It now appears that the FIM have turned their back on the TTXGP organisers who ran last year's Isle of Man TT race and who have further rounds planned for this year, in the UK and USA.

Azhar Hussain, TTXGP founder and CEO, had the following to say on hearing the news about the FIM's 'break away' championship:

“We are disappointed that, despite our best efforts over many months to establish a truly inclusive world series, the FIM has decided to launch one independently of TTXGP. We would like to reassure all those involved with TTXGP that our 2010 racing calendar remains unaffected and many of our leading championship teams and manufacturers have already confirmed they will race exclusively in TTXGP.

"TTXGP's culture is to work in partnership with those with knowledge and experience in motorsports and technology to ensure that the very best of innovation and consumer technology drives our sport forward. FIM's unilateral decision means that our energies are divided and the force diluted. The real victim will be the consumer and the industry which demands change to embrace a valuable opportunity. FIM appears to have no vision which will assist its own industry.

"TTXGP will continue to push boundaries in the midst of challenge. We continue to successfully build the most competitive, well promoted and technically advanced zero carbon championship in the world. We achieve this by having a mutual respect for our partners and share any success with them.

"TTXGP has been working closely with the FIM throughout 2009, openly sharing technical expertise and unique experience. TTXGP was invited to sit on the FIM zero carbon committee to help form the rules for 2010. FIM not only endorsed TTXGP 2009 but were represented by senior officers at TTXGP Isle of Man 2009.

"TTXGP was the first sanctioned zero-carbon race in history and pioneered many of the safety and technical standards used in electric motorsports today. TTXGP continues to push forward with new technologies, teams and venues around the world in 2010.

"TTXGP invites the very best racers, engineers and technologies from around the world to join our affordable, dedicated and high-profile event to stake a claim on the next generation of motorsports. TTXGP is dedicated to zero-carbon motorsport and its accessibility for all."

www.egrandprix.com and www.fim-live.com/en

Race24 Comment: What a shambles. With no rules yet made public, it will be a real struggle for teams to be ready for the first e-Power Championship race in April unless the FIM series and the TTXGP share the same regulations. Given events so far, that seems unlikely.

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