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Pelaburan Karbon Neutral Punca Tamatkan Projek MotoGP – Suzuki

Suzuki telah mengesahkan punca utama disebalik penamatan program MotoGP dan seangkatan dengannya adalah bagi memberi fokus pada pembangunan teknologi hijau.

Perkara itu didedahkan Pengurus Kumpulan Pemasaran Suzuki Eropah, Amerika Utara dan Oceania, Nobuo Fujii kepada MCN.

Jelas, Fujii keputusan melabur dalam program karbon neutral antara faktor penarikan diri Suzuki daripada sebarang kejuaraan dunia.

“Neutraliti karbon tidak hanya melibatkan elektrifikasi. Buat masa ini kami sedang pertimabngkan pelbagai kemungkinan, bergantung pada kapasiti enjin,” jelasnya.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Motosikal Suzuki Great Britain pula menjelaskan pelaburan selepas ini adalah memfokuskan pada jenis motosikal yang akan dibangunkan.

“Pelaburan kami adalah membangunkan motosikal yang akan membarisi barisan jentera Suzuki pada masa hadapan dan memastikan ianya selaras dengan keadan perundangan semasa (emisi),” ujarnya.

Penjelasan tersebut secara tidak langsung memberi bayangan bahawa Suzuki akan terus membangunkan motosikal untuk pasaran global namun dengan memberi penekanan pada neutraliti karbon agar tidak menjejaskan alam sekitar.

BMW And Suspension Experts ZF Develops Carbon Fiber Telescopic Fork

BMW Motorrad always puts serious thought into developing front suspension.

BMW and ZF develop a new carbon fibre front end.
BMW won the 24-hour Spa of the EWC while testing the new carbon fibre telescopic fork.

The R 1250 GS is fitted with a Telelever front end, the K 1600 GT Duolever suspension is innovative, while the S 1000 RR semi-active unit is an integral part of the superbike setup.

However, BMW has up the ante in its latest joint venture with suspension experts and partner ZF (Zahnradfabrik) to develop a carbon fibre telescopic fork.

The collaboration is to develop the front fork for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team.

Firstly, carbon fibre front suspension is common in MotoGP, but it’s still a grey area for BMW as the House of Munich is not involved in the world championship.

As a result, the Endurance World Championship is BMW’s best bet to test out the new component.

The BMW M 1000 RR now features the said component, with the fork consisting of a carbon fibre outer tubed mated to a carbon fibre composite/metal inner tube. The metal fork legs slide within the carbon fibre tubes.

The lightweight material not only helps to reduce weight and allows BMW to study the M 1000 RR characteristic.

According to BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Mark Bongers, the main focus during the development of carbon fibre forks is to test the bending loads.

“Using this material and this technology allows us to shift the threshold at which body vibrations occur.

“One major focus during development was the design of the homogeneous bending loads.

“The goal being for the throttle response for the rider to be extremely subtle, even under the most extreme strains. And feedback from the riders confirmed that the goal was achieved,” he said.

In an exciting development, the number 37 BMW M 1000 RR fitted with the carbon fibre telescopic fork won the 2022 24-Hour Spa of the Endurance World Championship.

Could the new component make its way to future BMW bikes? BMW certainly thinks so, but it will need to meet the strict homologation standards before that happens.

(Source: webbikeworld)

Slyvain Guintoli Gets A One-Of-A-Kind Suzuki Hayabusa As A Parting Gift

Suzuki bids farewell to its motorsport programme after confirming it will exit the MotoGP and the Endurance World Championship at the end of the 2022 season.

Guintoli received a unique Suzuki Hayabusa for his effort in developing the GSX-RR.
The one-of-a-kind Hayabusa features red, black and blue livery inspired by the team SERT EWC GSX-R.

While it may come as a surprise for fans of the brand, the shutting down of its race department has more significant implications for team personnel – from riders to mechanics – who will face unemployment in a few months.

Also affected by the abrupt shutdown is Suzuki’s MotoGP development rider and EWC Champion, Sylvain Guintoli.

The ex-MotoGP, WorldSBK and BSB rider will now be out of a job despite representing the brand at the highest level, developing the GSX-RR and winning with EWC with team Yoshimura SERT.

To honour his contribution for all the years at Suzuki, the Hamamatsu factory has gifted Guintoli a special Hayabusa donned in the Yoshimura SERT Motul team livery.

