The 2020 Yamaha Ego Solariz will receive new colour schemes.
It’s a small run-about scooter.
Price remains at RM 5,324.
The 2020 Yamaha Ego Solariz will receive new colour schemes. The new colours and graphics refresh this step-through scooter which was launched in 2017. This is the second such refresher since 2018.
The Ego Solariz’s mechanicals remain the same. The engine is an air-cooled, 125cc, SOHC, single-cylinder unit. Fueling is via EFI. Another feature is Yamaha’s performance and fuel efficiency package called Blue Core. The powerplant produces 9.4 hp at 8,000 RPM and 9.6 Nm of torque at 5,500 RPM. Its drivetrain is the usual scooter fare consisting of an automatic gearbox and belt final drive.
Front and rear wheels are 14-inches. Telescopic forks up front and a rear monoshock handle suspension duties, while brakes are a single disc up front and a drum at the back.
Maximum fuel tank capacity is 4.2 litres.
The underseat storage space is 10 litres, enough for an open-faced helmet.
The new colours are Red, Blue, Gold and Cyan. Nett selling price remains at RM 5,234, excluding insurance, road tax and registration.
Shell Advance lubricants are formulated to protect your engine in “5 Complete Protection” packages.
Each range has different properties, but all are formulated to provide the best engine protection.
Shell Advance lubricants are considered premium engine oils.
Engine oils. There are so many, in fact probably too many brands in the market. Which one should you choose? The one with the snazzy ads? The one which is stamped on your favourite MotoGP rider’s suit? Or should you choose the best through your research like Shell Advance premium range of lubricants?
Shell Advance lubricants from the Ultra, AX7 or AX5 ranges, are formulated to protect your engine in five ways. These “5 Complete Protection” packages maintain your engine’s horsepower, enhances fuel economy, protects against wear, guards against high temperatures, and keep the pistons and engine parts clean.
1. Protects against wear
Engine oil separates surfaces, preventing them from contacting each other hence eliminating friction.
Two surfaces at microscopic levels
Of course, lack of friction ultimately results in less wear and tear of engine parts. Less wear and tear convert to lower cost of maintenance and repairs.
The Ultra and AX7 provides 36% better protection versus industry limits, while the AX5 provides 29% better protection1.
2. Maintains horsepower
A good engine oil shouldn’t rob your engine of its power. It means that the oils have good viscosity and flow properties, thereby eliminating frictional losses.
Photo credit New Atlas
Besides that, good flow properties mean the oil doesn’t resist being be pumped around the engine.
Consequently, engine power is maintained. To the rider, he will feel that the engine is quick-revving hence more powerful, for example opening the throttle and the bikes takes off instead of feeling bogged down.
In lab tests, both the Ultra and AX7 had proven to be able to maintain the engine’s horsepower even after 12,000 kms2.
3. Enhances fuel economy
Less friction and resistance as the engine doesn’t have to struggle to overcome those forces highlighted earlier. The engine finds it easier to turn with the least amount of fuel.
Tests showed that the Ultra extended fuel mileage by up to 5 km per tank3, and the AX7 up to 3 km3. Fuel mileage is subject to traffic conditions and riding style, but it’s a good guard against escalating fuel prices.
4. Guards against high temperatures
To the engine, the difference of a few degrees results in better performance and fuel efficiency. To the rider, it’s a difference he can feel from the seat, making him more comfortable and worry less about performance and whether the engine is fully protected.
The Ultra provides a whopping 71% better protection against high heat1, while the AX7 does it by 29%1. The AX5 is also formulated to provide heat protection.
5. Keep pistons clean
Combustion by-products i.e. soot, carbon deposits will accumulate at the top the piston and its rings. The rings scrape these desposits downwards to be “washed away” by the lubricant.
Shell Advance Ultra, Shell Advance AX7 and Shell Advance AX5 are formulated with Shell Active Cleansing Technology to break dirt and soot particles, thereby preventing them from clumping.
This property is also due to them being derived from the Shell PurePlus Technology base oil. The base oil is 99.5% free of contaminants, hence is crystal clear. Being virtually pure means the oil is cleaner in the first place.
In this aspect, the Ultra and AX7 keeps pistons 49% and 33% cleaner, respectively1. The AX5 has this property, too.
