The Aprilia RSV4 X showcases the factory’s expertise in making sportbikes and racebikes.
Highlights include the Aprilia No Neutral gearbox.
The engine produces 225 hp, and the bike weighs only 165 kg.
With all the current bruhaha about Ducati and their limited-edition models such as the Panigale 1299 Superleggera and Panigale V4 R, don’t forget that Aprilia just as capable of such ventures. Presenting the X. To be more accurate, here’s the Aprilia RSV4 X.
Aprilia claims that they used the lessons learned in MotoGP and WorldSBK to build the X. We’re not here to disagree. The bike is armed with features as the APRC electronic suite, which was the first to include wheelie control and lean-sensitive traction control. Ride-by-wire is compulsory since it was Aprilia who debut it on a street bike.
But that’s just a small part compared to the engine. Wanna talk horsepower-to-weight ratio? How does 225 hp and 165 kg sound to you? That’s a lurid 1.36 hp to 1 kg. The company fettled the standard RSV4 1100’s lump and gave the X a dedicated ECU for the performance gain.
An Akrapovic titanium full-system exhaust spits out the used gasses. Intake air is filtered through a Sprintfilter similar to the one used in MotoGP.
But perhaps the biggest feature/novelty is the Aprilia No Neutral (ANN) transmission. Instead of the usual 1-N-2-3-4-5-6, the new system goes N-1-2-3-4-5-6. Doing so reduces the chances of grabbing neutral while shifting from 1stto 2nd(we’re sure many have experienced this).
This shift pattern is used in MotoGP and now the Noale-based manufacturer is the first to bring it to road bikes.
In another world first, the RSV4 X is equipped with Brembo’s GP4-MS brake calipers that’re machined from a solid block of aluminium alloy. They grip on Brembo T-Drive discs.
Last, but not least, the bodywork features aerobodies.
The Aprilia RSV4 X is priced at an affordable (yeah right) €39,900. Only 10 are lovingly made.
Azroy Hakeem Anuar put Honda back on the CP150 category podium in Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship
The race was held in Jasin, Melaka over the weekend.
It was an emphatic one for the manufacturer as their rival Yamaha had dominated the series for the past two years.
Azroy Hakeem Anuar put Honda back on the CP150 category podium in Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysia Cub Prix Championship. The race was held in Jasin, Melaka over the weekend.
It was an emphatic one for Honda as their rival Yamaha had dominated the series for the past two years.
From Cub Prix Press Release:
Azroy Hakeem Anuar delivered an emotional win at Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship in Jasin, Melaka last weekend. It was a multi-faceted victory that had been a long time in the coming – a personal first CP150 win for the 20-year-old rider, as well as the first premiere class victory for team Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing and the Honda marque.
Azroy started the 20-lap race from third on the grid but quickly got past polesitter Md Iqbal Amri Abd Malek on the second lap. However, Azroy was unable to shake fellow Honda competitor Mohd Helmi Azman off his tail. While the two younger riders duked it out at the front of the group, Cub Prix returning rider Mohd Zaqhwan Zaidi kept defending champion Ahmad Afif Amran bottled up in fourth place.
The three Honda riders kept the lead right up to the chequered flag with Azroy bringing down the chequered flag at 16’02.227s, 0.712s ahead of second placed Helmi. Zaqhwan Zaidi booked the final spot on the podium in third place with 16’09.377s.
R-L Azroy, Helmi, Zaqwan
“It feels great to be in contention for the podium again and I’m happy to deliver this win to our team principal, Shahrol Yuzy and our hardworking crew who had never stopped working towards regaining our competitive edge,” said Azroy.
The CP115 final was easily won by Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman from team Motul Yamaha YY Pang.
Md Zaki A. Zamri put in an inch-perfect performance in the Wira Final.
