I was actually struggling quite a bit to be there at the front. The bike set-up compared to yesterday was not great and I don’t know if there was a lack of grip because the rain washed some tyre rubber out from the track surface. But I struggled to stop the bike and at full lean angle. It wasn’t turning the same. We had a bit of a compromise for set-up but nothing too drastic. Fifteen minutes before the race we were still wondering ‘would it be fully dry, should we use intermediates, or a normal race set-up?’ I got a good start but I was worried about somebody coming underneath me into Turn One because there was only one tiny, tiny dry line. I led the first lap then Toprak came past. After that I got unsighted at the top of the Holly Wood section and really lost the rear, quite aggressively. From that point I was nervous to go off the line and I was having quite a few moments as well because Toprak was riding away but I did not want to give up. I wanted to keep pushing
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📸 @geebeeimages
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@krt_worldsbk @alpinestars @araieu @monsterenergy @showaperformance @oakleymotorsports @insidebikes #team65
Thanks to Westx1000 for bringing coverage of the Silk Way Rally to the digital pages of Motorcycle.com.
Begin Press Release:
Stage 1: Save the Last Dance
Racers Find Their Rhythm In This New Era of Motorsports Courtship
Being back at the helm of a purpose-built mechanism, ready to dance the rally Tango, after a year-long hiatus from racing, socializing, hell, touching, is just the post-pandemic therapy we all needed (participants and spectators alike). And rekindling this romance with Motorsports began with a caravan ride through the Altai Republic, a region rich with altitude, tundra and marshy meadows. Protected for its diverse flora and fauna, the thousands of rivers and lakes create a fairy tale atmosphere perfect for a healthy relationship between man, machine and Mother Nature. As with many of the Silk Way events, traveling through Russia can be burdensome when rain showers follow you and the open fields become bogged and buggy swamps. The mud grabs hold of you or your tires and attempts to drag you down to hell with the desperation of lost souls trying to trade places with the living. But this Siberian sinkhole is only awakened in the wet and it’s hidden beneath beautiful pastures, marshlands and groves of pearly white trunks growing together just enough apart to allow the sun to make them glow. Underneath all that green foliage, the earth is dark, almost volcanic and due to an abnormally hot summer, dry to the point of weightlessness. Thankfully, a strong breeze made the opaque timber-colored dust cloud predictable, therefore avoidable – to a point. No one left the racecourse without a new terra-skin cake on by multiple thin layers of dirt and sweat.
Since the Space Race, Russians Nationals (with alternate calling cards throughout history) have developed a reputation for putting up a good fight – if not always fair. But here on their home turf, the Silk Way Rally is being dominated by their brethren from Day One. By the time the last KAMAZ crossed the finish line of the first special stage – let’s be real, no KAMAZ crosses in the back of the pack unless it was an unseasonably shit day… When the last race-equipped vehicle rolled past Timing & Scoring, it was obvious the Cosmonauts beat everyone at launch in this battle. There are Russian leaders in every class save for Bikes, which was taken by Argentinian Franco Caimi (#2) giving Hero Motosports their best of three promising results. Even Aleksandr Maksimov (#102, MARI TEAM) conquered the Quads over Sonik Team namesake, Rafal Sonik (#101)!
“I was really confident with opening the stage but quickly found out that the route and roadbook here are a bit different than we are used to. I made a few mistakes second guessing some things that weren’t clear and it cost me a bit of time. But it’s good to learn things early on. Otherwise the tracks and terrain are really fun, and I’m excited for the days ahead.” – Skyler Howes, #10 Rockstar Energy Husqvarna
But today’s roadbook wasn’t for the faint of heart. And perhaps, too many came into the race with the mindset that the event’s shortest special at roughly 87 kilometers would be easy. This, clearly, was a mistake for many, even the more consistent and competent navigators. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Skyler Howes (#10) felt his finish was bittersweet. With a few unrecognizable notes on his paper scroll – something a few regulars on the rally circuit commented on as well – Howes became a little turned around. A missed Waypoint or two later, he made up enough time to land the eighth spot, which was welcomed if it meant he didn’t have to open another stage. However, the amount of talent – and pressure from Mother Russia – a contender at this race needs every drop of \ advantage he or she can squeeze out of a round. A sizable six-plus-minute gap between Howes and Caimi came to a surprise to spectators as the former man seemed to be leading the distance game halfway through the course. Barely 40 kilometers into the race, the reach between each of the top riders was staggering. Fellow American and Second Place SWR titleholder, Andrew Short (#29, Monster Energy Yamaha) didn’t find much more success, stopping at number Seven with only 00:03:28 separating him and the win.
