Michael Czysz, Founder and Team Principal of MotoCzysz, has been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer, according to a team press release. He plans to undergo treatment immediately, which means he will not be able to attend the 2013 Isle of Man TT. He vows to return in 2014.
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The Isle of Man TT races have earned the distinction of the wildest motorcycle competition on pavement. Rocketing around public roads lined with houses, fences and cliffs at up to 190 mph around a 38-mile course is distinctly unlike the relatively safe confines of a modern racetrack. The specter of death walks close to riders at the IoM – more than 200 people have lost their lives on the course over the event’s 100-plus years.
Third time’s a charm. 2010 and 2011 TT Zero winner MotoCzysz, with rider Michael Rutter, finally became the first to average a speed of 100 mph on the Isle of Man‘s 37.733 Mountain Course on an electric motorcycle, capturing the long-sought after 10,000 British pound (US$15,000) bounty.
Wearing the #1 plate for winning last year’s TT Zero, Rutter completed the 2012 TT Zero with a time of 21:45.33 for an average speed of 104.056 mph on the new 2012 MotoCzysz E1PC. Rutter had passed the 100mph mark earlier in the week during practice but that was considered unofficial as it was done outside the actual competition. Rutter won last year’s race but fell agonizingly close to the 100 mph target with an average speed of 99.604 mph, Continue Reading »
MotoCzysz unveiled what may be the most aerodynamically designed motorcycle ever produced … and we’re not just talking about electric bikes here. The covers were pulled from the 2012 MotoCzysz E1PC electric race bike ahead of the TT Zero electric race at the Isle of Man, revealing a sleek silver and red sportbike with aerodynamically curving wings and fins.
The updated E1PC is MotoCzysz’s latest stab at claiming the 10,000 British pound bounty for being the first electric motorcycle to score an average speed of 100 mph on the Isle of Man’s Mountain Course. MotoCzysz took the last two TT Zero races and is a favorite to do it again this year, but the 100 mph barrier is the bigger goal.
Mark Miller won the 2010 TT Zero with a time of 23:22.89 to average a speed of 96.820 mph, a good 7.53 mph faster than anyone else, and last year, Michael Rutter came agonizingly close to the target speed, averaging 99.604 mph with a 22:43.68 lap time. Continue Reading »
Mission Motors rider Steve Rapp led from start to finish to win the Laguna Seca round of the TTXGP and FIM e-Power championships. The race was significant both because it demonstrated the improvements made in electric motorcycle racing over the last year, but also because it was the first joint event held by the two rival electric racing series.
A veteran AMA racer, Rapp took the holeshot and held off 2010 Laguna Seca e-Power winner Michael Czysz and 2010 runner-up Michael Barnes for the win, completing the 8-lap race in 12:40.597, translating to lap times of about 1:35.1.
Rapp’s result showed the advances made in electric motorcycle racing over the last year. Czysz won last year’s 9-lap race in 16:02.596, which translates to an average lap time of about 1:47.0. Rapp’s fastest lap time in this year’s race was 1:33.194, obliterating Czysz record of 1:44.496 set last year.
The Isle of Man TT usually provides a lot of drama, and this year’s event was no different. John McGuinness, second on the all-time TT wins list, added two more wins to his resume to win the Joey Dunlop Trophy while MotoCzysz once again fell just short of taking the bounty for being the first electric motorcycle team to record a 100 mph lap on the Mountain Course.
The 2011 Isle of Man TT also had its share of tragedy with three racing fatalities. Sidecar racer Bill Currie and passenger Kevin Morgan died in an accident during qualifying while Derek Brien was killed in a high-speed crash in the first Supersport race.
The event also featured a parade lap with five-time World Champion Mick Doohan, Ducati MotoGP racer Nicky Hayden, Tech 3 Yamaha MotoGP racer Cal Crutchlow, 2010 Isle of Man TT star Ian Hutchinson, and British Superbike racer Josh Brookes.
Full recap after the jump.
Michael Czysz, founder of MotoCzysz, sits aboard his electric motorcycle race-winning E1pc. With MotoCzysz’s corporate headquarters located in Portland, it’s a safe bet Czysz will compete in the recently announced Portland round of the TTXGP.
One of the most exciting, soul stirring moments of any motorsports event is when the high revving, fuel sucking machines respond in unison to the command, “Gentlemen start your engines!” On June 12, the sounds and smells of combustion engines will be replaced by the emission-free whizzing of electric motorcycles as they take turns rocketing through the legendary Isle of Man.