Conclusion
Being premium lubricants may cost more, but as the saying goes, “Good no cheap, cheap no good.” Paying a little more for the benefits will outweigh the maintenance and repair costs by a large factor. Would you rather spend RM 68.30 for a bottle of Shell Advance Ultra or more than RM 1,500 (depending on bike) for a top-end overhaul before it’s due?
You can choose from different grades in each Shell Advance range.
The fully-synthetic Shell Advance Ultra is available in 10W-40, 15W-50, and Ultra Scooter 5W-40.
The semi-synthetic Shell Advance AX7 is available in 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-50, and AX7 Scooter 10W-40.
The premium mineral Shell Advance AX5 is available in 15W-40 and AX5 Scooter 15W-40.
Last but not least, do remember to purchase Shell Advance lubricants with bottles marked as “Untuk Pasaran Malaysia” (For Malaysian Market).
VISIT SHELL ADVANCE WORKSHOP TODAY.
Claims based on field trial results and/or lab based data.
Claims based on field trial results. Power comparison using chassis dyno.
Compared average results of Shell Advance Ultra and AX 7 to that of Shell Advance AX5. Fuel consumption can be affected by other factors including traffic conditions.
We were given the honour to cover the 8 Hours of Sepang FIM EWC race from inside the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.
We had an unprecedented access to what made them tick and the strategies involved.
The team finished third overall.
Excitement fills the air as the bikes were fired up for 8 Hours of Sepang FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) race.
As adrenaline started coursing through the veins of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team members, their cheerful disposition gave way to steely stares and clenched jaws. It’s time to go racing.
The Planned Start
A technician pushed the BMW S 1000 RR onto the pitlane with rider Ilya Mikhalchik following closely behind. As he reached for the started button, I braced myself as if squeezing my ear canals in anticipation of an exhaust blast. But… nothing… there was a slight roar from the titanium Akrapovic exhaust silencer but that was it. No eardrum assaulting, chest punching roar.
And away he went along with other riders. The technicians grabbed their equipment and hurried to the gate to the grid. By then, the first riders had completed their warm-up lap.
When the bikes returned to the grid, they were wheeled backwards and parked against the pitwall at an angle. The riders then went to the other side of the start finish straight. The factory BMW sat in fifth while the crew blanketed the rain Dunlop tyres with warmers again.
Alas, the rain started coming down in earnest with just 25 minutes before the start.
The Safety and Medical Cars were sent out to check but it was visible that the sheer volume of water had overwhelmed the drainage. The cars sent up huge plumes of spray.
By then there was a delay in starting the race and the field was given another sighting lap. The riders roared away in a whiteout wall of spray. Back in the pit, the team had their eyes transfixed on the TV monitors.
The riders tip-toed through every corner and there was still lots of standing water including at the apexes of Turns 5, 9, 13 and 14. There was a river-like puddle running across the track at the braking area for Turn 15.
Upon reaching the start/finish line, marshals instructed the riders to their bikes, away from the where they were supposed to start running from. A few minutes later, race direction suspended the start. Team managers were then called to the briefing room at 1:15pm. We feared the worst i.e. outright cancellation, but that decision never came.
Now, the long wait began.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance crew didn’t look agitated, but they didn’t seem relaxed, either.
We waited.
This is how the stripped down BMW S 1000 RR endurance racebike looks like
The 1st Restart
The rain began abated somewhat by 2:30 pm. At 2:40 pm, a message flashed across all monitors at the track: PITLANE OPENS FOR 2 MINUTES AT 3:05 PM.
Yes! We’re finally going racing. As per endurance racing rules, the duration was shortened to 6 hours.
However, there was no Le Mans style start. Instead, the riders were flagged off one by one by a marshal holding the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag). Again, a wall of spray hung in the air as the bikes made their way to Turn 1. Also this time, they had to follow the Safety Car (SC).
Photo credit FIM EWC
The spectators in the grandstands were excited. Kids who’ve been running around suddenly sat ran back to their parents’ arms and pointed excitedly at the track.
The SC took the grid past the finish line for Lap 1. There was still too much spray. They went past for Lap 2. Then Lap 3, Lap 4, everyone in the pits was hoping for the SC to turn off its emergency lights. It would mean that it would peel into the pits and let racing commence.
All teams began to prepare for the eventual pitstop by placing tools, axle stands, refueling rigs near the pit entrance. They also place spareparts and assemblies such as front ends, rear subframes, bodywork, radiators, etc. where they are within easy reach (in case of crashes or breakdowns).
