When the TTXGP /FIM e-Power riders line up on the grid tomorrow for the electric motorcycle race at Laguna Seca, Mission Motors rider Steve Rapp will be leading the way. Rapp captured the pole position today ahead of Michael Czysz and Michael Barnes with a new Laguna Seca lap record.
The electric motorcycle racing series has come a long way since its inception, and all three riders point to the fierce competition, both in the garages and on the track, as the reason why the series has progressed as much as it has.
"Competition breeds progress," Czysz said after the qualifying session. "It's been great competition. These guys are professional riders, great riders."
The electric motorcycles in the TTXGP / FIM e-Power series are now lapping in the low 1'30s around the Laguna Seca circuit, as opposed to the 1'40s that they hit last year.
Rapp set a 1'31.376 lap time around the Laguna Seca circuit today, breaking his 1'33.714 lap record that he set yesterday (which broke the lap record he set last month. See the video of that here.)
"This is my first experience with the electric bikes," Rapp said. "I wanted to be a part of something revolutionary and new. I mean, we are within 10 seconds of a MotoGP bike. That says a lot."
Barnes and Czysz also put in some great laps around the Mazda Raceway, but neither rider could pull within 5 seconds of Rapp and his Mission Motors Motorcycle.
FIM e-Power/TTXGP Qualifying Results
- Rapp - Mission Motors - 1'31.376
- Barnes - Lightning Motorcycles - 1'37.505
- Czysz - Motoczysz - 1'39.272
- Himmelmann - Munch Racing - 1'42.051
- Atlas - Brammo Racing - 1'42.127
- Brannetti - CRP - 1'42.392
- Wolff - Moto Electra Racing - 1'49.309
- Moreda - CRP - 1'53.611
- Manzano - LGN - 1'55.075
- Kluge - K Squared - 1'59.778
You can see photos from the Laguna Seca round of the TTXGP / FIM e-Power series here.