RACE RESULTS
CP150
Azroy Hakeem Anuar (SGR) Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing 16:02.227
Md Helmi Azman (SGR) Hi Rev SCK Honda Racing 16:02.939
Md Zaqhwan Zaidi (SGR) Idemitsu Honda Yuzy Racing 16:09.377
Ahmad Afif Amran (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing 16:09.444
Ahmad Fazrul Sham (PRK) AHM Motorsports Yamaha Racing Team 16:14.834
CP115
Md Fareez Afeez Abd Rahman (JHR) Motul Yamaha YY Pang Racing 12:31.825s
Ahmad Syukran Aizat Md Yusoff (TRG) PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha – CKJ Racing 12:34.962s
Royal Enfield are opening a CKD plant in Thailand in June 2019.
They plan to supply the Thai market directly.
RE received more than 700 orders for the new Interceptor 650 and Continental 650 GT in the country alone.
Royal Enfield announced that they will open a CKD plant in Thailand in June this year.
The plan means the brand has somewhat come full circle since Thailand was one of the first Southeast Asian market that they penetrated. The Kingdom was also amongst the first global market to receive the Interceptor 650 and Continental 650 GT.
Royal Enfield (RE) claimed that they haves received over 700 bookings in the country itself for the two models since their launch last year. 100 have been delivered to date.
The manufacturer hopes to further expand their reach and support in the country. Besides the factory, they are also aiming to set up 15 dealerships and 25 service centres by March 2020. There will be more dealerships in Bangkok, Greater Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. Not bad considering that they started with just one dealership in Bangkok just not long ago.
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 won the “Best Modern Classic Middleweight” award at the Thailand Bike of the Year 2019 awards ceremony.
However, RE did not mention if they plan to export the bikes produced in Thailand to other Southeast Asian countries.
The countdown to the 25th Phuket Bike Week begins.
It will be held from 12th to 14th April at Patong, and 19th to 20th April at the Phuket Boat Lagoon, this year.
50,000 visitors are expected.
It’s almost April and enthusiasts know it’s almost time for the pilgrimage to the Phuket Bike Week (PBW).
The annual event is extra special this year as it celebrates its 25th anniversary and is dubbed “World Ride Together (sic).” Hence it promises to be the biggest ever than an already largest motorcycle gathering in Asia.
The organizers and tourism authority expect more than 5,000 motorcycles of all types, and 50,000 participants and visitors from more than 30 countries including Thailand. They also project that the event will draw in THB 500 million in revenue.
As per tradition, the PBW will be held in two locations on the island of Phuket on two subsequent different dates. The first chapter will be held at Loma Park, Patong Beach from 12thto 14thApril. The second will be held at the Phuket Boat Lagoon from 19thto 20thApril.
Do note that this year’s PBW coincides with the Songkran water festival, which starts from 13thApril and ends on 15thApril, thus visitors can expect an even merrier fun quotient.
Activities include motorcycle exhibitions, custom bike contest, Miss Phuket Bike Week contest, charity ride. Rock bands and performers include the legendary Thai band Carabao who shot to fame with their song “Made in Thailand;” our very own Wings and many more.
So, start planning now for your convoy to the north!
The 2019 Yamaha Y15ZR v2 has been launched after much anticipation.
The new model comes with a number of new features.
It will be available from mid-April, so as the price.
The 2019 Yamaha Y15ZR v2 was launched yesterday after much speculation and anticipation.
The launch continues the timeline of the hotly popular model. Yamaha calls the v2 (for Version 2) the “King of the Streets.” It is hard to argue with the tag as its predecessor was ubiquitous and seen on the streets everywhere in Malaysia.
New for the Y15ZR v2 are:
High low beam LED headlights.
New LCD meter panel.
Wider 90/80-17 front tyre.
New graphics and design.
The facelift also comes with 4 new vibrant colours called Striking Cyan, Blazing Red, Storm Blue and Dynamic Grey.
It will be available from authorized Yamaha dealers nationwide from mid-April 2019. Customers will also receive a free exclusive Yamaha disc brake lock worth RM 100, and complete with reminder wire.
The Y15ZR v2 was launched at Round 1 of the 2019 PETRONAS AAM Malaysia Cub Prix Championship in Jasin, Melaka. It’s a fitting venue as the previous model was crowned the CP150 category champion in 2017 and 2018.
Yamaha Cub Prix riders Ahmad Afif Aman, Kasma Daniel Kasmayudin, Tengku Amirul Haffirudin and Md. Akid Aziz accompanied the launch. Md. Akid dominated the CP150 category in the last two years, while Tengku Amirul won the CP115 category in 2018.
