SHOCKING: Short-circuit blamed after 23 electric battery-powered motorbikes gutted at race circuit in Spain

MOTOGP organisers have pointed to an electrical short-circuit as being the likely cause of a big blaze at a racing circuit in Spain that destroyed 23 electric racing motorcycles.

The blaze in a tent at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto racetrack at around 11.45pm on March 14 was tackled by fire crews for almost seven hours but they could not salvage the battery-powered racing bikes.

It is believed the canvas and plastic of the tent contributed to the rapid spread of fire which was attended by five crews pumping 600,000 litres of water.

Race organisers have now released their initial findings after the fire in the E-paddock at Jerez de la Frontera.

A statement said: “Although we are awaiting the official conclusion of the investigation by local police, initial evidence regarding the cause of the fire at the E-paddock of the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto on March 14th seems to point to a short circuit as the main cause of the incident.

“The source of the short circuit has yet to be identified but, once the fire broke out, it ignited the high-density battery which is part of the high-performance charger used at MotoE™ events.

“The motorbikes were not connected to the charging infrastructure at the time the fire began.”

#Incendio en un stand de motos eléctricas en el interior del #Circuito de Velocidad de #Jerez que calcina 25 motos. #Bomberos logra controlar el perímetro y evita que se propague a la Carpa Museo anexa. 600.000 litros de agua en la extinción y 6 horas de actuación. pic.twitter.com/EMavjn1JxR

— Consorcio de Bomberos de la Provincia de Cádiz (@BomberosCbpc) March 14, 2019

Further information released following fire at #MotoE Test

Initial findings have been discovered after the E-paddock at Jerez caught fire on March 14th#MotoGP | 📋 https://t.co/EYYIrmgHU5 pic.twitter.com/zaCoNQPQdz

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) March 15, 2019