The refueling can was placed nearby together with a large fire extinguisher. The refueling man’s helmet and Nomex gloves were placed on top of the fuel can. There’s no time to rush back into the pits for something!
Sadly, the SC never turned off it lights and pulled in at the end of Lap 8. The red flags went out signaling another race suspension.
Another team managers meeting was called at 5.00 pm. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team’s manager Werner Daemen ran up the steps again to the briefing room.
The organizers, stewards and teams deliberated for more than an hour before coming to the decision to either race or suspend it outright. However, should they choose to restart, the race has to end at 9.00 pm.
Sources told us that the teams were eager to go on and it’ll be a shame to cancel since they had travelled so far for this race. It would’ve been 8 Hours of Rain if it were cancelled.
The 2nd Restart
Soon, the message RACE TO RESUME AT 6.00 PM appeared on the monitors. Mechanics rushed to the holding area to pick up their bikes. They were pushed back to outside the pits and parked on the “hot pit lane” (the red line) and waited for the signal from Race Direction.
At the sound of the air horn, mechanics rushed their bikes into their respective pits to begin working on them.
Why such ruling? So that everyone starts working on their bike from the same time as everyone else. No handicap.
The team mechanics jumped in to change the rear sprocket for a taller gearing, fresh wet tyres were installed. They gave the bike a one-over to make sure everything was alright.
The pit reopened at exactly 6.00 pm and every single person at the track was eager to see the race get going. The field first formed up behind the Safety Car and the riders must be in their qualifying order before the car turns off its warning lights to let the 50 riders loose.
Finally, it was time to race after a couple of laps behind the SC. The 8 Hours of Sepang was go.
By the end of the first restarted lap, it was Mike Di Meglio of F.C.C. TSR Honda (#5) who was challenging Michael Van Der Mark from the Yamaha Sepang Racing Team (#21) for the lead.
The #37 bike of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team was in sixth at the end of the same lap, in a pack of four bikes including the Tecmas Racing #9 BMW S 1000 RR (older model). The Tecmas team’s pit neighbor’s the Motorrad’s pit.
Soon, a fierce battle developed up front between #5 and #21, as if it was the last few laps of a WorldSBK race.
The rain had stopped by the 4h 15 minute mark, but the track was still wet.
But neither leading rider backed down and they were pushing so hard that their bikes squirmed under hard braking. That frenetic racing saw a pace that no one else on the field could or want to match. While most of the field was lapping in the 2m 30s bracket, the dueling duo was circulating around in 2m 15s.
Meanwhile, #37 and #9 were locked in a battle of their own, and the former was briefly in fourth by the 4h 40 minute mark. The team members were glued to the TV monitors, a few mini-hopping up and down, a few chewed their fingernails.
Then it happened. V.D. Mark outbraked Di Meglio into Turn 15, but he went wide. Seeing the gap, Di Meglio stuck his bike up the inside. As V.D. Mark tried to tighten his line for the exit, he was surprised to find #5 there and lifted his #21 bike. Di Meglio was also surprised by the move and probably dabbed his front brake and lost the front tyre, which slid into #21’s rear tyre. It sent both men skidding off the track.
A huge roar went up all around the circuit and in the pits.
Di Meglio managed to pick up his bike first and continued racing, while V.D. Mark’s Yamaha was heavily damaged and had to return to his pit.
To give you an idea of how far they were ahead, Di Meglio rejoined the race in first place.
Into the Night
At the same time, #9 got the better of #37 and the latter dropped back to sixth. But four laps later, there was huge plume of white smoke leading into Turn 1. #9’s engine had gone bang in spectacular fashion. Peeking into our neighbours’ pit saw them slumped into their chairs. One of the crew members had told me during the start that they’re using Michelin tyres and gave the thumbs up. Michelin makes arguably the best rain tyres.
The Safety Car was called into action as the track crew removed the stricken bike from the gravel trap and to assess if any oil was dumped onto the track. It led the field for five laps.
During this time, BMW Motorrad team manager Daemen ran back and forth between the pit and pit wall, discussing their fueling strategy. He had told me earlier that the 24-liter tank could last between 26 to 27 laps in rainy conditions. But with the Safety Car period thrown into the mix, they needed to recalculate the bike’s fuel consumption. They also needed to figure out their pace in comparison to other competitors. Calling for a stop at the wrong time would be out of sync with field and cost them track position.
The mechanics began arranging different types of “stands” on the pit lane. They were all custom made for different purposes, including those to place the wheels. A loose wheel rolling down pit lane will be punished by a penalty.