Short’s teammate and FIM points leader, Ross Branch (#16) was a minor error away from rolling past ASS with all the praise. Motos were the only category where (RUS) wasn’t the designation for a single pilot on the elite ladder, but in all fairness, there isn’t a Russian competing in this class at all. It didn’t hurt either that Siberia’s Altai is the backyard playground for many of the local drivers. KAMAZ-MASTER is a prime example of a well-polished powerhouse intent on keeping this region their realm to rule. Dmitry Sotnikov, with co-pilots Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ligiz Akhmetzianov (#501) fought the hardest for their domain today, even if they only beat out MAZ-SPORTAUTO by 10 seconds. Captaining the #506 truck Aliaksei Vishneuski, accompanied by Maksim Novikau and Siarhei Sachuk, sent their MAZ 6440RR sideways through the tight twists of powdery earth carving an ash-colored path through the groves of birch trees which scattered in pods across the vast emerald-chartreuse countryside. They never shoot to miss, but the Belarusians fell a bit short – by a strand of hair – in this initial brawl. No need to dwell, of course. Even the Cars faced defeat at the skilled hands of Denis Krotov and navigator Konstantin Zhiltsov (#203, MSK RALLY TEAM) who managed to put almost a minute on Yazeed Al Rajhi and partner Michael Orr (#200, OVERDRIVE HILUX TOYOTA).
“We were careful because we are not used to the new truck yet, we have to get used to its handling. The main objective today was to finish. The stage was short and dusty, it was impossible to stop, because that would have made us fall in the ranking. We understood the navigation quickly, we lost a minimum of time. We needed a balance between speed and precision. The special stage was an excellent test of the suspensions. So everything went well.” – Dimitry Sotnivoc, #501 KAMAZ-MASTER Team
If you’re going to have setbacks, the competitors agree now is the time. Early issues have time on their side to find resolutions, learn lessons, polish skills. So Side-by-Side favorites like Austin Jones guided by Gustavo Gugelmin (#400) taking this opportunity to do just that – carry on better than ever. Many are hoping he’ll bounce back from today to represent the US of A as he had surely hoped: from the Winner’s Circle. That said, it’s undeniable the stage goes (again) to the Ruskies, Sergei Kariakin and Anton Vlasiuk (#404, SNAG RACING) whose closest adversaries – Eugenio Amos and Paolo Ceci (#402, SOUTH RACING CAN-AM) – were a whopping 5-minutes-27 behind. While #405 UTV driven by Evgeny Frezorger and Alexey Shpuk (SIBIRSDE) were trailing by an additional 79 seconds.
The Napoleon of special stages, the Silk Way Rally’s send-off delivered a quick, brutal punch to the jaw and lingered over the 560-kilometer drive to the next bivouac in Novosibirsk. If this challenge offered any insight as to what’s in store for competitors, then their 267 km transit to DSS in the morning is going to be spent plotting an airtight gameplan. And we can’t wait to see who might spring a leak first. Oh, rally.
Yamaha Motor Europe has announced a new two-year contract extension for FIM Superbike World Championship title contender and multiple race-winner Toprak Razgatlıoğlu.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
“Yamaha has become like my family and I’m really happy to be signing for another two years. I think we’ve improved the bike a lot since I joined for the 2020 season, so it was an easy decision for me to make. We are fighting for the championship this year, we’re very close to the top and I have the best people around me in the Pata Yamaha with Brixx team pit box to help me achieve my goals. I like the WorldSBK paddock, and I’m happy racing here. Maybe MotoGP is something I will think about in the future, but for now I am focused completely on getting the job done here in WorldSBK. Thank you to everyone who has worked to make this happen and now I look forward to the future together with Yamaha.”
