News article: Lightning almost strikes at Laguna Seca e-Power electric motorcycle race, instead MotoCzysz sizzles
The Lightning Motors bike took off strong at the beginning and stayed ahead through the whole race. It was ahead by nearly 10 seconds in lap 4, 5 and 6 (9 laps total plus three parade laps at the beginning). In lap 8 the lead shrunk to 6 seconds and at the end of the race it was 1.2 seconds behind the MotoCzysz bike. Basically, the battery pooped out.
Michael Czysz testing the suspension
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MotoCzysz in the corkscrew during qualifying on Saturday
Kurrent Team in the corkscrew during qualifying on Saturday - they did not qualify
Closeup of Lightning as it goes through the corkscrew
Electric Race Bikes .com in the corkscrew
The Betti's prior to the race - They came from Italy
Munch Racing - they came from Germany
Crystalyte Europe - they are the European distributor for the Crysalyte motors for bicycles, however this motorcycle is not powered by a Crystalyte motor.
Lightning Motors in the paddock, that's Richard Hatfield talking with someone from Zero whom I believe is Neal Saiki
The Epo-Bike - he came from Germany, it's a one man design/rider team though with a sizable support crew. He qualified on Saturday but tweeted on Saturday evening he wouldn't be able to race because the motor had blown up. He uses the Lynch motor. By Sunday morning with borrowed parts from other bikes which weren't racing, he had the bike back together and ran it in the race. Very slowly unfortunately.
One of the Betti motorcycles. These Italians sure know how to make beautiful motorcycles.
A bunch of them at the start
One of the Betti's during the race
Electric Race Bikes during the race - they got a totally new controller, namely a Zilla 1K rather than the Kelly Controller they've used before. Matt said he hadn't worked out how to configure the controller and I suppose that contributed to being so far back in the finishing results.
Middle of the pack action - the Betti's and Munch Racing are very evenly matched bikes
Lightning Motors
MotoCzysz
Crystalyte Europe
Epo Bike
Betti and Munch(??)
Post-race smiles from Team Crystalyte, happy with 3rd
Betti's returning to their paddock
Everybody wants to see the winner, crowded around the MotoCzysz paddock
Michael Czysz talking with Ely Schless - Ely was entered as Proto Moto, and qualified for the race, but had blown up the motors during the qualifying and unable to race
Post-race lineup
