Lightning wins Le Mans e-Power/TTXGP while Muench wins the TTXGP European championhsip

Miguel Duhamel, riding for Barracuda Lightning, has won the e-Power/TTXGP joint race at Le Mans this weekend while Matthias Himmelmann (Muench Racing) has won the European championship in both series.  Duhamel took the pole position with strong finishes in both qualifying rounds.  Zongshen's Tang Yu came in third place.

Himmelmann led for the first couple laps

There was an intense battle between Duhamel and Himmelmann for first place, and Duhamel finished only 1.929 seconds ahead of Himmelmann.  Duhamel, one of the winningest racers in the AMA, came out of retirement for this race and has had less than 40 laps of track time with it.  “It was a fantastic race, said Miguel Duhamel with his delightful Quebec accent. Lightning is very powerful but you have to pace yourself to preserve the batteries for the end of the race. It’s the first time I’ve taken part in this type of race. I did 40 test laps this week, that’s all.”

The battle between Himmelmann and Duhamel included Himmelmann having his bike stop dead on the track after being out in front for a couple laps. “A bit of rubber got stuck in the circuit breaker. I found the problem after a general check and then I was able to chase down Miguel,” said Himmelmann.  Over on Facebook they explained it thusly: "Furios: Während des Rennens ist ein Stein auf den Notausfallschalter von Matthias Himmelmann gefallen, sodass dieser die TTE-2 ausschaltete. Eine außergewöhnliche Leistung, dass Matthias sich vom sechsten Platz wieder auf den zweiten Platz hochkämpfte!" The translate function unhelpfully provides this amusing attempt: "Furious: During the race a stone on the emergency failure switch by Matthias sky who has fallen, so it turned off the TTE-2. An exceptional performance, that Matthias again highly kämpfte is from sixth to second place! (Translated by Bing)"

Despite finishing second in the race, Himmelmann had a huge lead in points and won the European Championship for the third year running.

Tang Yu

This is the second podium finish for Tang Yu despite his teammates having more powerful bikes. "I am really happy to podium here in Le Mans representing Zongshen Racing and China. After the crash I had in the first practice the team had to work really hard to repair the damage and i am so please to be able to give them a podium position and thank them for building me a good bike. It was an exciting end to the European season and i am very happy to be involved. "

Christian Amendt had a motor failure during qualifying and had to rebuild his bike.  While he was able to finish the race he came in last place.  

Somehow Katja Poensgen only finished a couple laps.  On their facebook page this is written:  "Katja Poensgen, wird mit ihrer gestrigen Bestzeit von 2'05.677 von Platz 4 starten. Nach Problemen von Katja im ersten Qualifying am Donnerstag haben die Ingenieure nochmals Änderungen am Batteriesystem der MÜNCH TTE-2 vorgenommen. "Wir haben noch mal alles geprüft und anhand von Computerauswertungen Änderungen vorgenommen. Sie ist heute ohne technische Probleme die Distanz gefahren. Alle taktischen Maßnahmen für das Rennen um die Meisterschaft sind getroffen und abgesprochen," so Thomas Schuricht nach dem zweiten Qualifying. Das Rennen wird am Freitag den 7. September um 16:00 Uhr stattfinden."  Or: "Katja Poensgen, uses their yesterday's best lap of 2'05. 677 of 4th place start. After problems by Katja in the first qualifying session on Thursday the engineers have made again TTE-2 changes to the battery system of Munch. "We have again everything checked and changes made on the basis of computer evaluations." The distance is driven today without any technical problems. "All tactical measures for the race for the Championship are met and talked," so Thomas Schuricht after the second qualifying session. The race will be held on Friday 7 September at 16: 00. (Translated by Bing)"

Results from: http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=316

Second qualifying round results from: http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=312

The results:

pos	no	team	rider	ses.1	Ses.2	lap	gap	KM/h
1	17	Barracuda Lightning	Miguel Duhamel	1:49.200*	1:50.630	15		137.967
2	49	Muench Racing	Mattias Himmelmann	1:50.834	1:50.144*	15	0:00.944	136.785
3	59	Zongshen Racing	Ho Chi Fung	2:05.431*	2:10.827	12	0:16.231	120.144
4	65	Muench Racing	Katje Poensgen	2:05.677*	2:07.322	11	0:16.477	119.879
5	26	Zongshen Racing	Tang Yu		2:09.971*	9	0:20.771	115.918
6	70	Zongshen Racing	David Dumain		2:13.665*	7	0:24.465	112.715
7	36	Epo-bike.de	Christian Adment		2:15.900*	17	0:26.700	110.861

* Best time
Qualification time: 2:17.910 (120%)
The results are provisional until the time limit for protests and appeals.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=422851947752300&set=a.422851464419015.83084.270268563010640&type=1&theater

Post-race relaxation?  Miguel Duhamel in foreground, Richard Hatfield in background.  http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=422856671085161&set=a.422851464419015.83084.270268563010640&type=1&theater

Lightning leads after first qualifying round at e-Power/TTXGP Le Mans joint race

As I noted the other day, the Barracuda Lightning Motorcycles Racing team has gone to Le Mans for the e-Power/TTXGP race.  As expected the teams rider, Miguel Duhamel, is at the top of the results sheet for todays practice round, beating Matthias Himmelmann of Muench Racing.  Why expected?  Because of how far back Himmelmann finished behind the Lightning bikes at the Laguna Seca race.

