Jenson Button has joined the Extreme E ranks as owner and driver of the new JBXE team.
Extreme E is an off-road racing championship for all-electric SUVs that will hold rounds in locations hurt most by climate change to promote environmental repair and protection. “Our objective is to elevate the AMA Extreme Championship series, via a partnership with AMA clubs across the United States - while promoting the prestige of the toughest #1 AMA plate to earn in the sport of extreme off-road motorcycle racing.” Mark Koch, EXC President. XOR - Xtreme Off-Road Builds. The XOR team picks up an Overland Scout and gives it a complete overhaul. A 1968 Jeepster Commando becomes the foundation for a hardcore dual-purpose trail rig. The Toyota Tacoma is the foundation for a rig that's perfect for daily driving and weekend wheeling. Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button says he is competing in the inaugural Extreme E season because he is “not very good” at off-road racing but “really wants to be”.
“JBXE has been a long time coming and I’m both delighted and proud to announce its formation and entry into the inaugural Extreme E Championship,” said the 2009 F1 world champion.
“I caught the off-road bug a few years back which led to me entering my own team in a few races including the Mint 400 and even the Baja 1000 (in 2019), and I absolutely loved it. It was around the same time I first heard about the plans for Extreme E, which I’ve followed with great interest and what Alejandro Agag, Ali Russell and the team have managed to create is nothing short of incredible.
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“In Extreme E they’ve created a product that will offer first class racing and entertainment to the fans, but also serves to highlight the impact of climate change. Whilst we will of course compete to win on track, as a collective we will also work to maximize awareness whilst racing in places that have been damaged or affected by climate change over the years. Alongside the awareness piece, Extreme E themselves are committing legacy initiatives at each destination which help protect already damaged ecosystems impacted by climate change.”
Button’s co-driver will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Briton, who left F1 in 2017, has some off-road racing in his DNA: his late father John was a leading rallycross driver in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s. Button’s move into Extreme E is the latest chapter in a busy post-F1 career that has also included appearances in the WEC, the Le Mans 24 Hours, British GT and a championship in Super GT.
“I’m thrilled to welcome another major name in the world of motorsport in Jenson Button,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.
“He is one of the most popular drivers in the business and Extreme E will give him the opportunity to live out one of his long-held passions, to compete at the highest level in off-road racing.”
JBXE is the 10th team confirmed for the inaugural season of the all-electric off-road championship, joining Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti United (USA), ABT CUPRA XE and Rosberg Xtreme Racing (Germany), Team TECHEETAH (Indonesia), Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Spain), and fellow British teams Veloce Racing, and X44 (UK). The season is scheduled to open in Saudi Arabia on April 3-4.
MotoKolors LLC has announced the 2021 Kenda AMA Extreme Championship, presented by XC Gear. This will be the second year for the East / West AMA series but it includes three new events. FactoryOne Sherco backed Cody Webb won the 2020 championship and aims to be back to defend his title in 2021. Below is the press release from MotoKolors:
The Kenda AMA Extreme Championship (previously referred to as the Sherco AMA Off-Road Extreme Championship; east and west) will offer a 10-round series in 2021, consisting of six East, and five West rounds. The RevLimiter Extreme Enduro will once again double up as the series’ east vs west event, overlapping the two schedules.
2021 Kenda AMA Extreme Championship Schedule – West
- Round 1 – March 21, 2021. Page, AZ. Grinding Stone Hard Enduro.
- Round 2 – April 10-11, 2021. Bridgeport, TX. Revlimiter Extreme Enduro.
- Round 3 – May 15-16, 2021. San Bernardino, CA. Last Dog Standing.
- Round 4 – June 12-13, 2021. Donner, CA. Donner Hard Enduro.
- Round 5 – June 19-20, 2021. Kellog, ID. Silver Mountain Xtreme.
Extreme Road Racers 2
2021 Kenda AMA Extreme Championship Schedule – East
- Round 1 – April 10-11, 2021. Bridgeport, TX. Revlimiter Extreme Enduro.
- Round 2 – May 2, 2021. Spragueville, IA. Iowan Hard Enduro.
- Round 3 – May 29-30, 2021. Marquette, MI. Madd Moose Hard Enduro.
- Round 4 – July 3-5, 2021. Tamaqua, PA. Tough Like ROOR.
- Round 5 – July 17-18, 2021. Little Hocking, OH. Bad Medicine @ Fallen Timbers.
- Round 6 – August 7-8, 2021. Taylorsville, NC. Battle of the Goats Extreme Enduro.
The EXC Team is thrilled to announce the addition of three new rounds to the 2021 season. First will be the opening round of the west schedule, an exciting all-new venue in scenic Page, Arizona. Also new to the west will be a hard enduro hosted by well-known off-road legend Brian Garrahan, located at the notorious ski slopes of Donner California. Todoist time tracking. And lastly the series has added the Iowan Hard Enduro to the east schedule, already a fan-favorite only in its second year.
“Our objective is to elevate the AMA Extreme Championship series, via a partnership with AMA clubs across the United States – while promoting the prestige of the toughest #1 AMA plate to earn in the sport of extreme off-road motorcycle racing.” ~ Mark Koch, EXC President
In addition to the new rounds, EXC is pleased to announce it’s new-to-the-series Pro Women’s class.
“This advancement will allow our female Factory riders the starting position they deserve, among many other much needed improvements. We are thrilled to be at the forefront of women in extreme enduro – and are thankful for all the sponsors and individuals who have collaborated, donating their time and efforts to make this happen.” ~ Mary Rinell, EXC Media Director
The EXC would especially like to thank its 2021 series sponsors. Kenda Tire has been at a stable in the off-road industry for many years, and has supported hard enduro since it’s early stages. EXC is excited to have them onboard as Title Sponsor for 2021. XC Gear is a leading company in the motorsports industry. Their products are unmatched, and the EXC crew is honored to have them as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2021 season.
Tokyo Extreme Racer Game
Additional Sponsors; MotoKolors, BLUD Lubricants, FXR Racing, RevDesigns, TwoRide.net, EVANS Waterless Coolant, Every Single Sunday, and Over and Out Moto. Thank you to everyone who supports the EXC, to all the racers and riders, the family and friends, the vendors, the promoters, the scoring, the media and especially to the AMA. We appreciate you all, now LET’S GO RACING!
For more details on the 2021 Kenda AMA Extreme Championship Schedule and events, visit www.amaextremechampionship.com.
Get all the latest off-road motorcycle racing news and results here.