ETS 100MA-3 Race Fuel: History, Benefits & Why Champions Run It

A History Forged in Competition

What do the factory KTM, Husqvarna, Honda HRC, and Suzuki teams run through their injectors at the highest level of motocross? The answer might surprise you. They don’t rely on off-the-shelf pump fuel with a fancy sticker. Instead, they turn to ETS Racing Fuels — a name that has quietly powered world champions for over three decades.

Here in Australia, we can access one of their purpose-built formulations: the ETS 100MA-3. Motorcycling Australia has homologated this fuel, it meets Australian fuel quality standards, and ETS specifically engineered it for motocross and supercross. But before we dig into what makes the ETS 100MA-3 race fuel special, let’s look at where it actually comes from.

From Le Mans to the World Stage

The Roots: 1859 to 1989

The story of ETS Racing Fuels goes back further than most people realise. The company’s parent, Haltermann Carless, traces its roots all the way to 1859. That year, Eugene Carless built a chemical plant in East London and began refining petroleum into flammable distillates.

In one of history’s great ironies, a company called “Carless” went on to supply fuel to Gottlieb Daimler for his early automobiles in 1893. On top of that, Eugene Carless even coined the term “petrol” for his automotive fuel. As a result, when we talk about ETS, we’re talking about a lineage in fuel development that literally helped start the automotive industry.

The Birth of ETS

ETS itself launched in 1989 as “ESSO Technologies and Services” at the ESSO Research Centre near Rouen, France. Originally part of the EXXON group, the facility ran serious R&D focused on fuel and lubricant formulation, analysis, and engine testing. This wasn’t a marketing exercise. It was hard science applied to petroleum chemistry.

Furthermore, the racing connection came early. ETS became the official fuel supplier for the Peugeot 905 programme at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That’s one of the most iconic endurance racing campaigns in history. More importantly, it tells you the level of fuel science these guys operated at from the very beginning.

Independence and Global Expansion

In 1997, ETS became fully independent and focused entirely on specialty racing fuels. By 2005, they had opened a new production facility in France. Then in 2007, they expanded to the United States with a subsidiary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Finally, in 2014, HCS Group (now Haltermann Carless) acquired ETS. This gave them access to even greater manufacturing resources across France, the UK, Germany, and the USA.

Championship Pedigree — 50+ World Titles and Counting

MXGP Domination

This is where it gets serious. ETS Racing Fuels has powered teams to over 50 national and world championship titles across multiple disciplines. These aren’t club-level results. This is the absolute pinnacle of motorcycle and automotive racing.

In MXGP alone, ETS has fuelled a staggering run of success. Tim Gajser and Honda HRC have claimed multiple MXGP world championships running ETS fuel. Before that, Jeffrey Herlings and Tony Cairoli delivered title after title for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. That partnership with ETS began back in 2013. Over that span, KTM took four MXGP titles and six MX2 crowns. As a result, the list of names reads like a who’s who of motocross: Herlings, Tixier, Jonass, Prado, and Kay de Wolf.

AMA, MotoGP, and Beyond

In the AMA series, ETS fuels have powered Chase Sexton, Aaron Plessinger, Tom Vialle, and others to supercross and motocross championships. In addition, their 2020 MotoGP partnership with Team Suzuki Ecstar produced incredible results. Joan Mir clinched the world championship in their very first season together. That gave Suzuki their first premier class title in 20 years.

On the road racing side, ETS holds a long-standing relationship with World Superbike, including years of success with Honda Ten Kate. They’ve also worked closely with European Rally Championship teams like factory Skoda and Peugeot Sport. Moreover, they supply fuel for watercraft racing as well.

The common thread? These teams don’t just buy a product off the shelf. ETS works directly with factory teams and engine manufacturers to develop custom fuel formulations for specific engines, race conditions, and regulations. The racetrack serves as their innovation lab, and the results speak for themselves.

What Makes ETS Racing Fuels Different?

Most racing fuel brands talk about octane numbers. However, ETS takes a fundamentally different approach. Their philosophy centres on combustion speed, combustion energy, and molecular consistency — not just octane alone. Here’s what sets them apart.

Molecular-Level Formulation

ETS blends their fuels from hydrocarbons and what they call “exotic molecules” with purity greater than 98%. This isn’t a crude blend of base stocks and additives. Instead, it’s precision chemistry. Their team selects every component for a specific purpose in the combustion process.

