Abstract: A two-phase motor includes two orthogonally disposed stator windings and a permanent magnet rotor. One of the stator windings is energized with a maximum energizing input for a narrow time period, whereupon the rotor is driven to a position intermediate the two stator windings. At the end of the narrow time period, the other of the stator windings remains energized whereupon the rotor is driven to align with the magnetic flux generated by the other winding. A switching arrangement is actuated to prevent loading on the one phase winding while the back EMF from the one winding is conditioned and interrogated for magnitude and for rotor direction. When the proper magnitude and direction are sensed the switching arrangement renders the motor in a run mode while closing the drive loop for the one phase winding which is now driven with a maximum input.