They also prepared two types of Dunlop wet rear tyres, one intermediate and one full wet. The current rider will advise the team on which to choose.
At last, the #37 got the “BOX” message on his pit board. So do the other teams.
The bikes may appear slow on TV as they headed down pit lane, but they were fast in real life as the riders held on to the pit lane speed for as long as possible. The #37 flew into position in the blink of an eye and the four-man crew descended on it in that split second it stopped.
The wrenches went “rat-tat-tat-tat” in unison, the front and rear wheels came out, new ones went on, and and “rat-tat-tat-tat” again. But the mechanics also checked the nut with a torque wrench. (Here it was, where every second mattered, yet they still used torque wrenches, whereas most real-world mechanics never touch them.)
They yelled “GO!” to the fuel man and cleared away from the bike. With one swift motion, the biggest man in the pit (dressed in flame retardant suit) heaved the can above bike’s fuel tank and plunked it down into the dry break female coupling with an audible click, while another man stood by with the fire extinguisher. It took only a few seconds. He pulled the can off and the rider jumped on the bike, punched the starter button and away he went.
All these in less than 20 seconds.
You can watch video of the lightning fast pit stop below.
Countdown to the 8th Hour
We thought the field would settle into a rhythm. Instead, it was a crash fest.
Most riders crashed at Turn 5. Local riders know to stay away from apex as moisture seems to cling to that spot. The track was starting to dry but again, we local riders know that the Sepang International Circuit’s new surface may look dry while it’s still damp.
The most prominent crasher during this period was Mike Di Meglio on the #5 bike. While the earlier crash caused minor scrapes, this one saw extensive damage to the bike. He had to pit for repairs. His partner continued the race dead last but managed claw his way back to 21st at the 8th hour.
As the minutes ticked away, the top three began to emerge: YART Yamaha, Honda Asia-Dream Racing and BMW Motorrad World Endurance.
A second and last pitstop was called with 20 minutes to go. Again, the team did their choreographed magic. Again, they sent the rider and bike out in less than 20 seconds.
It’s all up to the rider now.
YART Yamaha was in an unassailable lead with one lap in hand, while the Honda Asia-Dream team was 1m 40s ahead in second.
By now, the BMW rider Mikhalchik was lapping 3 seconds a lap faster the leading pair, but there was no way in catching the second-placed team.
The team climbed atop the pit fence to welcome their rider home. It was their second podium finish in as many races. It’s a fantastic result by all means, considering that this is the first season for the factory BMW Motorrad team.
It was also the second podium of the year for Dunlop. (Remember, there’s a tyre war in the FIM EWC, unlike in MotoGP and WorldSBK.)
The next race will be the 24 Hueres Motos at the Bugati circuit in Le Mans, France on 18th and 19th April 2020.
We wish to record our heartfelt thanks to the BMW World Endurance Team for allowing us to cover the race along with them. Them team was very professional and they were very focused on their tasks at hand. It was a true honour to experience it firsthand.
A big thank you and appreciation to BMW Motorrad Malaysia also, for setting up the coverage.
Last but not lease, congratulations to the team and BMW Motorrad as a whole.
The YART Yamaha team took the win at the inaugural 8 Hours of Sepang FIM EWC Race.
It was a nerve-wracking, exciting, drama-filled race.
The weather made things even more interesting.
The YART Yamaha team took the win at the inaugural 8 Hours of Sepang FIM EWC race.
The team fought through nerves and drama throughout the entire day to come home one lap ahead of the rest of the field. Niccolo Canepa was the only rider out of the team’s three who went out on track. Their strategy of fielding the fastest rider in the tricky conditions bore fruit despite an early electronics failure scare.
Rain had begun just as the grid formed up and it suddenly became heavier and heavier prior to the start. Race Direction sent the riders out for their second sighting lap but the rain soon became a downpour, forcing the first race suspension.
Team managers were then summoned to the briefing room at 1.15 pm and they decided to wait out the rain. Meanwhile, the clock continued to tick down from the planned 8 hours, as per the championship rules.
The rain started to abate by 2.30 pm, prompting Race Direction to issue the order to open the pitlane for 2 minutes from 3.05 pm. It set the paddock in a frenzy of activity.
The riders left their respective pits and followed behind the Safety Car. But the rain came down again and the race was again suspended after completing 8 laps behind the Safety Car.
