FIM e-Power International/TTXGP Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California July 23 Qualifying Results:

1. Steve Rapp (Mission R), 1:31.376 2. Michael Barnes (Lightning), 1:37.505 3. Michael Czysz (Motoczysz E1PC), 1:39.272 4. Matthias Himmelmann (Münch TTE 2), 1:42.051 5. Steve Atlas (Brammo Empluse RR), 1:42.127 6. Alessandro Brannetti (eCRP 1.4), 1:42.392 7. Thad Wolff (Moto Electra), 1:49.309 8. Shelina Moreda (eCRP 1.4), 1:53.611 9. Marcelino Manzano (E-Jarma), 1:55.075 10. Kenyon Kluge (Zero S), 1:59.778 11. Ely Schless (Proto Moto), 2:00.012 12. Mike Hannas (Lightning), no time recorded

More, from a press release issued by FIM:

Steve Rapp on a Mission!

FIM e-Power & TTX Championships, a combined event: Qualifying Practice

Pro racer Steve Rapp, from Oakland, California remained on top of the leaderboard of the FIM e Power & TTX Championship, a combined event, at the end the qualifying session. With his new Mission R motorcycle, Steve simply reeled off a series of ultra quick laps, setting his fastest time on lap 3 (1’31.376), untouchable for his fellow competitors.

Michael Barnes, (Lightning Motorcycles), followed Rapp in second position with a lap time of 1’37. Michael Csysz (Segway Racing MotoCsysz) finished third with a time of 1’39.272, having made an emergency excursion and only too happy, to have ‘saved’ his practice session on two wheels.

Matthias Himmelmann (Munch Racing) set out to improve on his time of the free practice and finished in front of US rider Steve Atlas (Brammo Racing), Alesandro Branetti (eCRP), Thad Wolf (Moto Electra Norton) and newcomer, lady racer Shelina Moreda (eCRP) improving her own time by more than 6 seconds, proving her talent to learning how to ride electric powered racing motorcycle.

The race will start on Sunday at 10h25, with a total distance of 8 laps (28.880km/ 17.948miles).

Steve Rapp: “I want to thank the guys from Mission because this is my first experience with the electric bikes, and I came into it with an open mind, and just wanted to be a part of something revolutionary and new. It’s blown my mind with what they can do with these bikes. And to think I was sitting here thinking about it, and to think that we were within 10 seconds of a MotoGP bike, I mean you gotta put it into perspective, these things are the real deal, and I’ve been telling people all weekend that this is the future because, first of all they’re really fun to ride, it’s just a great a real experience to be a part of something like this, so I mean I love riding the bike. Every time I ride it, they make some improvements for me, and I’m really happy to be part of the team. Adapting to riding the electric was easy, it is a very easy bike to ride, the power is really smooth, its a fun bike to ride and that’s one of the most important things!.”

Michael Barnes: “There is a saying that to you have to make big changes to benefit from big gains. That’s what we are going through – we’re making some big changes. Innovation is happening faster than anyone can predict; before I started to race electric, I thought it would be at least ten years before they would be comparable to a 600 cc gas bike, that quickly dropped to 5 last year within a year of racing, today I just don’t know. Last year we miscalculated our power needs and I ended up feeling like I was riding a scooter at the end of the race. We won’t be making the same mistake.”

Michael Czysz: “It was a good qualifier. After my run of at turn two and subsequent save; ahead of anything else I am really happy just to still be here! In all seriousness I knew I would have some great competitors here today but I thought we had 1’44 last year so I was thinking a time of 1’38 would do it; 6 secs faster than last year would be enough in most races. There is nothing like competition to drive innovation and improve the breed.”

Qualifying Practice results: 1. Steve Rapp # 17 – (Mission R), 1’31.376 3. Michael Barnes # 80 – (Lightning), 1’37.505 2. Michael Czysz # 11 – (Motoczysz E1PC), 1’39.272 4. Matthias Himmelmann # 49 – (Münch TTE 2), 1’42.051 5. Steve Atlas # 58 – (Brammo Empulse RR), 1’42.127 6. Alessandro Brannetti # 44 – (eCRP 1.4), 1’42.392 7. Thad Wolff # 37 – (Moto Electra), 1’42.309 8. Shelina Moreda # 93 – (eCRP 1.4), 1’53.611 10. Marcelino Manzano # 7 – (E-Jarma), 1’55.075 11. Kenyon Kluge # 96 – (Zero S), 1’59.778 9. Ely Schless # 18 – (Proto Moto), 2’00.012 12. Mike Hannas # 88 – (Lightning), Did not start.