The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) explained why the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) was booted out as the sanctioning body for motorsports.
KBS recommended to the FIM that the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) take AAM’s place.
According to the FIM’s Sports Commissioner, “The AAM consistently broke the rules.”
The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM)/Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM) saga riles many feathers and had many racing enthusiasts talking about it. In the latest twist, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS – Youth and Sports Ministry) joined the ring, calling for AAM to be booted out of role as the country’s authority on motorsports.
The minister of the department, Syed Saddiq said, “AAM has been suspended by the (FIM) Sports Commission for consistently breaching the provisions of the Sports Development Act 1997. Many warnings have been given out before.”
“It is important for international regulatory bodies to be aware of this and take whatever action as necessary. We do not dictate what they should or should not do.”
On the other hand, “MAM has always been registered with the Sports Commissioner under the Sports Development Act 1997 to carry out national motorsports events.”
He added that this was in effect from many years ago, even before he became a minister.
Malaysian Insider had previously claimed that Syed Saddiq sent a letter to the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) in September last year. The letter sought to recognize MAM as the sole Malaysian motorsports authority.
Photo credit malaymail.com
According to the FIM’s Sports Commissioner’s Office, it cancelled AAM’s status as a sports body in late 2018 after the latter “broke the rules.” AAM did not submitted their year-end report and amending their own constitution.
AAM chairman Tunku Mudzaffar Mustapha, on the other hand, said that they had been in constant communication with the FIM, but was suddenly deregistered on 30thNovember 2018.
AAM is the only sporting body in Malaysia sanctioned by the FIM, International Automobile Federation (FIA), and International Carting Federation (CIK). Hence, participants need to apply for their racing license and insurance from AAM if they compete overseas.
Tunku Mudzaffar warned that international motorsports events such as MotoGP will be jeopardy since AAM is the sole sanctioning body.
Our take
Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali had said that the SIC MotoGP teams registered their riders including Hafizh Syahrin directly with the FIM without the involvement of AAM or MAM.
But if the FIM accepts MAM as the sanctioning body in Malaysia, international motorsports events ought to continue, which contradicts AAM’s statement.
The reality is this: The AAM has long been reviled by Malaysian racers on both four wheels and two wheels. To them, the body had only been charging high premiums for the racing license and insurance but have done nothing to promote the country’s motorsports. “AAM is beyond reproach,” they said.
These grouses were aired to this writer when he was covering the FIM Asia Supermoto Championship from 2015 and many other motorsports events.
Famed American motorcycle builder and designer Arlen Ness has passed away.
He was often referred to as the King of Custom Motorcycles.
He also designed the Victory and Indian motorcycles.
Famed American motorcycle builder and designer Arlen Ness has passed away. This sad news was confirmed by Ultimate Motorcycling.
Ness became a giant in the custom motorcycle business and was often referred to as The King of Custom Motorcycles. He built a number of award-winning bikes in his lifetime, earning him the Builder of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was also inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in America.
But he didn’t just build them, he also pioneered selling his custom parts and accessories through mail order. Just look around and see almost every Harley-Davidson has an Arlen Ness accessory.
Additionally, he was tapped by Polaris to design Victory and Indian motorcycles. The most well-known model was the Victory Vision Tour.
His empire also expanded to include riding gear in association Berik.
Ness’s son Cory and grandson Zack will succeed him in the business. They are notable custom builders themselves.
The trophy will award 30 top participants (BMW riders) in the rankings.
You may not have heard of this competition, but the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy continues in 2019 for the sixth season.
In this competition, top 30 participants in the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy (BMRT) rankings will be awarded trophies and prize money. There are also prizes for teams who win the title in their respective championships, besides categories such as “Best BMW Rider in Class” and “Newcomer of the Year.”
How does it work? Let’s take the Pirelli Malaysia Superbike Championship for example. The championship is classified as a “participant” in the BMRT series. The riders on BMW bikes in different categories are then ranked against other BMW riders in other series worldwide.