Another meeting was called at 5.00 pm to determine the direction of the race. By now, there were only 4 hours left to race. The decision was made to go out, with many team managers stating that they’ve already spent so much to come this far.
The restart began at 6.00 pm, with 3 hours left. The famous “Le Mans start” i.e. the riders running to their parked bikes was abandoned and the field had a rolling start behind the Safety Car.
Honda Asia-Dream Racing Team with Showa would eventually finish 2nd
The expected battle between the pole sitter Yamaha Sepang Racing Team and Honda Asia-Dream Racing didn’t materialize. Instead, it was F.C.C. TSR Honda rider Mike di Meglio who bought an exciting duel with Yamaha Sepang Racing Team’s Michael Van Der Mark.
The two began trading positions and their battle saw lap times that no other rider could match. it began to look like it was the last five laps of a WorldSBK race. It was a thrill for the spectators to watch, especially since the YSRT outfit is the home team.
On Lap 12, Van Der Mark outbrake and pass di Meglio into Turn 15. But the former drifted slightly wide and di Meglio decided to jump into the tiny gap. As Van Der Mark tried to tighten his line, he was surprised to find di Meglio front wheel beside him, forcing him to lift his bike. di Meglio looked to have been surprised himself and slid his Honda’s front wheel into Van Der Mark’s rear wheel, knocking both down. Both riders remounted their bikes, but it was Van Der Mark’s which suffered the most damage.
As an illustration of just how far the warring duo was in front of the pack, di Meglio actually rejoined the race still in 1st place.
BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team – the eventual 3rd place finisher
Van Der Mark managed to get his crippled bike back to his pits, where the YART crew flew into action to repair it. The did so in 6m 25 seconds and sent Van Der Mark back out in 40th position.
Meanwhile, di Meglio continued his demolition of the field. But with just 40 minutes to go, he binned it in Turn 5, heavily damaging his bike. The team would eventually finish in 21st position.
The three eventual podium finishers had ridden to conservative strategies and keeping themselves out of trouble. YART emerged as the leader after the first round of pitstops, while Honda Asia-Dream Racing and BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team settled into second and third after the second round of stops.
It was certainly a great win for YART after a nerve-wrecking day, but it was also the same for all other teams and even the spectators who had to endure long periods of inactivity.
The Honda team was especially elated after Zahqwan Zaidi’s fiery crash in the morning.
The BMW Motorrad team scored their second podium of the season. It’s a great beginning considering that this is their first season and the Sepang race was only their second.
Franco Morbidelli took over from Van Der Mark after the first pitstop and fought his was up the order to finish 7th, one spot above BMW SIC team. The F.C.C. TSR outfit finished 21st.
There was plenty of drama throughout the race, especially after it got dark. The track may appear to be drying, but wet spots caught out many riders.
The Royal Malaysian Police arrested a number of individuals in raids in the vicinity of Sepang and Bangi. All six individuals are Malaysians, aged around 23 years old.
Chief of Police for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport District, Assistant Commissioner Zulkifli Adamsah told the press, “We made a series of arrests and raids between 3rd November to 12th December. Among the items recovered were four bags of different brands, 26 brake units, seven spanners, three dampers, two handle grips, two tyre warmers, two team black jackets, fourteen screws, six bottles of brake fluid, in addition to other items.”
“Initial investigations showed that one of the suspects owns a motorcycle workshop. He sells the stolen parts to motorcycle owners who want to modify their bikes.” The items were sold below market price. “For example, a brake caliper was sold for RM 600 when its real price could cost up to RM 1,000. Some of the loot were already installed on the suspect’s bike.” (We don’t know if it’s a typo in the press report or the police were misinformed: If a Brembo caliper for stock bike costs RM 3,000 to RM 4,000, it’s substantially more for a racing item. – Editor)
Two of the suspects has records for motorcycle theft and tested positive for methamphetamines. “Among the suspects were part-time workers who had access passes to the SIC area.
The theft occurred on 1st November 2019, involving five to six Moto2 and Moto3 teams, but it was the Angel Nieto team which suffered the most losses.
Honda gave an exclusive preview of the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade today.
The new bike is set to spearhead Honda’s challenge in production racing.
To rehash, it produces 215 hp and 113 Nm of torque.
Boon Siew Honda gave an exclusive preview of the 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade today. The event is in conjunction with the 8 Hours of Sepang FIM Endurance World (FIM EWC) Championship round and announcement of the Honda Asia-Dream Racing team.