The special Hayabusa features a red, blue and black livery inspired by Guintoli’s GSX-R race bike at the EWC.

While Suzuki won the 2020 MotoGP world title with Joan Mir, Guintoli is considered the backbone behind the Japanese firm’s shock run to the world championship.

His experience and input in developing the GSX-RR are often credited as the primary factor in the brand’s return to MotoGP royalty.

End Of The Road For The Suzuki GSX-R1000?

It’s official, Suzuki is quitting the MotoGP and Endurance World Championship at the end of the 2022 season.

Suzuki officially leaving MotoGP and EWC.
shutting down every motorsport programmes to focus on new sustainability effort.

Suzuki finally went public this week by confirming that they are leaving the MotoGP and EWC after the news broke out in May.

According to Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki, the decision to exit MotoGP and EWC was due to “the need to re-allocate resources on other initiatives for sustainability.”

While the decision to leave MotoGP signals a strong desire from the Japanese manufacturer to shift its focus towards the new goal, shutting down its official Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) could also spell the end for the Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.

Shutting the motorsport programme means that there is no proper platform to test out the litre bike, thus raising the question if we will ever see the next-generation GSX-R1000.

Moreover, with the firm’s new commitment towards sustainability, developing a next-gen petrol-powered superbike seems irrelevant.

Suzuki could turn to develop a new technology that allows a “cleaner” GSX-R1000 to be built. Still, without any involvement in motorsport, there is no purpose for the Hamamatsu factory to push for it.

For other manufacturers, developing a new superbike makes sense because of their effort in MotoGP and WorldSBK.

A company like Ducati, although it has yet to offer any electric superbike for the masses, has the capacity to do so thanks to its partnership with Dorna as the official supplier for MotoE.

On the other hand, Suzuki’s current generation GSX-R1000 has not changed since 2017 except for minor updates.

Although the Gixxer is an iconic machine to every superbike fanboy, the motorcycle has been something of a hidden player in the sportsbike market over the last few years.

Despite achieving success at MotoGP with Joan Mir taking the world championship title in 2020, the company didn’t see an upturn in sales, which is a hard pill to swallow.

With Suzuki’s motorsport programme shuttered and the market slowly moving away from the company’s litre bike, the odds for the GSX-R1000 don’t look good.

Sepang 8 Hours: Tindakan Meglio Memang Bodoh – Van Der Mark

Selepas berakhirnya aksi Sepang 8 Hours pada Sabtu, pelumba pilihan, Michael van der Mark yang mewakili pasukan Yamaha SIC mengalami kemalangan di awal perlumbaan.

Aksi yang sepatutnya bermula pada jam 1 petang terpaksa ditunda lebih lima jam susulan hujan lebat yang melanda Litar Antarbangsa Sepang (SIC).

Bagaimanapun, sebaik perlumbaan dimulakan, pelumba pertama Yamah SIC, van der Mark, mengalami insiden ‘highside’ susulan dilanggar Meglio dari bahagian dalam ketika memasuki selekoh terakhir.

The moment it went all wrong for @mikedimeglio63 and @mickeyvdmark ?#8hSepang #FIMEWC pic.twitter.com/DvtM1X2gcn

— FIM EWC (@FIM_EWC) December 14, 2019

Kejadian tersebut membuatkan kedua-dua pelumba terjatuh namun nasib van der Mark lebih malang apabila tercampak kedepan dari jenteranya sebelum seluruh tubuhnya menghentam litar.

Pelumba Yamaha SIC itu tidak dapat menyembunyikan kekecewaannya terhadap lawannya itu.

“Saya tidak pasti apa yang Meglio cuba lakukan ketika selekoh terakhir tetapi jelas percaturannya tidak menjadi sehingga saya menjadi mangsa ‘highside.

“Tindakan Meglio memang bodoh,” jelasnya.

Pasukan Yamaha SIC menamatkan perlumbaan di kedudukan ketujuh selepas pelumba kedua, Franco Morbidelli berjaya memperbaiki kedudukan.

Sepang 8 Hours Penuh Drama, YART Yamaha Muncul Juara Sulung

Selepas lebih lima jam perlumbaan diberhentikan, perlumbaan sulung Sepang 8 Hours akhirnya menyaksikan pasukan YART Yamaha muncul juara pertama di Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC), hari ini.

Perlumbaan yang dijadualkan bermula pada jam 1 tengah hari tadi terpaksa ditunda sehingga lewat petang susulan hujan lebat.

