I believe the Losi motor is much superior to the HPI in terms of carryover to a racing class such as buggy or truggy. Add the Losi EFI system and it could get interesting. I also believe that the gas motor will probably never match the nitro in shear performance. That being said, does it have to? Gassers don't have to race against/with nitros. At the club level, all sort of strange things happen. Nitros running with electrics. Such an abomination!
ROAR didn't want to touch the 1/5 Baja gassers, so I doubt that ROAR will ever (in this lifetime) create a gas class for buggys, truggys or whatever. But at the club level it could flourish if it runs by itself.