Dubai’s 2023 Electric Scooter Cup: What you Missed

The 1st edition of the Dubai Electric Scooter Cup roared into the desert on Saturday, making history as the Middle East’s first e-scooter racing event. Hailing from Japan, Hikari Okubo of Fade Fit Racing team snatched the coveted trophy. Coming right behind Okubo was Anish Shetty from team Booz Racing, and in third came Matis Neyroud of team Supercar Blondie. All three winners were awarded trophies, made in Dubai, by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, during a special ceremony.

The Format

Sixteen riders representing ten nationalities and six carefully balanced teams battled it out on the specially designed track at Dubai Design District. The initial heat whittled down the competition to 12, who then tackled individual semi-final heats in two groups. Only the top 3 from each semi-final qualified for the heart-pounding 10-lap final.

The Competitors

One of the fan favorites were Kota Racing, spearheaded by Dakota Schuet, a legendary American freestyle scooter icon. Schuet boasts an impressive track record as the three-time world champion in the ISA Scooter Competition. Joining him in the Kota Racing would be Marc Luna and Leah Tokelove.

Adding a unique flavor to the event was also the participation of professional boxer Anthony Joshua, who, though not a competitor, assembled Team 258 Racing. Joshua’s involvement adds a touch of celebrity allure to the competition. This team consisted of Roberta Ponziani, Aymard Vernay, and Wilfred Njuguna. 

Automotive industry influencer SuperCarBlondie had entered her team into the competition. While she didn’t compete directly, her wealth of experience in the automotive sector proved to be a valuable asset for her team as one of the team members came third. The team was made up of Mia Catalano, Jessica Howden, and 3rd place Matis Neyroud.

The next team, Fade Fit, consisted of Hikari Okubo, Sara Tamayo, and Javi Espinosa. Okubo is a motorcycle racer but unfortunately was not very successful with his motorcycle career. Switching to e-Scooter racing payed off as he was crowned the victor of the Cup. Booz racing was the fifth team and composed of Danny Skinner, Anish Shetty, and Beanie Reece. 

Joining the accomplished Irish olympic athlete, Nicci Daly, Team XPRS would contain riders Carlos Espinosa and Kilian Larher. Daly’s biggest accomplishment would probably be her second-place finish at the 2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup, for field hockey. 

Organizers

The Federation for Micromobility and Sport, in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, were the main organizers orchestrating the groundbreaking Dubai Electric Scooter Cup. Aligned with the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, this event showed to be a revelatory showcase of e-scooter racing and the vast potential of micro mobility.

The Vehicle

The main vehicle used was the RS-Zero, recognized globally as the fastest electric scooter with speeds surpassing 140 km/h. More than a competition, this event was a testament to sustainability and inclusivity, striving to pioneer advancements in safety, infrastructure, and technology within the burgeoning micromobility sector.

As a significant stride towards a greener and more captivating urban mobility future, electric scooter racing seeks to celebrate and catalyze innovation. The RS-Zero, acclaimed as the world’s fastest electric scooter, stands as a marvel of cutting-edge technology, designed to deliver the epitome of elite performance, embodying a vision for the future of micromobility.