26 different championship classes in 21 international and national races are classified for the trophy in 2019. The number includes WorldSBK, Endurance World Championship, International Road Racing Championship (IRRC). New additions are the FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup and Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). The ARRC added the 1000cc superbike class this year.
Azlan Shah in ARRC 2019 – Photo credit mekanika.com.my
Registration in the BMRT begins on 30thJune and ends on 17thNovember.
This year, BMW will disburse a total of €100,000 in prize money among the best participants.
John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum is due to premiere in May.
As usual, watch out for a gloriously violent episode.
The highlight of the trailer, though, is the motorcycle chase.
“All this because for what? Because of a puppy?” The latest and perhaps the conclusion of the hitman’s journey, John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellumis just two months away from premiering.
Following him being branded as “excommunicado” status, it is now open season on John Wick’s head. He’s therefore a renegade and hunted down by scores of other professional hitmen. Cue another spectacular, stylish and violent episode.
The latest trailer shows him having a close quarter knife fight in a gallery of stabbing and slashing weapons, shootouts, hand-to-hand combat and all other ways of bring the hurt. He even uttered a famous line from another Keanu Reeves’ movie The Matrix– “Guns. Lots of guns.”
However, the climax of the 2 minute, 36 second video has to be that shooting and slashing with katanas riding on Yamaha MT-09s. Too bad a pencil wasn’t involved.
But what’s a protagonist without sidekicks. He’s got a new dog and allies including in a character played by the delicious Helle Berry.
*By the way, “parabellum” means a 9mm cartridge (bullet).
The AJP PR7 is the latest rally-ready dirtbike from the Portugese specialist.
It looks spartan but is actually high-spec-ed.
The PR7 is a 600cc single-cylinder machine.
While we’re still chuffing (and huffing) about riding the KTM 790 Adventure and KTM 790 Adventure R in the Moroccon side of the Sahara Desert, here comes the AJP PR7 adventure bike.
It’s different from KTM’s offering, of course. The AJP PR7 looks like the proper rally beast that we see throwing a rooster tail of sand over the rider’s head.
Instead, this is a simple bike that’s purpose-built for rallies. Yet, it comes equipped with some great specs. According to those who have tested it, it’s comfortable enough for all-day riding and can carry luggage.
Another feature that speaks of creature comforts is the Samsung Galaxy 6 tablet mounted in place of the road book. The rider can download their preferred navigational apps and can be used along a standard Garmin or TomTom (make sure you’ve got the Darth Vader voiceover) GPS.
Photo credit AJP Motos
Apart from a GPS, the tablet is used as an instrument display panel presenting the speedometer, timer, trip meter and so forth. The bike also has a USB charging port.
The engine is a 600cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder unit. Other standard features include a rear hub with cush drive to smoothen drive, titanium header pipes, huge engine bash plate, lightweight Shorai lithium-ion battery. The suspension consists of high-spec fully-adjustable ZF Sachs that provide 300mm of travel on both ends. The forks are massive 48 mm diameter items. The bike rolls on 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels.
Seat height is a tall 920 mm (and we thought the Honda Africa Twin was too tall!). The frame is steel while the swingarm is aluminium. it weighs only 167 kg, ready to ride.
AJP hails from Portugal and is the brainchild of Antonio Pinto, who modified motorcycles for off-road racing. Setup in 1981, the company built the first production bike in 1991. They entered the National Championships of Enduro in their home country from 1991 to 2001, winning five times in a row from 1996 to 2000. They also won the National Off-road Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1999.
How much? £8,500 (RM 45,225.16) gets you in the club. Rimba Raid, anyone?
The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE may look the same as its predecessor, but it has gone through a number of revisions.
Apart from the cylinder head and valvetrain, the SE variant has an electronic semi-active suspension.
It’s a great bike to ride on the street and the track.
Fans of the World Superbike Championsip will know that Kawasaki had won the series four times in a row. Now they’re back with the 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE.
Now, before going further, on-track results is one thing, but the bikes you and I can buy is quite another. That’s because despite WorldSBK is a production-based series, the bikes on the track have very few similarities to what’s available at the motorcycle dealer near you.