After a strong first season aboard the Yamaha R1 in 2020, where Razgatlıoğlu won on his first outing at Phillip Island and scored two further victories on his way to fourth in the series standings, the Turkish rider has made another significant step forward so far this year and sits second in the championship, having already scored seven podiums including a sensational win at Misano.
2021 WorldSBK at Misano – Superbike Race Two 1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK) 2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.286s 3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +2.987s
Andrea Dosoli – Road Racing Manager, Yamaha Motor Europe
“We started this journey together with Toprak in 2020, a strange year for everyone, but one where we developed a good relationship. That served as the basis for the current season which has been very positive so far, the best since Yamaha came back to WorldSBK. The Yamaha R1 keeps improving race-by-race, and this allows Toprak to express his great talent. The decision to extend the collaboration between Toprak and Yamaha Motor Europe for the next two seasons arrived earlier than expected, as we are really convinced that there is more to come, and together we’ll be able to challenge for the WorldSBK title. I strongly appreciate the trust Toprak has put in Yamaha, for which I thank him, and I can guarantee that we’ll do our best to meet our high expectations.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
Those performances have attracted the attention of teams in both WorldSBK and MotoGP, but ahead of the Donington Park WorldSBK round Yamaha Motor Europe and the 24-year-old agreed a new two-year contract extension, which will see Razgatlıoğlu spearhead Yamaha’s assault on the FIM Superbike World Championship until the end of 2023.
Paolo Pavesio – Director, Marketing and Motorsport, Yamaha Motor Europe
“Since joining Yamaha in 2020, Toprak has consistently demonstrated his pace and race winning potential and we’re extremely pleased to be continuing this journey together for another two seasons. He has proven that he’s capable of fighting for wins every weekend and in just his second year aboard the Yamaha R1 he’s already announced himself as a WorldSBK title contender. Equally important for us is that he is both an inspiration and a role model for our bLU cRU youngsters, with whom he spends a lot of time during WorldSBK race weekends. I would like to thank Toprak for his confidence in Yamaha, as well as his manager Kenan Sofuoğlu and everyone from our side who worked to make this possible. I think we have an exciting and successful time ahead together and we will work to make sure we give Toprak the best platform for success.”
Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) hit the headlines by stunning on his debut at Donington Park for the Prosecco DOC UK Round. The American fastest on a blissfully sunny Friday afternoon, enough to put him on top overall with a 1m27.524, ahead of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK).
It was an Independent on top on Friday in the UK as Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) improved significantly throughout the opening day of action to go top on an SCX tyre in the closing stages. An irrepressible Gerloff topped every single sector around the Donington Park circuit, as he made his debut at the British venue. Impressively going about his business at a brand new circuit and less than a week after a solid substitute performance at the Dutch GP in MotoGP, Gerloff hopes to continue his form into Saturday and Sunday. On the other side of the garage, it was a nightmare for Kohta Nozane, who was ruled unfit following his Navarra testing crash which left him with a fractured middle finger on his right hand.
Garrett Gerloff – P1
“It’s funny to say, but I get a lot of US vibes here. Everyone speaks English, and this track reminds me of Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway, and Pittsburgh back at home. Today was good and I look forward to the rest of the weekend. I already feel like I have a really good bike, and the Yamaha R1 has historically always been fast around here, just like on most circuits. It’s nice to know that Les (Pearson, Chief Engineer) always has everything already planned and under control. Whenever I need any information, he already has everything ready. With me focused on learning the track, it is nice to know that he has all the adjustments set to go depending on my comments. I feel really good on the bike, so I just want to get through qualifying and go racing now. I was surprised at how little grip the track had in the heat of the afternoon and my first run during FP2 was all over the place, but it seems like it might rain both tomorrow and Sunday anyway. We have a good bike either way, we will see how it goes.”
The Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK duo of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes enjoyed a positive session, as both riders hit the ground running right from the start of the session. Both riders were running 1-2 in the session in the opening 20 minutes as they continued their work at their home round. Rea was super consistent throughout the opening day and ended the day in second place, whilst Lowes was also in fine form in the afternoon to finish fourth, leaving him on the combined.
