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Laguna Seca 2012

Well it was a big disappointment to not have a bike together for Laguna for it is a real event, but there is next year. The atmosphere is great and the Moto GP is a real show. The GP bikes are incredible works of engineering. The E-Power race which is FIM's version of the TTXGP was good. Lightning and Brammo were the 2 standouts. It looks like Mission and Moto Czysz are out of the competion and focusing on the products that they sell. I understand. Lightning is impressive with its 200 hp motor. If it wasn't for its 500 + pounds it would be incredible. Brammo came out with a new motor that is pushing the 180 hp. The bikes are running 1.33 to 1.35 lap times which is in the middle of the pack for the 600 cc Super Sport Class. The electric bikes are more powerful and faster on the straights than the 600 cc bikes but because of the weight not as quick through the turns. The other big thing is numbers of laps the E-Power runs 9 laps and the Super Sport runs 16 laps. As batteries improve weight will come down and laps up. 

Since I don't have any real news on our bike or pictures I have some images form the Moto GP race to share. I hope to have some news on our project in the next couple of weeks. 





Posted by Administrator at 7/31/2012 2:42 PM | Add Comment

Physical Progress


We are finally making some good progress. It has been many months of running calculations of weight and balance, anti-squat, clearances, and many other things. I would like to give special thanks to Paul Thede of Race Tech, he has been giving us advice with on the suspension, and Chris Cosentino of Cosentino Engineering, giving us advice with bike geometry. To this point 99% of the work has been on the computer in google sketch up. I am real familiar with this program and is easy to do quick ideas in 3D. This week I finished up a wood mass model of the bike, so I could have Steve Metz our rider to get this toughest. I know from the pictures that it looks very clunky but it will be a steel trellis frame and not slabs of plywood. One of my big concerns was the ground clearance in a turn with the suspension compressed. The electric bikes have ben notorious for this issue because you have a very square battery pack.



As you can see the ground clearance is tight. We will have to raise the motors and battery pack some.





We are still having issues with the clearance around the handle bars and tubing at the neck. We will have to try to move the battery pack back a little and lower the tubing around the neck.

Next on the agenda is to make those minor corrections and then start drawing the bike up in Solidworks so parts can be fabricated. A lot of work to be done to try to make the Laguna Seca July 23rd race.


Posted by Administrator at 6/15/2012 3:44 PM | Add Comment

TTXGP

A new TTXGP season is approaching. I have had several discussions with TTXGP and they are really trying to grow the field. The North American series compared to the other series is amazing. There has been big money into developing new technologies in the US. If you look at the top 4 members you have Mission Motors, Moto Czysz, Lighting Motorcycles, and Brammo that has developed its own motor, controller and battery management system. Mission and Czysz are are just using motorcycle as a test vehicle for there motor and controller. They have no interest in selling bikes. Lighting and Brammo on the other had are trying to move into production. I know three of the four firms have spent millions on designing there products. This is a huge contrast to the Europe and Australia which is just individuals designing single bikes with existing products. It will be interesting to see the line up at the first race at Infineon Raceway on May 4-5. The link below is the TTXGP schedule. http://www.ttxgp.com/2012_calendar.php

Posted by Administrator at 3/14/2012 9:00 AM | Add Comment

E-Power at Redbull Grand Prix at Laguna Seca 2011

 It was an exciting weekend with the E- Power at the Laguna Seca Redbull Grand Prix. It is a rock star even with the Moto GP guys around. Granted 99% of the people were there for the Moto GP race but when the E-Power or TTXGP gets a chance to show there product in-front of huge crowd its good. Mission Motors was the standout. Everyone wants to compare the electric bikes to the gas bikes. Sure but when Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone his first product was not the iPhone. However the electric bikes are closing the gap. Mission posted a 1 min. 33 sec qualifying time and 1.31 lap in the race. This is a competitive time to the 600cc Daytona Sportbike race. I think Mission did a good job on their bike but also Steve Rapp road the wheels off the bike. A big different was Moto Czysz rider was the owner Michael Czysz. He is a good rider but not at the level of Steve Rapp who is one of the top Superbike riders currently racing. My congrats to all the team for all the hard work it goes into getting a bike to that level.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/762/10626/Motorcycle-Article/FIM-E-Power-TTX-Laguna-Seca-Results-2011.aspx

Posted by Administrator at 7/25/2011 12:17 PM | Add Comment

Laguna Seca TTXGP Preview 2011

It has been a while since last posted but things on the bike have been making progress and will updating you on a regular bases. To get you pumped here is a article by Steve Atlas on Laguna Seca TTXGP Preview for 2011.

Posted by Administrator at 7/20/2011 9:38 AM | Add Comment

Infineon Announces TTXGP


TTXGP, Infineon Raceway Announce First Zero Carbon Motorcycle Race in United States

 

SONOMA, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2009) — Time Trial eXtreme Grand Prix and Infineon Raceway have announced an alliance that will see the Sonoma road course serve as host site of the first-ever zero carbon motorcycle race in the United States.

 

Building on the success of the TTXGP Zero Carbon Clean Emission event for electric motorcycles held at the Isle of Man TT in Europe in June, Infineon Raceway will make history as the host of the first TTXGP race on American soil.

 

The TTXGP U.S. Championships will be held May 14-16, 2010, as part of the raceway’s AMA Motorcycle Sonoma Showdown weekend. The weekend will also feature the best in AMA Pro Road Racing, including American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike, as well as Supermoto. The TTXGP U.S. Championships will add to the weekend’s festival-type feel.

 

 “When it comes to development of zero carbon motorcycles, Northern California is the center of the industry, so it makes perfect sense that Infineon Raceway should host the first event in this historic new series," said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. "This will be a terrific addition to our two-wheel racing lineup next May.”

 

Azhar Hussain, founder of TTXGP, is excited at bringing the first TTXGP zero carbon motorcycle race to the United States.

 

 “With the success of the TTXGP on the Isle of Man, we have shown that zero carbon technology is ready to deliver the thrills and passion for both spectators and riders," he said. "In partnership with Infineon Raceway, we are taking the next step and proud to be pushing new frontiers in motor-sports technology both on and off the track. We invite the best and the brightest in the world to join us at Infineon Raceway for the dawning of the next generation of motor sports in the United States."

 

The TTXGP U.S. Championship will provide an international platform for the development of electric motorcycles, enabling the futuristic technology behind them to be tested in an exciting and challenging way. TTXGP aims to drive low carbon technological innovation forward, to demonstrate that clean-emission transport technologies have matured and can be fun, fast and exciting.

 

About TTXGP:

TTXGP, the world’s first low-carbon sanctioned motorsport event, was held on the Isle of Man TT course on June 12, 2009 as part of the traditional TT race programme. 16 motorbikes from six different countries, including the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man took part in the race.

 

Posted by Administrator at 11/10/2009 10:09 AM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment
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