Meskipun terdapat beberapa tinjauan dilakukan oleh kesemua 50 pelumba dengan pemantauan ‘Safety Car’ namun keadaan hujan yang tidak berhenti memaksa perlumbaan ditunda sehingga jam enam petang.

Bagaimanapun, perlumbaan dalam kalendar FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC) ini terpaksa dimulakan dengan pengemudian Safety Car sekaligus ketiadaan permulaan ikonik yang memerlukan pelumba berlari ke jentera masing-masing.

Sebaik dimulakan selepas beberapa pusingan, berlaku insiden perlanggaran melibatkan pelumba Petronas SIC, Michael van der Mark dan Mike Di Meglio dari pasukan F.C.C. TSR Honda France.

FCC TSR Honda France kemudian medahului baki perlumbaan sebelum Di Meglio terbabas lantas membuka peluang kepada YART Yamaha yang diterajui Niccolo Canepa, Broc Parks dan Karel Hanika.

Tempat kedua jadi milik pasukan Honda Asia Dream Racing With Show diikuti BMW Motorrad EWC ketiga.

Sementara itu, PETRONAS SIC Racing Team yang diterajui Michael van der Mark, Franco Morbidelli dan Hafizh Syahrin terpaksa berpuas hati dikedudukan kesembilan.

Pada masa sama, Hafizh, selaku pelumba ketiga, tidak dapat turun beraksi gara-gara perlumbaan bermula lewat.

Franco Morbidelli in PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team for Endurance World Championship Round at Sepang

MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli will join the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team squad for the FIM Endurance World Championship round in Sepang International Circuit.
He will join two other riders namely Hafizh Syahrin and four-time Suzuka 8 Hour endurance winner Michael van der Mark.
The round will take place from 13^thto 15^thDecember 2019.

MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli will join the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team squad for the FIM Endurance World Championship round in Sepang International Circuit.

Morbidelli’s draft ends months of speculation that he will be one of the riders for the Sepang stint. He will join two other riders namely Hafizh Syahrin and four-time Suzuka 8 Hour endurance winner Michael van der Mark.

The squad will be supported by the YART Yamaha EWC squad who were former winners of the EWC. As such, the three riders will play their parts in riding the Yamaha YZF-R1.

The 2020 EWC opens with the Bol D’or in France before heading to Sepang for the second round from 13^thto 15^thDecember 2019. However, the Sepang round has a large significance to the EWC as it will form the qualifying round for “irregular” EWC teams to qualify for the Suzuka 8 Hour race.

Additionally, the race also features an FIA World Touring Car Cup round back-to-back.

Morbidelli expressed his concerns about riding in an endurance race. “I’m curious to see how an endurance race format suits me, and am really looking forward to it.”

Team Principal Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali is confident about the team’s prospects given the two MotoGP riders in addition to a multiple Suzuka 8 Hour winner. “We have faith that Franco, Michael, Hafizh and YART will deliver and we’re targeting the very top step of the podium.”

Source: PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team

Bidaan Bagi Memasukkan Litar Spa-Francorchamps Dalam Kalendar MotoGP dan EWC

Selekoh Eau-Rouge di litar Spa-Francorchamps

Litar Spa-Francorchamps di Belgium kini sedang dinaiktaraf untuk kejohanan MotoGP dan EWC.
Litar ini masih memegang rekod untuk perlumbaan GP motosikal terpantas.
Perlumbaan GP motosikal terakhir di litar berkenaan telah dilangsungkan pada tahun 1987.

(more…)

Bid to Put Spa-Francorchamps Circuit on MotoGP and EWC Calendar

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium is being upgraded to being MotoGP and EWC back.
The circuit still holds the record for the fastest motorcycle GP race.
The last motorcycle GP race held there was in 1987.

Belgium is working to upgrade the Spa-Francorchamps circuit for MotoGP and FIM Endurance World Championship (EWC).

The government of Wallonia region announced that the circuit had been granted a €29.5 million loan to make the circuit safe for motorcycle racing. The loan is part of an €80 million financial package to upgrade and modernize the track and bring international motorcycle racing back to Belgium.

The objective is to hold the WEC in 2022 and MotoGP in 2024.

According to sources, upgrading the track is a daunting task as the circuit winds through the Belgian Ardennes. The area is wooded and has steep hills. (The Battle of the Bulge in World War 2 happened in this vicinity.) As such, there isn’t much room for runoffs. Being a forest and highlands also means lots of rain. There is an average of 12 rainy days per month.