Jonathan Rea – P2
“The bike was working pretty well today and straight away I felt a good rhythm. The level of grip of the track is pretty low compared to 2019 but I don’t think there has been a lot of activity here. So it just took a little bit of time to understand and we tried not make too many changes because we expected the track to have more tyre rubber laid down as the day went on. We made a set-up change that would increase agility, especially in the first two sectors and I felt as big improvement – but it compromised the last two sectors where I was really strong in FP1. So we need to find a middle ground for tomorrow. But I felt quite good and my rhythm was really strong. I could ride in the 1’28 lows so I feel that has put us in good shape for tomorrow. I am satisfied with the days’ work.”
Jonathan Rea
Alex Lowes – P4
“We did not have a normal session this morning. I did not feel quite right so I did not really push, so I just did some laps to learn the Kawasaki on this track. In the afternoon we used our base setting, more or less, from the last few tests, and we tried a couple of things on the electronics and I felt quite good from the start. I was able to do a lot of good, fast consistent laps. It was a positive afternoon and I did not feel like I was pushing too hard. The pace was strong so it was probably one of my more positive Friday sessions.”
Alex Lowes
The factory Yamaha charge was led by Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with BRIXX WorldSBK), as he celebrated a new Yamaha Motor Europe contract that was announced prior to the first track action of the day. Despite a massive moment in the opening moments of the session, he was able to continue on his way and cement his position in the leading positions in third, putting in a long run in his second stint.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu – P3
“Today we started to try to find a good setup with the bike, because the track was very dirty, but now the track condition is much better. Also we are working for good grip with the rear tyre because I was finding this a problem today. We tried a small race simulation in the afternoon, 12 laps, it was not bad but not really fast and we need to improve the rear grip. Now we are working for tomorrow, I speak with my team because we need to improve a little bit for the race, we will see what is possible – tomorrow we try again. For the future, I’m really happy to stay with this team! Every year Yamaha and my team is working for a good bike. I think next year we can be stronger, because we keep moving forward. But for now, this weekend and this season is important; I like this track and we want to improve for the race.”
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu
Tom Sykes, eager to return to his winning ways around the 4023 metre circuit was quick out the box and made an instant impact to the timing sheets in FP1. Despite a small crash at T11 in the early stages he ended the opening session in P3 (1’28.202). FP2 was not without drama for the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. Sykes in the opening laps had a crash at T6 /7, barrel rolling his BMW M 1000 RR into the gravel. The crew did a fantastic job in getting Tom back out for the final 12 minutes as he finished the session in eleventh, P6 on combined times.
Tom Sykes – P6
“Long and short, I said to myself before arriving here this weekend I will drag the bike around if I have too. In FP1 we took a step back in time with some of our set up and felt comfortable doing the lap times, which was positive. Then for FP2 we had a good plan but unfortunately, I had a crash on my first flying lap. I probably got a bit carried away but I got caught out with a rear slide, so I lost the front which was not ideal. I have to say the guys did an incredible job in getting her fixed. The bike got back to the box with 28 minutes to go and I was leaving the box with 12 minutes left on the clock so great work from those boys. It is what it is, I was not able to try the things I was wanting to do mid FP2 as a result but looks like the rest of the weekend is going to be fairly moist, so it doesn’t matter too much. But it was one of those days, if we had a dry race tomorrow, I feel like we are prepared regardless.”
Tom Sykes
On a track that Ducati say is not particularly favorable to the Panigale V4R, Scott Redding and Michael Ruben Rinaldi made tangible progress during the first day of free practices. The two Aruba.it Racing – Ducati riders close respectively in fifth and seventh position waiting for tomorrow’s opening race that, according to the weather forecast, could be affected by rain.
Scott Redding – P5
“All in all it wasn’t a bad day but I wasn’t able to be incisive on the single lap. This is a particular track with many different corners that do not play in our favour. The feeling, however, is positive. In the afternoon things improved but we still have to find the best set up that will allow me to ride at my best. The weather forecast? I don’t really care because we’ll all start in the same conditions“.
