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KTM to Stick with Steel Frame and WP Suspension

The KTM RC16 uses a steel trellis frame and WP suspension.
Which is a departure from the MotoGP norm of aluminium spars and Öhlins.
When asked if they will make a switch, KTM motorsport boss said no.

Much has been said about KTM and their performance (or lack of) in MotoGP. Most pointed to their use of the steel trellis frame and WP suspension on the RC16, instead of the perennial aluminium spars and Öhlins suspension.

It may seem that the Austrian giant is going nowhere to the casual observer, but truth is, the RC16 is undergoing development at a breakneck pace.

It started out with a “screamer” engine (all cylinders firing in equally spaced sequence) in 2017. But by 2018, it was revised to the “big bang” configuration (all cylinders fired quickly in a short space), together with a counter-rotating crankshaft.

KTM motorsport manager, Pit Beirer told Simon Crafar of MotoGP.com that they’ve come far within the last two years. In fact, the RC16 put in Marc Marquez’s 2017 lap times at a number of tracks last year.

The whole MotoGP class is developing like crazy, every makes steps forward. But if you told me five years ago KTM would make a machine on year after Marquez almost at the same speed, I wouldn’t believe. But we did it.”

When asked if they will stop using the steel trellis frame and WP suspension, “That’s not an option,” said Beirer.

“It’s brought us success in every single discipline, so we will stick to this because we have the widest knowledge around this material we are using.”

Indeed, the frame/WP combination has allowed KTM to be competitive, succeed, even dominate racing series from enduro to Moto2.

Aprilia RSV4 X, “X” Shows the Spot

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 1^stto 2^nd(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 Brings Honda Back on the Cub Prix Podium

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.

“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
Md Syarifuddin Azman (SGR) Idemitsu Kozi DFZ Yam Honda Racing 12:35.454s
Md Faiz Zekri Sabri (PNG) ONEXOX SAG Team 12:38.111s
Md Khairi Asyraf Mahmood (JHR) Motul Yamaha YY Pang Racing 12:40.976s

WIRA

Md Zaki A. Zamri (SGR) Persendirian 10’24.219s
Md Afizat Supaat (SGR) Super KIP Motorsports 10’24.355s
Md Sharul Ezwan M Sharil (SGR) AFB TECH Racing 10’24.493s
Md Adib M. Asri (JHR) ELF Koyoko Honda KC Racing Team 10’24.941s
Md Norhakim M Norhafizullah (KTN) ONEXOX SAG Team 10’25.759s

Royal Enfield to Open CKD Plant in Thailand

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.

Countdown Begins for the 25th Phuket Bike Week

The countdown to the 25^thPhuket Bike Week begins.
It will be held from 12^thto 14^thApril at Patong, and 19^thto 20^thApril 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 25^thanniversary 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 12^thto 14^thApril. The second will be held at the Phuket Boat Lagoon from 19^thto 20^thApril.

Do note that this year’s PBW coincides with the Songkran water festival, which starts from 13^thApril and ends on 15^thApril, 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!

Please refer to www.phuketbikeweek.com for more information.

2019 Yamaha Y15ZR v2 Launched

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.