“We started talking with Taddy about joining Stark to help develop the bike for enduro competition and race the SuperEnduro championship,” Tortelli said. “We contacted the FIM to ensure that we would be able to compete with the Stark electric bike and received an email on October 20 confirming that we could compete if we complied with the FIM rules, which we did. The FIM had an electric bike provision in the rules for the Super Enduro Championship Prestige class. We proceeded in signing Taddy and did some testing. Then we heard from the promoter for the SuperEnduro Championship last week that they were told that the bike would not be allowed to race, and we then received an email from the FIM stating that the electric bike would not be allowed to compete due to safety concerns.”
“We tried to address those concerns and agreed to pay for a fire marshal dedicated to the bike, but then 22 hours before the race, we learned that after a special meeting, the FIM removed the provision allowing electric bikes to compete.
“We are still working with the FIM to try to be allowed to compete in the remaining FIM Super Enduro Championship races, which start back up in January. We also hope to compete in the AMA EnduroCross Championship in the U.S. at the end of 2024.”
So, for now, it is unclear when Blazusiak may be able to race the Stark Varg, but the team will continue to explore opportunities to race and further develop the bike.