Didi Resources Sdn. Bhd., the new custodian of the Aprilia brand in Malaysia will unveil the new bike to Aprilia fans and public alike. Events will continue into the evening with the viewing of the German MotoGP round.
The unveiling will commence from 6pm at The Podium, Sungai Penchala, on 7th July 2019.
The Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory is the challenger to the Ducati Panigale V4. it’s now 1078cc V-Four engine produces 214 hp and 122 Nm of torque. A Bosch lithium-ion battery and Akrapovic exhaust cuts weight to only 199 kg, dry.
Apart from that, Brembo’s latest Stylema front brake calipers perform braking duties for the front. They are lighter yet more rigid than the outgoing Brembo M50 Monobloc. Gripping the discs are more aggressive brake pads. Look closely and you will notice air ducts for the front calipers.
Front forks are Öhlins NIX with 125 mm travel (5 mm more) for better cornering. An Öhlins TTX shock suspends the rear end.
The bike’s bodywork also features “aerobodies,” similar to those in MotoGP.
A Boston Globe journalist did some digging and came up with a disturbing revelation concerning 23-year-old’s records. He had been arrested in six states before for DUI (driving under influence), dangerous driving, and accidents.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy – Photo credit Don Treeger/The Republican via AP, Pool
Zukhovskyy is an immigrant from Ukraine. He was also involved in accident at 16 years old and was found to be driving without a license.
He committed his first offence not long after obtaining his driver’s license in 2013. He was arrested and charged for DUI in June that year in Massachusetts. The judge suspended his driving license.
Zhukovskyy was again arrested in 2014 for driving with a suspended license, providing false information and possession of drug paraphernalia, this time in Ohio. The Boston Globe journalist noted that the Ohio authorities didn’t communicate the arrest with their counterparts in Massachusetts.
In 2017, he then sought assistance for his addiction to alcohol, cocaine and heroin in Pennsylvania.
He obtained a commercial driving license a year later in 2018. But he didn’t stay out of trouble very long.
Police arrested him at 2am on 11th February 2019, following reports of an intoxicated person. They found a crack pipe. However, he was given a deferment with probation and no record as long as he behaved. The probation was due to end on 14th June 2019.
Just one week later, he was arrested in Iowa for improper lane usage and not complying with safety regulations. He paid the fine and went away a free man.
On 11th May 2019, he was arrested in Connecticut for DUI. He posted bail, while awaiting his arraignment on 26th June. When Connecticut’s authorities communicated the charges to Massachusetts where his license was issued, the two states blamed each other for not suspending his license following the 11th May arrest.
Zukhovskyy’s driving record got more serious after that. On 3rd June, he rolled over the Mack truck car hauler in Texas. He claimed that a car had swerved in front of him but the police found no signs of another vehicle. The police didn’t fine him plus, he wasn’t intoxicated at the time.
The authorities should’ve stopped him from ever driving again at this point but no one did. So, on 24th June, Zukhovskyy drove into a group of Jarhead MC riders in New Hampshire, killing seven. The ex-US Marines had just left their bed and breakfast.
He has since been arrested and police found wax packets with heroin residue in his home.
But the accident also highlighted the failure of the authorities in keeping a dangerous and potentially life-threatening driver off the road. Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) Secretary Erin Deveney took responsibility and resigned (at least she took responsibility, unlike some politicians in Malaysia).
The Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and the United States Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack promise to overhaul RMV for improvements. The US Immigration and Customs Department has also filed a request to detain Zukhovskyy, meaning that he could be deported back to the Ukraine.
Motorsports is not just about riders trying to outdo each other.
Motorsports is becoming more complex as motorcycles get more complex.
The TOC Automotive College provides the TOC Superbike Technician Course to prepare the students for such eventualities.
When hear the word motorsports, it’s all too easy to visualize a bunch of bikes ridden at breakneck speeds, and their riders planting their knees firmly onto the track in the corners. But truth is, motorsports involves much more than just fast bikes and riders.
It’s safe to say that track action is only 10% of what goes on in motorsports. 90% is about preparation which includes bike setup, maintenance, and repair; data acquisition and analysis; rider conditioning; testing… the list goes on and on.
This is why motorsports is an “industry,” rather than just races in the actual sense. And the industry never sleeps.