Designed to spearhead Honda’s assault in the WorldSBK, Endurance World Championship, and all other race series the world over, the 2020 bike is all-new.
Honda doesn’t like getting beaten. As such, it was designed and developed hand-in-hand with the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC).
Since production racing means that the bikes must not deviate much from er… production bikes, the road bikes have to be built to incorporate whatever “race winning” technology the manufacturer can cram in.
First and foremost, it’s a great departure from the road-friendly character of the CBR900RR all the way up to the 2019 CBR1000RR. Honda had specifically made it clear that this Triple-R is “track focused.”
To retouch, the new 999cc inline-Four shares the same 81 mm x 48.5 mm bore and stroke of the RC213V-S. That’s a 5.0 mm overbore and 6.5 mm understroke compared to the 76 mm x 55 mm architecture. This was done in the interest for more top-end power, something which Honda WorldSBK and EWC riders complained about lacking in the older model.
Other changes include DLC-coated camshafts that actuate finger-followers compared to the previous shim-under-bucket set up. Honda claims that this reduces drivetrain friction by 35% and inertial weight by a whopping 75%. A timing gear on the crankshaft turns the camchain, hence camshafts in the opposite direction of the crankshaft in order to reduce inertia.
The new connecting rods are titanium, halving the weight of the old chromoly steel ones. New forged pistons are made from another type of aluminium alloy that are 5% lighter. The piston skirt is coated with Ober while the pin clip grooves are coated with nickel-phosphorous.
There are other changes as well, in fact too many to list. But all these changes and new stuff lets the engine liberate 215 hp at 14,500 RPM and 113 Nm of torque at 12,500 RPM.
Honda’s test riders are currently hard at work in adapting the bike to WorldSBK and EWC duties.
There are two models, of course – one base and the high-spec’ed SP version. No news yet of when it’ll be available in Malaysia, but we expect it to be officially launched something between May to August 2020.
The Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will start from pole position at the 8 Hours of Sepang inaugural FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) race.
Riders are Hafizh Syahrin, Franco Morbidelli and Michael Van Der Mark.
The race starts at 1pm tomorrow.
The Yamaha Sepang Racing Team will start from pole position at the 8 Hours of Sepang inaugural FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) race. The team consists of riders Hafizh Syahrin, Franco Morbidelli and Michael Van Der Mark. Syahrin and Morbidelli are MotoGP riders, while van der Mark rides for the factory Yamaha WorldSBK outfit. The team’s #21 Yamaha YZF-R1 is prepared by YART and shod with Bridgestone tyres. They are competing in the premier Formula EWC class.
Morbidelli on the #21 Yamaha YZF-R1. Photo credit FIM EWC
Such a great means the team is poised to gain victory in their “home” race. A win would make up for Morbidelli’s disappointment of finishing in 5th after qualifying second fastest in the Malaysian MotoGP. Besides that, it’ll be a great confidence boost for Hafizh Syahrin as well after being dropped by the Red Bull KTM Racing Tech 3 MotoGP team for 2020.
Hafizh Syahrin and Morbidelli in the pits. Photo credit FIM EWC
The second qualifying session started at 7pm yesterday. The FIM EWC uses combined qualifying times to determine the grid positions. The 10 fastest goes through to the Top 10 Trial shootout, which is like the Superpole format. The teams then put forth their fastest rider for a single flying lap to determine grid positions 1st through 10th.
Thailand’s Somkiat Chantra of Honda Asia Dream Racing set the gauntlet by posting an eye-popping time of 2m 05.440s. That took the team from 9th to 1st. One of Somkiat’s teammate is Malaysia rider Zaqhwan Zaidi who took part in the Suzuka 8 Hours in July.
But Morbidelli, the current MotoGP rider for the Yamaha Sepang Racing Team struck back with a 2m 04.647s lap. The Italian’s effort was a valiant fight given an early crash.
Qualifying third was the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team, who were previous champions in the series.
The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team did well again to qualify in 4th. Remember, this is only their first season in the FIM EWC since 2015.
By contrast, the championship leading Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) ended qualifying in 11th.
The Superstock class saw titanic battles for the starting grid up and down the field. In end, it was the Japanese team Tone RT Syncedge 4413 BMW who prevailed, just beating out French based Moto Ain. The former was team were the fastest at the Suzuka 8 Hour, while the latter was last season’s FIM Endurance World Cup winner.
