MrLarkins,
It's the change that is hard to get used to. We form habits that are hard to break. Once you get out of the mind-set of "pedal-stop pedaling-release clutch-Go"; it's not so bad.
Brett Mavriks' jack-shaft set-up was the same way...it was VERY awkward at first. As suggested, pedal up to 5-7MPH before releasing the clutch, (the momentum will help), and then continue to pedal hard against the compression of the engine until it starts.
Get the engine fine tuned, and learn exactly what it takes to execute an easy start as Clotho pointed out.
Before long it will be second nature.
Jim