Ever-evolving motorcycles
Motorcycles are evolving by leaps and bounds by every annual Intermot and EICMA motorshows. This is because manufacturers seek to outdo their rivals by introducing new and even more advanced models.
We used to marvel at electronic fuel injection 20 years ago, but now fuel injection works in tandem with traction control (TC) and rider-selectable power modes. Speaking of TC, it was a mere pipe dream but now virtually all systems are smarter and faster than even professional riders.
Ducati Panigale V4 R’s instrument display
Early TC systems were rudimentary, at best, relying on wheel-speed sensors but now they’re hooked up to a clever device called the Inertial Measurement Unit. Instead of just checking to see if a wheel or both wheels are slipping to regulate torque and power transmission, new TC systems actually proportions assistance according to the bike’s lean angles.
IMU-based TC has another benefit for the anti-lock braking system (ABS). Hence, IMU-equipped ABS not only helps to keep the wheels from locking up but it’s again lean-angle sensitive.
There’s also engine braking control, wheelie control, rear tyre lift mitigation, suspension control, launch control, quickshifter, etc.
2019 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory electronic suspension system
But of course, racing is about power. A number of manufacturers have equipped their bikes with variable valve timing (VVT). An engine with VVT is in effect two engines in one. Rather than being tuned for lots of power at the expense of torque or vice-versa, why not have both?
And we haven’t even touched on brakes, suspension and frames yet!
What does it mean for the industry?
The myriad of systems on modern bikes are electronically-controlled. Therefore, the motorsports industry needs to adapt by introducing parts and expertise to deal with electronics.
It’s no longer merely about twisting the suspension’s adjusters here besides wondering about what tyres to use or figuring the correct carburettor jetting. Each team must obtain the correct data to optimise their motorcycle setups.
Where is it headed?
In terms of machinery, they are getting more and more complex due to electronics. It’s electronics that unlock the full potential of modern bikes. Of course, all bikes are different in terms of mechanical setup, but they adhere to the same basic principles.
In terms of the motorsport industry, we will see increasing number of electronic engineers or mechanics that are savvy in electronics occupying places in race teams. Electronics used to be the domain of MotoGP prototype racing, but the technologies have been trickled down to other classes of bikes including roadgoing superbikes.
How does TOC play a part?
The Superbike Technician Course in the TOC Automotive College prepares the students by training them on real-world and motorsports applications.
It means that the students not only know how to work on the mechanical aspects, but also in terms of electronics.
In fact, TOC has worked with race teams in the Malaysian Superbike Championship (MSBK) and Malaysia Speed Festival (MSF) by sending their students to work with the race teams. The students come away better prepared by the time they hit the job market.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia.
The program covers two years and up to 20,000km, whichever comes first.
The program is only applicable to new bikes registered from 1st July 2019.
Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Sdn. Bhd. (HLYM”) rolled out a new Extended Warranty program for Yamaha motorcycle owners in Malaysia, allowing them to enjoy better product value and longer protection terms for their motorcycles.
Yamaha owners are now covered for an additional year, over and above the existing one-year manufacturer warranty that comes with the purchase of a new Yamaha motorcycle. The new Extended Warranty program entitles Yamaha owners to two years coverage or up to 20,000km, whichever is to come first.
The specified coverage is applicable only for motorcycles registered on or after 1st July 2019, and includes all Yamaha models produced by HLYM Malaysia.
“With this new feature, HLYM looks forward to increase consumer confidence, as well as Yamaha’s competitiveness within the Malaysian automotive industry which would help bring a positive push to the industry as a whole,” said Dato’ Jim Khor, Managing Director of HLYM.
Please refer to the table below for the scope of warranty.
HLYM has also imposed a pre-delivery checklist for the benefit of customers upon receiving their new motorcycles. Verification is undertaken by authorized dealers to ensure all motorcycles are delivered in its best condition, towards further enhancement of customer satisfaction.
Carlin Dunne died in a crash at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), riding the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype.
He was in the process of setting a new record.
The race was won by Rennie Scaysbrook on a 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100.
Rider Carlin Dunne died while racing the Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC).