This is why certain sportbikes fare better in the real world, in exact opposite the results on the track. Case in point? This very bike.
Introduction
The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE is the middle-spec’ed bike between the base Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja ZX-10RR. The latter is the homologation model for superbike racing.
Kawasaki had only revised the bike slightly for 2019. I guess why fix it if it ain’t broke.
The revisions are:
More compact cylinder head to promote quicker combustion.
The cam lobes operate directly on finger followers rather than on tappets. It results in a 20% mass reduction.
Also, the cam lobes can be more aggressive.
The revisions are aimed at making the engine rev quicker and raise the rev limit. The net result is 200 PS without ram air, and 213 PS at 13,000 RPM with ram air. Maximum torque is quoted at 114.9 Nm at 11,200 RPM.
Other features are:
Kawasaki Electronically Controlled Suspension (KECS). The 2019 Ninja ZX-10R SE is the first Kawasaki to be equipped with a semi-active electronic suspension.
Bosch IMU-based lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS.
Öhlins electronic steering damper.
Swingarm with optimized rigidity and longer in length.
Brembo M50 Monobloc calipers gripping on 330 mm Brembo discs.
Electronic throttle valves.
Revised frame geometry moves the steering head closer to the rider.
Kawasaki Quickshifter which works for up- and downshifts.
“Self-healing” paint on parts that are prone to damage as like that on the 2019 Kawasaki H2.
Marchesini forged aluminium wheels.
Riding Impression
Phew, that’s a lot of stuff.
First thing we did was to check out the ride modes. There are three power levels: F (Full), M (Medium), and L (Low). We left it in F. Next, we selected the KEBC – engine braking control to on. And finally, we chose “ROAD” for the suspension.
The seat is quite high up, as with all sportbikes. However, the clip-ons are not as low as other bikes and definitely closer to us. That way, the bike doesn’t stretch you out like a spaghetti. The rearsets are high up but further towards the front than its contemporaries.
First thing we notice was that it was pretty easy to steer through tight spots at low speeds. The higher clip-ons doesn’t cause you to press down on them while at crawling speeds. Consequently, it didn’t take huge effort to turn the front wheel.
The bike got rolling smoothly when we let out the clutch. From there, gearshifts were managed by toeing the quickshifter. Shift action was buttery smooth even when dropping down to first gear. The system blips the throttle automatically, so you don’t get chucked into the tank when you downshift.
We were surprised by the power delivery. Sure, it still has that primal acceleration, but you could doddle around in 60 km/h in 4thgear without the engine loping or chattering like mad. Throttle response was very exact and smooth due to the wide powerband. So smooth, the throttle and engine response had the quality of a sport-tourer’s when ridden in the city.
However, the thing that impressed us the most was the KECS electronic suspension. The system is mated to Showa’s already excellent Balance Free Forks (BFF) and Balance Free Rear Cushion (BFRC) shock. On paper, it sounds like the same semi-active systems from Sachs and Öhlins, but this system is faster in its actuation. The solenoid valve has a direct, one-stage actuation. As a result reaction time is only 1 ms (1 milisecond equals 0.001 second), and is claimed to be the fastest system currently available. Not only that, the KECS’s dedicated ECU receives information from the suspension sensors in every 1 ms, 10 ms from the IMU and 10 ms from the road speed sensor. It will then decide on the best strategy and sends signals to the solenoid actuators every 1 ms. It means that the suspension adapts to road conditions faster and more correctly.
The rider can choose among RACE, ROAD and USER modes. The last mode allows you to set your own damping rates.
Ridden on the streets in ROAD mode, the suspension felt much more comfortable than that of any sportbike we’ve ever tested. Bumps were felt, of course, but they were nicely cancelled out. Again, it felt like a more aggressively tuned sport-tourer. Only the sharpest and gnarliest bumps are fully felt but there’s no danger of bruising your kidneys. Even my wife found it comfortable as a pillion!
However, comfortable as it was, the suspension never wallowed or bottomed out like if you had tuned it too soft.
Amazing!
But of course, what’s a sportbike without corner blasting. Karak Highway and Genting Highlands were again the testing grounds.
