you dont have to have a fuel pump if u run billet bigger bowls youll be fine,, and reded is correct alky is the only way to go, u go through it faster but its cheaper!! purging is no big deal like red ed said,, u unhook your fuel lines from your pingel and hook up lines from a purge bottle. just make sure your not lean always stay fat on the tuning an youll be fine ,it is a lil more unforgiving than gas if your lean though, doesnt take very long to pop but its still reliable.! my 50cents and as far as the gas giving the alky a head start, that rider must SUCK!!!! thats 80% of the race is the rider! or hes not set up like the other there are still many factors involving stuff like that that does not have anything to do with the hp gain you will have over gas!