Mahindra & Mahindra CEO Anand Mahindra recently called his company’s motorcycle business a “product failure.”
He also said that the company should’ve never gotten into the motorcycle business.
This is despite owning classic brands like Jawa, BSA and Yezdi.
Indian automotive conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra CEO Anand Mahindra recently called his company’s motorcycle business a “product failure.”
“We knew our dream well and we had the right things, but how to win is where we went wrong. We should have never gone to the commuter bike side.”
While it isn’t shocking about the revelation, such a public outburst by a company’s CEO was certainly so.
But wait, Mahindra makes motorcycles, too? Yes, they do, however under a subsidiary called Classic Legends. And Classic Legends has since bought the Jawa, Yezdi and BSA classic brands.
The company had relaunched the Jawa brand late last year, but many customers have yet to receive their bikes. The manufacturer tried to talk its way out by quoting the “cult desirability” of the brand. What’s that got to do with the long wait times, we wonder.
Analysts are calling out Mahindra for their lack of direction and seem to be throwing out ideas helter-skelter in the hopes they at the public will buy into. But when they do bite, like in the case of Jawa, the company balks in producing the bikes.
Anand even boasted about the bikes being sold out until September 2019.
If that’s not enough, nothing has been done so far for the iconic BSA brand since its purchase in 2017(!).
Is it surprising then to see that Mahindra sold only 4,004 bikes in the entire FY19?
We were given access to the BMW Motorrad FIM Endurance World Championship Team’s pit.
There we saw the BMW S 1000 RR endurance racer.
The 8 Hours of Sepang FEWC race is happening this weekend.
BMW Motorrad announced that the new BMW S 1000 RR will be entered in the FIM Endurance World Championship last year, just prior to the start of the 2019-2020 season.
The decision seemed to have justified itself when the team finished third overall in the season opener at the 24-hour Bol D’or race in France.
We’ve published an article on some of the technical rules for the FEWC, but of course, who wouldn’t want to see the bikes up close? Well, we were given access to the team’s pits and bikes, thanks to BMW Motorrad Malaysia.
First of all, we were surprised how “open” all the teams were in FEWC. There was no giant separators to hide the insides of the pits, bike parts were in the open, riders walked about nonchalantly without being mobbed.
Walking into the BMW pit, there were fuel tanks on top of a transport case. These tanks feature extensions underneath and to the rear. The rear portion is placed under the rider’s seat. A 24-litre capacity is allowed in FEWC so the teams need extra space to store all that fuel.
But sitting right there in the middle was a stripped out 2019 BMW S 1000 RR. It was sitting on paddock stands without its wheels, seat cover and fuel tank.
Since refuelling need to be lightning quick, all teams use the dry break refuelling system. There are those with two couplings, the rest are with single couplings. Why two holes? Air from the tank exits through one hole while fuel flows through another. Doing this speeds up the fueling process.
Team manager Werner Daemen greeted us and went on to explain about the bike. (Greeted by a team boss? Never happened in MotoGP.)
There are pitstops for fuel, tyres and rider change (and also crashes). As such, every attachment on the bike is made for quick release. Both wheel axles/spindles needed only three turns to be extracted. Consequently, tyre swaps take only 3 seconds!
The footrests, foot pedals, clip-ons and levers are also quick release systems. Their cable and hose attachments have quick-release couplings that can be twisted on and off.
Looking at the handlebar, there’s a button which says “START.” Yes, the bike’s starter is in place. That’s because riders will line their bikes on one side of the track, then run over from the opposite side. They then have to start their bikes and get going. This endurance tradition lives one.
Daemen pointed out the brakes. The team uses Nissin brakes instead of the usual Brembo. We’ll leave the good/bad arguments to the riders but it shows that there’s room for other manufacturers to shine in the FEWC.
We noticed the gorgeous swingarm. A closer inspection showed that it’s made by Suter, who were once involved in Moto2 racing.
Suter also makes the swingarm for the BMW S 1000 RR HP4 Race, but the swingarms on these race bikes were custom made.
We walked over to the other two bikes. One was crashed yesterday and the rider suffered some shoulder injuries.
Here, we could look right into the engine compartment. The huge airbox was still attached and the ECU sits atop it. The ECU is available to BMW customers who wish to race in endurance. However, instead of unlocking more of the engine’s power, it’s programmed to provide better fuel efficiency and engine reliability. Endurance racing is about strategy and who can be the fastest on a consistent basis, rather than an all-out horsepower battle like in MotoGP.