However, Spa-Francorchamps is famous for featuring high-speed racing. Eau Rouge, Radillon and Blanchimont are the fastest corners of all tracks. But there is little room for mistakes due to limited runoff areas.

In fact, Spa holds the fastest average speed in the history of Grand Prix racing. Barry Sheene lapped the circuit at an average of 220.721 km/h, when it was still 14.1 kilometres long.

The last time GP motorcycles raced at Spa was in 1987 after being held there for 40 times. The FIM deemed the track too dangerous after remedial works weren’t carried out. It has been a regular venue for Formula 1 since then.

Pusingan FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) 2019 Bakal Dianjurkan Di Malaysia

Permulaan Suzuka 8-Hours – Sumber imej: fimewc.com

(more…)

2019 FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC) Heads for Malaysia

The FIM has confirmed Malaysia as a new round for the Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC).
The 8-hour race will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on 7^th December 2019.
The Malaysian round will also serve as the qualifying round for “part-timers” to join the permanent FIM EWC teams at the Grand Finale in the Suzuka 8-Hours.

Speaking of Zaqhwan Zaidi and the Honda Asia-Dream Racing team’s great result in last weekend’s Suzuka 8-Hours endurance race, the FIM has confirmed the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) as one of the venues for the 2019 and 2020 FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC).

Please click on the link below for our news on the Honda-Asia Dream Racing Team at the Suzuka 8-Hours.

The announcement was made during the Suzuka 8-Hours race, along with a change in the FIM EWC’s program.

The SIC round will serve as a qualifying event for the Grand Finale at Suzuka, Japan. It will have the same format as the Suzuka 8-Hours, including a Superpole Top 10 Trial and ends after nightfall. That means Asian teams who wish to take part in the Suzuka event will have to qualify through the SIC round. This is to create a parity for the FIM EWC’s permanent teams. The permanent and Japanese teams will be invited to SIC and the cost will be covered by Eurosport Events.

Also, as we mentioned earlier about coverage, the Discovery Group had stepped in to provide televised coverage on all five continents.

Sepang International Circuit CEO, Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali said, “Based on a public survey that SIC conducted for 3 months last year, we are pleased that this FIM EWC series was voted by Malaysians as an event they would like to see at SIC as a replacement for Formula One. We are also pleased that the Sepang International Circuit will be the qualification round for Japanese and Asian teams for the grand finale at the iconic Suzuka 8-Hours.”

Dato’ Ahmad Razlan Razali during the press conference – courtesy of fimewc.com

The SIC has just completed its floodlighting project, allowing for night races. Dato’ Ahmad Razlan also hinted at having the 2019 SIC MotoGP team’s riders taking part in the event. (Please click on the link below for more information on SIC’s MotoGP team.)

This is very exciting news for Malaysian motorcycle sports fans, indeed. It is time we pit our national riders against the world. It’ll also be interesting to foresee the Malaysian Superbike Championship teams taking part in this prestigious FIM Endurance World Championship event.

The FIM EWC Sepang round will be held on 7^th December 2019.

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EWC

Suzuki bids farewell to its motorsport programme after confirming it will exit the MotoGP and the Endurance World Championship at the end of the 2022 season.

It’s official, Suzuki is quitting the MotoGP and Endurance World Championship at the end of the 2022 season.

Suzuki officially leaving MotoGP and EWC.

shutting down every motorsport programmes to focus on new sustainability effort.

MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli will join the PETRONAS Sepang Racing Team squad for the FIM Endurance World Championship round in Sepang International Circuit.

He will join two other riders namely Hafizh Syahrin and four-time Suzuka 8 Hour endurance winner Michael van der Mark.

The round will take place from 13th to 15th December 2019.

The Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium is being upgraded to being MotoGP and EWC back.

The circuit still holds the record for the fastest motorcycle GP race.

The last motorcycle GP race held there was in 1987.

The FIM has confirmed Malaysia as a new round for the Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC).

The 8-hour race will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on 7th December 2019.

The Malaysian round will also serve as the qualifying round for “part-timers” to join the permanent FIM EWC teams at the Grand Finale in the Suzuka 8-Hours.

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The round will take place from 13^thto 15^thDecember 2019.

The 8-hour race will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on 7^th December 2019.