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The Future of Motorsports Industry

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.

Conclusion

Looking to spanner for pros? Look no further and check out the Superbike Technician Course at the TOC Automotive College. TOC also offers the Bina Bakat student loans programme.

Find out more about the TOC Superbike Technician Course at www.toc.edu.myor call (+603) 7960 8833 for more details.

CLICK HERE to know more about TOC’s Superbike Technician Course.

Hong Leong Yamaha Motor Launches 2019 Extended Warranty Program

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 1^st 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 1^st 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.

Scope of Extended Warranty-ENGLISH

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 Dies in Ducati Streetfighter V4 Prototype Crash at 2019 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

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.

Dutch MotoGP 2019: Maverick Vinalez Ends Yamaha’s Drought

Maverick Vinalez won at the Dutch MotoGP 2019 round to end Yamaha’s year-long drought of race wins.
Marc Marquez finished in 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 3^rd for his second podium finish in his first season. He had battled through arm pump to stay ahead of Andrea Dovizioso.

His teammate Franco Morbidelli pushed up the field to pass Petrucci on the final lap to finish 5^th.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) fought back against Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) to grab 6^th.

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 2^nd place. The next closest Honda of Cal Crutchlow was way back in 6^th.

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.

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.

The next round is at Sachsenring, Germany.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition and Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café Launched

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia launched two limited-edition models today, namely the Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition and the Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café.
The Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition celebrates the 60^th anniversary of the 1959 Bonneville T120.
The Bonneville T120 Ace Café celebrates the birthplace of café racers, on the other hand.

Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia launched two limited-edition models today, namely the Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition and the Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café.

Both are special commemorative models and were launched as a pair earlier this year. Although they are Bonnie T120 twins, each boasts distinctively different stylistic cues, lending to that good twin/bad twin adage.

The duo are powered by the 1200cc, liquid-cooled, HT (High Torque) parallel-Twin which features a 270^o crankshaft spacing.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Diamond Edition – From 74,900

It’s called the Diamond Edition because it commemorates the 60^th anniversary of the Bonneville, which made its appearance in 1959 Bonneville T120. The “T120” name is hallowed in Triumph’s history as it was the first bike to hit 115 mph (185 km/h) in stock form and 120 mph (192 km/h) with slight modifications.

Highlights:

Premium one-off Snowdonia Whie and Aluminium Silver “Union Flag” on the gas tank.

Unique T120 Diamond side panel branding.
Chrome 4-bar Triumph badges on the gas tank.
Chrome cylinder head cover, cooling fins, crankcase covers, badges and chain guard.

Only 900 will be built.
Each owner will receive a special certificate signed by Triumph CEO, Nick Bloor.
Only 4 units are available to customers in Malaysia.

Triumph Bonneville T120 Ace Café – From RM 75,900

The legendary Ace Café in London is considered the birthplace of the café racer. Legend has it that the riders there will challenge each other to race on a street circuit and return to the venue before a song ends on the jukebox. Hence, probably why the bike is “blacked out” for that mean, stripped down, hopped-up and “Head Down – Hold On” attitude.

Features:

One-off Matt Storm Grey paint scheme with racing stripes.
Ace Café logo on the front mudguard and side panels.
“Head Down – Hold On” detailing on the fuel tank.

Blacked-out detailing throughout.
Black four-bar Triumph badge on the gas tank.
Black bench seat.

Only 1,400 units will be built.
Each owner will receive a special certificate signed by Ace Café Managing Director Mark Wilsmore and Triumph CEO Nick Bloor.

Please check out Triumph Motorcycles Malaysia’s website for more information.

Carl Fogarty Gets a Road Named After Him

Four-time World Superbike Champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty has a road named after him in his Blackburn hometown.
Named “Carl Fogarty Way,” Fogarty wheelied past the ribbon.
Foggy’s exploits in racing and the motorcycling world is the stuff of legends.

Four-time World Superbike Champion Carl “Foggy” Fogarty has a road named after him in his Blackburn hometown.

The road is named “Carl Fogarty Way.” To officiate the road, Fogarty wheelied past the ribbon, instead of the usual cutting with scissors.

Only one way to open #carlfogartyway ..and that’s on the back wheel..?? #WheelieWednesday ⁦@CCMMotorcycle⁩ #Blackburn pic.twitter.com/fgh5liKg6R

— FOGGY MBE (@carlfogarty) 26 June 2019

His name is still famous among bikers, especially Ducati owners. It was Fogarty who dominated WorldSBK for a number of years, scoring 59 victories and ultimately four WorldSBK crowns.

He began racing for Honda in the Formula One World Championship for motorcycles and transitioned to the World Superbike series in 1988. He switched to the Ducati 888 in 1992 but inconsistency saw him finishing in ninth.

He continued with the Ducati 888 in 1993 and exhibited the kind of fiery determination that won him an army of Ducati fans. He would go on to win 11 races and stood on the podium 4 other times. This was when his intense rivalry with American racer Scott Russell began. However, Russell would prove to be more consistent and beat Fogarty to the title for Kawasaki’s first superbike crown.

Ducati released the game-changer for 1994, called the 916. Fogarty immediately found the bike suited his high mid-corner speed riding style and won 10 races and 4 podiums in a total of 22 races to snatch the title from Scott Russell and Kawasaki.

Fogarty would repeat his dominance in 1995. Out of 24 races, he only finished off the podium 3 times and retired twice. He won 13 races and no lower than 2^nd in the other 6 times.

But a certain team, specifically Honda kept pounding on the point that the Ducati V-Twin had 166cc more displacement than their 750cc RC45 V-Four. There were also certain quarters and riders who charged that Fogarty had won the championships due to the superiority of the Ducati.

Seemingly to prove them wrong, Fogarty went back to Honda in 1996. He won four times on the RC45, three more than long time Honda rider Aaron Slight but again consistency did him in. He eventually finished fourth.

He returned to Ducati in 1997 and fought season long with ex-GP rider John Kocinski. He eventually finished second to Kockinski.

He fought back in 1998 and retook the title, as he did in 1999.

Year 2000 saw the undoing of his racing career as he hit privateer Ducati rider Robert Ulm. The crash caused Foggy multiple injuries including a shoulder injury that never really healed enough for him to race again.

But that didn’t keep him away from the racetrack. Foggy became the manager for the Foggy PETRONAS team, hence the creation of the PETRONAS FP1.

There are still more exploits of the plucky Englishman to list here, but we hope to still see him in the motorcycle industry.