Honda and Yamaha Want to Show Us What Electric Motocross Looks Like
Two of Japan’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers are putting their electric motocross bikes on the same track.
Honda and Yamaha will run their electric prototypes at the 2026 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France, with demonstration laps taking place today and tomorrow. And if you've been wondering what Honda and Yamaha are bringing to the motocross table, this is one to watch.
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Two Very Different Electric Bikes
Honda is bringing the CR ELECTRIC PROTO, which already has some proper race time behind it.
The bike competed in the 2024 FIM E-Xplorer World Cup with Team HRC, winning the Men’s Championship in its first season. Honda has also been developing the bike through motocross competition since 2023.
Yamaha's YE-01 Racing Concept is the newer arrival. First shown at EICMA in 2025, the YE-01 is now getting its first major track appearance in front of a motocross crowd. Yamaha developed it with French electric motorcycle manufacturer Electric Motion, combining Yamaha's YZ450F-derived chassis technology with an electric power unit developed with EM. It's another result of Yamaha's partnership with Electric Motion, the French company we've already covered through its EP01 electric enduro project.
And there's one detail that should catch the eye of anyone who has ever thrown a leg over a dirt bike. The YE-01 has a mechanical clutch. That's an unusual choice for an electric motocross bike, but Yamaha says it gives the rider more control over how the bike delivers its drive. In other words, they're not just trying to make an electric bike work like an ICE machine. They're trying to preserve some of the things riders actually enjoy doing with a motocross bike.
The two bikes will hit the track at the Motocross of Nations today at 12:45 local time, and again on Sunday.
Both manufacturers are also linking the projects to MXEP, a proposed electric motocross racing series that could give these bikes somewhere to race. There's still no confirmed launch date or final format, though.
The BCB Take
We've seen plenty of electric motocross concepts sitting under bright lights at motorcycle shows. This is different.
Honda and Yamaha are putting their bikes in front of a massive motocross crowd and actually riding them on a proper race weekend. It might not be an actual race, but you can be sure the motocross fans will be watching closely to see what these bikes have to offer.
We still don't know what happens when these bikes are pushed for a full race distance. But today, we'll get a much better idea of whether Honda and Yamaha can give riders the speed, control and seat time they expect.
Ride safe, folks.
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