Vince Friese: An Electric Dirt Bike Can Win a World Supercross Championship Race

Vince Friese has never been one to blend into the background.

For more than a decade, the American has raced at the highest level of supercross with the intensity, starts and uncompromising racecraft that have made him one of the sport’s most talked-about competitors. Now, heading into another World Supercross Championship campaign, Friese is embracing a different kind of spotlight: leading Stark’s charge to prove an electric dirt bike can win at the sport’s elite level.

Speaking on Unfiltered with Kristen Beat, he is asked about his chances of winning a race coming in to the 2026 FIM World Supercross Championship season and whether he can be a contender on the electric-powered bike, Friese is certain. “Absolutely,” he says with confidence. “Hopefully I’m the guy to do it.”

It is a bold prediction, but it is not without foundation. In 2025, Friese helped write a new chapter in supercross history when he led laps aboard the Stark in Sweden. It marked the first time an electric motorcycle had led laps in FIM Supercross competition. A milestone that showed electric technology could compete at the sharp end of the field. But it is only a starting point.

“Looking back on it, that was a cool moment, but we definitely want more,” he says. “I know the bike’s capable of winning. We’ve got to go out there and get it done.”

A World Supercross Veteran with Unfinished Business

Friese’s own World Supercross record speaks to his consistency. The SX1 rider sits among the division’s all-time leading points scorers, built through regular top-five finishes, podium appearances and moto victories across the Championship’s international calendar.

That reliability has long been one of his defining traits. In World Supercross, where short, high-intensity races demand immediate pace and strong starts, Friese’s ability to put himself in contention has made him a fixture near the front.

“I’ve been a good starter the whole time,” he explains. “I’ve had a lot of top fives, a lot of podiums, I think won a few motos and just kind of always being there.”

But returning for another season with Stark is about more than another solid points campaign. Friese wants to turn potential into a landmark result and he believes the team has made the gains needed to fight higher up the order.

Late-season chassis work offered important direction, while testing has focused on sharpening starts, improving performance through whoops and finding the settings that work when the pace rises from practice intensity to full race pressure.

“The bike is just different,” Friese says. “The chassis is totally different, so it took some time. But we found some stuff right there at the end. There were glimpses of it earlier in the year, obviously in Sweden. I’m pretty set on wanting to at least put this thing on the podium, if not try to win a race on it.”

The “Tesla” Feeling: Electric Performance without Compromise

The conversation around electric motorcycles in supercross often begins with the lack of sound. Friese acknowledges that the quieter powertrain changes awareness on track, but he does not see it as a safety barrier.

“Most of the guys racing supercross have earplugs in anyway,” he says. “You can feel when a bike’s close. Your peripherals are pretty far out there. You know what’s going on. The bike’s so easy to ride. You just get on it and twist the throttle and go. There’s no clutch, no shifting.

“It honestly feels like riding in a Tesla on the Stark. It’s kind of crazy—just so much power right at your hand.”

That immediate, controllable torque has changed more than the riding experience. Friese says the bike feels exceptionally agile, describing it as having the light, playful feel of a 125cc two-stroke. It has given him confidence to move the bike around beneath him in ways fans may not associate with his traditional four-stroke riding style.

“You see some pictures of me with the bike completely sideways and throwing whips and scrubs,” he says. “You’ll never find a picture of me doing that on a four-stroke. This bike really makes you feel good about it.”

Fine-Tuning for the Front of the Field

Friese is realistic about the work still required. Starts, qualifying pace and performance in the whoops remain key areas of focus, particularly against the world-class depth of SX1 competition.

Yet he is encouraged by the expertise around him, including team boss and former world champion Sébastien Tortelli. Friese worked with Tortelli as an amateur and says the Frenchman’s concise feedback remains invaluable.

“You can come back from a riding session or moto and a few words can change your whole day or your whole way of riding,” Friese says. “He always has the best advice. At this level, you need every little edge you can get. A little help from your teammates can go a long way.”

The Next Step: Turning Belief into a Breakthrough

Friese knows the expectations surrounding an electric bike are different. Every result is scrutinised. Every pass is discussed. Every breakthrough carries significance beyond a single rider or race team. The team’s performance is under the microscope.

Still, he is not interested in racing cautiously for the sake of avoiding headlines. He simply wants to be in positions that justify taking the bigger risks.

“If I’m in that situation where I can put it on the podium or win races, then yeah, I can hang it out a little bit more and give it a little bit extra,” he says. “I know it can pull holeshots. I know it can do everything at the highest level. I really think we’re a few fine-tunes away from making it fully capable of getting it done.”

For Friese and Stark the target is no longer just proof of concept but in 2026 it is to take another step and go bar to bar with the gas-powered conventional machines and win.