Batch-to-Batch Consistency

This is huge, and it’s something a lot of racers overlook. ETS manufactures in small batches. An independent laboratory analyses every production run to certify quality and specification compliance. On top of that, their blending facility holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification.

In practice, this means the drum of fuel you buy today performs identically to the one you bought last season. For anyone running a consistent tune, that consistency is absolutely critical.

Factory-Team Development

ETS doesn’t just make fuel and hope for the best. They work side-by-side with factory race teams, engine manufacturers, and tuners. They also conduct dyno testing and engine analysis to optimise each formulation. As a result, the fuel in their consumer range benefits directly from this R&D.

Ethanol-Free Options

Many of ETS’s fuels contain zero ethanol. This offers a significant advantage for fuel system longevity. It’s especially important for rubber seals and fuel lines in motorcycles that weren’t designed for ethanol blends.

The ETS 100MA-3: Built for Australian Motocross

Now let’s talk about the fuel that matters most for riders here in Australia — the ETS 100MA-3 race fuel. ETS purpose-designed this fuel for the Australian market. Motorcycling Australia has homologated it, and serious competitors across motocross, supercross, supermoto, dirt track, and road racing rely on it.

Key Specifications

RON	99.8
MON	86
Density	781 kg/m³
Oxygen Content	3.7%
Type	Unleaded, Oxygenated
Regulation	MA & IHRA Approved
Compliance	Australian Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
Available in	25L and 53L drums

MA Homologated and Fully Legal

First and foremost, Motorcycling Australia has fully homologated the ETS 100MA-3 race fuel. You can run it in any MA-sanctioned event without worrying about failing a fuel check. It also meets Australian fuel quality legislation. That means no grey areas and no drama at scrutineering.

Real-World Performance Gains

When the GYTR Yamaha team tested the ETS 100MA-3 alongside other racing fuels at the end of 2014, it came out on top. It won on the dyno and it won on the track. The team reported noticeable gains in performance. They also noticed cleaner engines and improved durability of internal components. That’s not marketing spin — that’s a factory-backed team putting their season on the line with a fuel choice.

Oxygenated for Better Combustion

With 3.7% oxygen content, the 100MA-3 delivers a more complete combustion event. This translates directly to better throttle response, cleaner burning, and a cooler-running engine. For anyone who has dealt with heat-related performance fade on a hot Australian race day, that cooling effect provides a genuine advantage.

Engine Cleanliness and Longevity

This benefit doesn’t show up on a stopwatch, but it matters enormously over a season. ETS formulates this fuel with high-purity components and specific detergency additives. These keep injectors, valves, and combustion chambers clean. Consequently, less carbon buildup means more consistent performance and longer engine life. That’s money back in your pocket.

Consistency You Can Tune To

Because ETS manufactures in small, independently tested batches, you get the same fuel every time. As a result, your ECU tune or jetting stays optimal drum after drum. If you’ve ever had a bike that felt different on different batches of pump fuel, you already know how valuable that consistency is.

Works in Both Two-Stroke and Four-Stroke Engines

Whether you’re on a 250F or a 500 two-stroke, the ETS 100MA-3 race fuel performs across the board. It’s a versatile option that doesn’t require you to carry different drums for different bikes.

The Bottom Line

There’s a good reason ETS Racing Fuels has served as the quiet secret behind so many championship campaigns. Their approach to fuel development — rooted in serious chemistry, validated at the highest level, and manufactured with obsessive consistency — produces results that speak louder than any marketing campaign.

The ETS 100MA-3 race fuel brings that same philosophy to Australian motocross. It’s legal, it’s proven, and it delivers measurable advantages in power, throttle response, engine cleanliness, and consistency. Whether you’re lining up at a state championship or a national round, the 100MA-3 deserves a serious look.

As the saying goes at ETS: “Champions don’t give away their secrets.” Now you know one of them.

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ETS 100MA-3 is available through authorised distributors across Australia. For more information, visit www.etsracingfuels.com or contact the Australian distributor IMS Pty Ltd.

For servicing, restorations, and expert advice on getting the most from your race fuel, visit Garage Eleven at 18 Rapid Way, Pakenham VIC 3810 or call 1300 001 375.