M1GP Open class won on electric! First time in history!

**liveforphysics** · 19 August 2013

The open class is the fastest group of purpose-built racing gas motorcycles M1GP has to offer, and it was won by my buddy Doug on a street legal mostly stock Zero XU! (With sticky tires and a Sevcon Size 4 controller swap (FX controller).

I took 2nd behind Doug in the Hollywood electric class, narrowly beating Ryan in an awesome battle! Later in the open class race, Ryan eeked out an amazing running-off-track pass on the last lap after we had been swapping spots for a few laps of intense battling in the open event, and I ended up finishing on his tail, with Doug winning overall and a group of various fast gas bikes in front and behind Ryan and I.

It was an awesome race weekend, and we shifted a lot of people's mis-conceptions about electric's being slow with Doug's open class overall win. That was a first for the race history books for M1GP. :-)
Enjoy the pics!

This final pic is pretty cool. If you look very carefully, that's Ryan riding very well aligned directly behind me. Ryan is damn fast and very lightweight for a guy my height.

Enjoy!

**PaulWay** · 19 August 2013

Rocking awesome! Great work there!

It's only going to get better...

Have fun,

Paul

**zikzak** · 20 August 2013

I'm glad to read that some people changed their mind about EV races and motorbikes in this specific case \o/

**jonescg** · 20 August 2013

Pardon my ignorance, but what is M1GP? I've ever heard of it... Is it like clubman racing or something?

teddillard · 20 August 2013

It's "American Mini Road-Racing": https://www.m1-grandprix.com/

The most info can be found on their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/m1gpracing/info

"About
M1GP American Mini Motorcycle Road Racing Association. Striving to provide motorcyclists the best experience in mini road racing and skill development in the USA.
Mission
Our mission is to provide and grow the sport of motorcycle racing at the mini-class level with quality race events with our championship sprint and endurance race series.
Company Overview
Kids and adults (we have a great mix of both) can come race in sprint and endurance races in the safest conditions and environments.
All M1GP races have a medic, corner marshals and professional timing equipment to benefit all of its racers.

M1GP is for riders, new or experienced, serious about honing their riding/racing skill with a method proven by world champions - skill development and great racing through mostly smaller displacement motorcycles.
Description
LOW RISK, LOW COST, HIGH VALUE, HIGH FUN! "SMALL IS SMART"

The future of American motorcycle champions starts HERE.
General Information
Main Website:http://www.m1-grandprix.com/
STORE http://www.zazzle.com/m1grandprix
FOR INFO OR TO SPONSOR A CLASS / SERIES CONTACT: 310-497-3155 info[at]m1-grandprix.com"

**Richard230** · 20 August 2013

The nice thing about racing electric motorcycles is that the neighbors won't complain about noise and want the track closed as so many tracks have been closed over the past 50 years. (Although, granted most of these tracks have been closed so that the property could be sold and new shopping centers built on them and noise was just an excuse.) Now you can have races in just about every urban area at just about every time and only have to worry about the traffic congestion getting to and from the track. A "win-win" for everyone.

**liveforphysics** · 20 August 2013

Here is a video of one of the Hollywood electric's race from this event. Unfortunately it's the only video I personally have from the event. The video of the open class race with Doug battling the fastest of the gas bikes there with his XU should also be an awesome video, and I know somebody out there has it. :-)