The rep explained that the riders love the new BMW S 1000 RR engine as it produces a lot of midrange torque. He says that this is due to the BMW ShiftCam variable valve timing/lift system.
It’s this midrange grunt that propels the bike and rider out of corners, not top-end horsepower. If you look at SIC’s layout, there are only two areas that require high horsepower i.e. the rear and front straights, while the rest are made up of short “chutes” leading into other corners. In fact, the torque helps the bike to build speed much quicker when exiting corners, translating to higher speeds down the straights. Remember our article?
It has to be said here that the FEWC is a production-based series. That means the racebike must be essentially be the same as the homologation street bike. It also means that the engine architecture and capacity; frame design and material must be exactly be the same.
The FIM scrutineered the bikes and stamped the parts such as the frame.
As we mentioned before, the FEWC is where a proper tyre war takes place. This is where Dunlop, Bridgestone and Pirelli duke it out to produce the best tyres in terms of grip and durability.
The overall objective of all these rules is to encourage manufacturers to produce bikes and products that the buying public can benefit from.
The second round of the season is now in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit. Called the 8 Hours of Sepang, the race will play the role as the qualifier for the Suzuka 8 Hour season-finale for “part-time” teams. It means that these teams will compete alongside the regular teams of the FEWC.
So do make your way over to the Sepang International Circuit for this grand event. More details on the SIC webpage.
Here’s your chance to test ride the latest Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi and Triumph motorcycles.
It’s happening during the 8 Hours of Sepang weekend.
The test rides will be conducted on Saturday and Sunday.
Here’s your chance to test ride the latest Harley-Davidson, Moto Guzzi and Triumph motorcycles, and it’s happening during the 8 Hours of Sepang weekend. You can test ride them on both Saturday and Sunday.
We know and understand that motorcycle test rides are difficult to come by so this is the best opportunity for you.
In fact, you’d experience why Harley-Davidsons are the premier cruisers. Harley is the longest-running motorcycle manufacturer, renowned for building bikes that break conventions, and fully embodying the spirit of individuality.
Should Moto Guzzi Malaysia bring along the the new Moto Guzzi V85TT, you’ll see why it’s now one of the best-selling dual-sport motorcycles. It had endeared itself into the hearts of many around the world for its character, accessibility and practicality. Besides that model, the modern classic Guzzis are renowned for their character.
Over at Triumph, you’d find out why the worldwide fans commend the bikes as being supremely rideable, characterful and fun. The Bonneville line-up may look classic, but their engine and handling traits make them a joy to ride. The Street Triple shows how a light, nimble and powerful bike is unadulterated pleasure; while the Tiger 800 set the standard on how dual-sport and adventure bikes should be built.
As we mentioned earlier, the test rides are happening during the 8 Hours of Sepang this weekend.
The event is the inaugural installment of the FIM Endurance World Championship to be held in Malaysia. Featuring the world’s top endurance teams and riders, it’ll be one massive race event that all Malaysian motorcycle enthusiasts and the family will enjoy.
Valentino Rossi and Lewis Hamilton completed the long-awaited MotoGP and F1 swap.
Rossi drove Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 car, while the latter rode Rossi’s Yamaha YZR-M1.
Both spun their respective vehicle.
Valentino Rossi and Lewis Hamilton completed the long-awaited MotoGP and F1 swap at the Valencia Circuit in Spain.
Rossi, who is the 9-time world champion on two wheels, swapped his Yamaha YZR-M1 for the PETRONAS Mercedes F1 car. On the other hand, Hamilton is the 6-time world champion on four wheels; swapped over to Rossi’s bike.
Photo credit SkySports.com
“Honestly this has been the best year and this has just topped off,” said Hamilton who captured his sixth F1 drivers’ championship this year.
The question on everyone’s mind was how he felt on the bike. “The bike is so hard to ride. I had one little spin with it but otherwise brought it back in one piece. It was just step by step learning but it’s a very steep learning curve,” explained Hamilton.
Hamilton had tested the PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 WorldSBK superbike previously.
Photo credit SkySports.com
It wasn’t the first time Rossi drove an F1 car, as he did so in a Ferrari in 2006. He so impressed Michael Schumacher that he was offered to be a driver.
As such, he seemed to have an easier time in the car, although he also spun the car.
In the end, Rossi was only 1.5 seconds off Hamilton’s record at the track, while the latter was 4 seconds off Rossi’s lap.