Speed built up quickly as you wind on the power and you watch the light bars rise quickly on the tachometer. The engine returned a pop everytime we shifted up or down. The speed piled on so quickly that it’s like going into warp speed in slo-mo. Yet, the bike was rock solid in a straight line.
But corners were its vocation as it swept through them at mighty speeds. Choose your line and steer: That’s all you needed to do. The only thing which stopped us at riding faster was the size of the fuel tank. It’s rather wide on top and at the sides, thus needing more practice for side-to-side transitions. Nevertheless, the wide tank made it easy to clamp your knees on them when you fire the retro rockets.
Speaking of braking, the brakes were what you would expect of Brembo Monoblocs. But there’s a small difference here. Feel was good and you know how much you modulate the brake pressure at the lever. Only thing was, it lacked the aggressive initial bite that some riders like. For us though, the feel was truly impressive as we trail-braked hard into the sharper corners when heading up the mountain. That and the superb suspension action allowed us to brake at the last moment and hold on to the brakes much deeper into corners. The only limitation is the rider’s abilities.
The older ZX-10s touched down on the footpegs quickly, but not this 2019 model. You have to lean so far over at such high speeds that if you did, it’s an indication that you’re riding too fast on the streets.
Conclusion
The 2019 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R SE is a sportbike that you could live with on a daily basis. The manufacturer had done so much to make it a great bike to ride not only the tracks but, on the streets, for everyone.
The amazing thing about this bike is how easy it was to be completely brutal one moment, then putter around in traffic without complaining. For example, it completely blew away everyone away at Genting and Karak, then cruised home along the Middle Ring Road 2. And oh, it didn’t attempt to roast you alive at the traffic lights, either.
Plus, the suspension doesn’t pulp your internal organs.
It’s almost like a beginner’s bike when you take it easy, but an MSBK rider’s weapon at full aggression.
Highly recommended.
PICTURE GALLERY
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
ENGINE TYPE
4-stroke, DOHC, liquid-cooled, inline-Four
DISPLACEMENT
998 cc
BORE x STROKE
76.0 mm x 55.0 mm
POWER
203 PS (149.3 kW) @ 13,000 RPM without ram air, 213 PS (156.8 kW) @ 13,000 RPM with ram air
However, when the announcement said that it’ll be the first MotoGP “street circuit,” the news attracted the same kind of negativity in social media as everything else. There were comments such as, “If it’s going to get riders killed then they shouldn’t ride there.”
Hey, guess what? Dorna and the FIM have better brains than armchair engineers.
The skepticisms were addressed directly by Mark Huges of MRK1 Consulting along with RoadGrip Motorsport. The two international companies were appointed by the Indonesian Tourism Development Corporation (IDTC) to plan, build and run the circuit.
“We are very conscious that when we announced this project there was a reasonable amount of scepticism about the concept of a street circuit,” Hughes said, during a presentation of the project at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
“We have to make very clear that the track has been designed and will be built to the appropriate FIM safety standards for MotoGP.”
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta also said that they will not compromise with safety.
“We’ve always said that we don’t race in a street circuit, but this has all the facilities of a street circuit – in a middle of a ‘city’, all the hotels will be there – but with full security (safety) for the riders,” declared Ezpeleta.
The Lombok circuit isn’t like other “street circuits” that we know of, for example Monaco and Macao. Instead, it is purpose-built for racing but opened to the public after the race. That means it is opposite of Monaco and Macao where public roads are cordoned off for racing.
“The master plan for the resort [layout] was actually finished before we got involved. And then between Roadgrip, MRK1 and ITDC we’ve tweaked that track design,” Hughes said.
“We knew we couldn’t go in and entirely change it, there had already been too much invested in that, and with the support of Dorna and also the FIM we then made some small changes to accommodate the safety requirements for a Grade A license.”
“When you arrive for the race event it will be like arriving at any other MotoGP track. It will have all the infrastructure there,” Hughes added. “But a large percentage of that infrastructure would then come out in order to turn the track back into a road network for the resort for the rest of the year.”
Infrastructure at the track will also be turned over for public use when there are no races. For example, the pit building will be used as a conference centre.
So, this is why the track is called “something special.”