Dunne had qualified in pole position a day earlier and everyone had tipped that he would win his fourth PPIHC race, and set the fastest ever time for a motorcycle in the “Race to the Clouds.”
Carlin Dunne after winning last year on the Multistrada 1260 – Photo credit Cycle World
All eyes the world over was on him and the Ducati as the prototype will serve as the precursor to the most powerful naked sportbike ever built. Ducati had stripped down the Panigale V4 and fitted a taller handlebar to it for the race.
Rennie Scaysbrook had set the fastest time ever previously at 9m44.963s on his 2018 Aprilia Tuono V4 1100. That time was already 5.6 seconds faster than the 9m49.625s set by Chris Fillimore on the KTM 1290 Super Duke R in 2017.
Dunne went out last and logged the fastest times in three out of four sectors. He was ahead by 1.3s in Segment 1, 2.5s in Segment 2 and nearly 4s in Segment 3. Then tragedy struck as he crashed less than 400 metres to the finish line near the highest point of the mountain.
As such, Rennie Scaysbrook won the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on the Aprilia, with his time entered as the new record. The win was Aprilia’s first in the heavyweight category.
Dunne had won the PPIHC race three times previously, all on Ducatis. He won in 2011 and 2012 on the Multistrada 1200, and last year on the Multistrada 1260. Ducati went on to produce the Pikes Peak Edition Multistradas to commemorate the rider’s achievements.
Carlin Dunne on the way to winning on the Multistrada 1260 last year – Photo credit Motorcyclist.com
The PPIHC is where non-sportbikes battle it out for supremacy, hence you’d find bikes such as the Streetfighter, BMW S 1000 R, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, et al. Competitors are flagged off at sea level and ride up the 156-corner, 20-kilometre (12.42-mile) road to the finish line 4302 metres (14,115 feet) up the hill.
Maverick Vinalez won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Marc Marquez finished in 2nd place.
Fabio Quartararo finished on the podium again.
Maverick Vinalez (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Vinalez had battled all race long with the youngest back-to-back pole sitter Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Sepang Racing Team) and World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda). The trio traded places on and on until Quartararo had to slow down due to incessant speed wobbles. Both Vinalez and Marquez passed him without hesitation, to set up a two-bike battle in the closing laps.
Vinalez finally prevailed from Lap 18 to end the race 5 seconds ahead of Marquez. The latter seemingly slowing down to settle for 2nd position to protect his lead in the championship. Indeed, he revealed in the post-race interview that his goal was to finish ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) and Danilo Petrucci (Dovizioso’s teammate).
Quartararo made it home in 3rd for his second podium finish in his first season. He had battled through arm pump to stay ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.
Photo credit – MotoGP.com
His teammate Franco Morbidelli pushed up the field to pass Petrucci on the final lap to finish 5th.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) fought back against Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) to grab 6th.
Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Gresini Aprilia) rounded off the top 10.
It was another nightmare race for Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha) who crashed together with Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) at high speed. Nakagami was stretchered off the track side.
Marc Marquez had predicted a strong race, if not a victory, but one of the Yamahas after witnessing their pace throughout the weekend. As in the previous race at Catalunya, the Yamahas demonstrated higher midcorner speeds and ease of being flicked side-to-side, fitting the twisting format of the Assen track well. Suzuki also had this advantage but Alex Rins crashed out from the lead on Lap 3.
It was Marquez’s remarkable skills to put the Honda in 2nd place. The next closest Honda of Cal Crutchlow was way back in 6th.
The Ducatis couldn’t take advantage of their towering engine power and straightline speed at the Cathedral of Speed. As Dovizioso remarked earlier this season, the Ducati Desmosedici GP19 still has trouble with keeping its line in midcorner, thereby hampering the riders from applying the throttle earlier.
Photo credit MotoGP.com
Marquez currently leads the championship with a substantial 44 points clear of Dovizioso in second. Indeed, the cameras caught a despondent-looking Dovizioso sipping his drink in his paddock after the race.
What about Quartararo’s speed wobbles/tank slapper? As pointed out by our veteran journalist friend, both the Yamahas and Suzukis suffered the same problem down the back straight due to the strong crosswind. The two manufacturers’ bikes are set up for quick-steering hence have less stability, compared to the Honda RC213V, Ducati Desmosedici and KTM RC16.