At Laguna Seca, Himmelmann finished the race 16.325 seconds behind Michael Barnes on the Barracuda Lightning #80, and had a best lap time 1.927 seconds slower.  With a top-notch rider like Duhamel, the Lightning race bike should perform just as well as if Barnes were riding, and I expected that Lightning would win over Himmelmann/Muench again.

Miguel Duhamel

The results were:

#1, Barracuda Lightning, Miguel Duhamel, 1:49.200 best lap, 137.802 km/hr
#2, Muench Racing, Matthias Himmelmann, 1:50.834 best lap, 135.771 km/hr
#3, Zongshen Racing, Ho Chi-Fung, 2:05.431 best lap, 119.970 km/hr
#4, Muench Racing, Katja Poensgen, 2:05.677 best lap, 119.736 km/hr

Additionally three racers are shown as "Not classified" as being slower than the qualification time of 2:18.186 best lap time.

#5, epo-bike.de, Christian Amendt, 2:18.754 best lap, 108.451 km/hr
#6, Zongshen Racing, Tang Yu, 2:30.469 best lap
#7, Zongshen Racing, David Dumain, no stats listed

I don't know if this means these riders have no chance to qualify tomorrow or not.  The FIM e-Power series follows a qualification rule that, in essence, requires bikes to be within a given speed percentage of each other.  The three bikes name fell below that percentage.  Todays race is described as "first qualifier" so perhaps they'll be allowed a second chance in the second qualifier tomorrow.

Christian Amendt "was held up by problems with his electric motor".

Tang Yu "was stymied by a crash".

David Duhamel, is also driving in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and "fell in the qualifiers and was unable to take part in the first e-Power practice session."

Miguel Duhamel, 17 – Lightning Barracuda Racing Team

« I am pretty satisfied with my qualifying, said Miguel Duhamel, but I could have done better. I spent the last three years on my couch and I need to give myself a bit of a shake to get back into a competitive frame of mind. The motorcycle is going well and I am sure I shall be faster tomorrow. »

Matthias Himmelmann, 49 - Munch Racing TT

« After our big problems in Oschersleben, I am really pleased with this qualifier. I lapped in 1’50 compared to 1’52 last year. This weekend is very important as it will decide both the e-Power and TTXGP championship titles. »

The second qualifying round will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, with the race proper at 4:35 PM on Friday.

Source: http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=311

Meunch's Himmelmann wins FIM e-Power race at Mangy Cours

A couple weeks ago the 2012 FIM e-Power race series launched on the weekend of April 15 at Mangy-Cours.  The race had a small showing of teams and unsurprisingly Meunch won the race.

Meunch had not only Matthias Himmelmann riding but new team-mate Katja Poensgen.  "We are very happy with the results and the felicitous season opening. The time we spent developing and testing definitely paid off," said Matthias Himmelmann. Matthias tested a new, more balanced battery and Katja competed with the most recent engine. One could see that she was really enjoying the ride.  "The feeling on the bike is so much different compared to the 250's. Since you not only have to watch your competition but most of all your battery, you really have to ride tactically. The racing series may still be young but I'm already very glad to be a part of it."

Meunch fielded two instances of the improved TTE 2.0, a machine weighing 220 kg powered by a battery pack of 350 V/40 Ah.

Himmelmann won over his team-mate by over 30 seconds.  Also appearing was Christian Armendt of EPO Racing Team.  Armendt had raced in e-Power during 2010 but bowed out for 2011, and has returned for 2012 promising a wholly new bike for the June race.  He specializes in ultra-light electric motorcycles hoping to get more bang for the buck speed wise.  However, it is clear from the FIM writeup that he was left in the dust, but it's unclear whether he rode his 2010 bike in this race.  If so it is unsurprising to see him beaten so badly, because Meunch's bike is way ahead technically from the ones they fielded during the 2010 season.

A major missing figure from this race is CRP.  Over the last two years CRP and Meunch have been dueling it out for the primary position in European electric motorcycle racing.  Both teams had fought hard with each other in both FIM e-Power and TTXGP races in years past, so it's curious that they are skipping e-Power this year.

Katja Poensgen is a former 250cc rider who bowed out of racing in 2003.  She is making a comeback via electric motorcycle racing saying “I stopped riding competitively 9 years ago, then I had my daughter and I wasn’t thinking about racing again, Katja explains, but last year I was invited to test an electric bike on a TV show and I was won over. When Munch Racing invited me to ride at Magny-Cours, I said yes. The bike is fun to ride. Of course there is no noise or smell, but it is beautifully smooth and you have to use your brain much more to get a good performance than when you ride a classic bike."  

E-Power

Holes:	7		Classified pilots:	3		Best lap time	1m59s468
Round distance:	0		Accidents:	0		Track condition:	Not Communicated

CL	Dossard	Pilote	Country	Manufacturer	Time	Delay	Score
1	49	HIMMELMANN MATTHIAS		MUENCH TTE	15m42s953	-	25
2	65	POENSGEN KATJA		MUENCH TTE	16m14s422	31s469	20
3	36	AMENDT CHRISTIAN		NC	17m33s657	1m50s704	16

http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/2012/news-detail/article/1334753953-muenchs-electrifying-motorbike-show-in-magny-cours/

http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/2012/news-detail/article/1334443959-the-munch-electric-show-in-magny-cours/

http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/2012/news-detail/article/1334341226-muench-racing-team-still-in-front-at-magny-cours/

http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/2012/news-detail/article/1334315295-e-power-the-season-kicks-off-at-the-bol-dor/

http://www.fim-live.com/en/sport/e-power/events/sport-event-detail/results/item/round/2012crcmepicr-main228621-1/