Scott Redding
Michael Rinaldi – P7
“Today was a pretty positive day even though we are a little bit far from the top. This morning we struggled a lot in the last sector, that’s why between FP1 and FP2 we focused a on fixing the set up. In the afternoon things went better but, as it often happens, we missed something, especially in T2. We just have to put together all the pieces of this puzzle and I am confident that we will make it“.
Michael Rinaldi
Michael van der Mark who took the double race win here in 2018 equally had a solid opening session this morning, lapping consistently in the low 1m29’s throughout FP1 to finish in P10 (1’29.104).
Michael van der Mark – P10
“I really enjoyed riding today and its great to be back a Donington Park, I have some great memories here. This morning we felt good with the bike and made some small changes which improved our lap time. Unfortunately, we went the wrong direction at the end of FP1 which was frustrating but in FP2 we made a big change on the bike which helped stability in braking. I was having fun and enjoying my time out there, but we are losing too much time in the final sector with the stop and go section. We know this is a weak point of the BMW M 1000 RR but we for sure we can improve in this area, but overall, I don’t think we had such a bad Friday.”
Michael van der Mark
Working hard to find the best possible set-up for their Fireblades around the technical Leicestershire track, HRC factory riders Alvaro Bautistia and Leon Haslam completed a challenging but constructive first session, in which Haslam finished P7 and Bautista P14. During the afternoon’s second timed practice, the Team HRC riders continued their preparations ahead of the weekend’s three races and local rider Haslam rounded out the day in a solid eighth position overall. Bautista also shaved off several tenths to set a 1m29.568, which put him fifteenth at the day’s end.
Leon Haslam – P8
“Obviously I know this track very well, which is a benefit. We’ve not been here on the Honda, but my experience with different bikes here means I know where and how the bike should be turning and so I think we’ve highlighted a few areas where we need to improve. There’s no one specific thing we need to work on, it’s more a case of putting it all together to find a solid overall package. It’s been a tough day but also a very useful one, and now we have more idea as how to move forward”.
Leon Haslam
Alvaro Bautista – P15
“Today was an objectively difficult day and our position reflects this, because normally we are quite closer to the front group in terms of performance. We need to keep working on the set-up because right from the first few laps this morning I have been struggling to ‘feel’ the tyres. With this problem I can’t push hard and exploit the potential of the bike. The changes we have tried haven’t solved the issue yet, but at least we have done some exploratory work and now we will analyse the data and try to find a solution tomorrow”.
Alvaro Bautista
2021 WorldSBK Donington Friday Combined Practice times
Two new Sena Spider communicators, both operating on the Mesh 2.0 platform.
Begin press release:
Sena Technologies, Inc. the world’s leader in Bluetooth communication solutions for powersports has launched the new SPIDER ST1 & SPIDER RT1 motorcycle communication headsets. The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 both operate exclusively on Sena’s groundbreaking Mesh 2.0 intercom platform, paving the way for the future of motorcycle communication. The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 offer an affordable option for riders to join Sena’s Mesh intercom platform. The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 each pack the same feature set, while the ST1 has a jog-dial control and the RT1 has a more compact design and a 3-button control. The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 key features include:
One-Click-to-Connect Mesh Intercom
Premium HD Speakers
Smartphone pairing via Bluetooth 5.1
Audio Multitasking
Fast charging
Jog-dial (ST1) or 3-button (RT1) interface
Pictured above is the SPIDER ST1.
MESH 2.0 COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
Sena’s premium Mesh 2.0 technology, as first seen in the flagship 50S and 50R headsets, streamlines rider-to-rider communication for large and small groups and now delivers that same robust reliability for all SPIDER ST1 and RT1 users. The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 are compatible with all Sena Mesh 2.0-equipped devices, including the 50S, 50R, 30K, Momentum EVO, and any Sena Bluetooth device that is connected to the +Mesh Adapter.
The SPIDER ST1 and RT1 feature two different intercom modes: Group Mesh and Multi-Channel Open Mesh. When using Group Mesh, users create a private group that supports up to 24 riders over a range of up to 5 miles / 8 km (min 6 riders @ 1 mi / 1.6 km intervals). Users are invited into Group Mesh, giving added control and privacy. Multi-Channel Open Mesh allows riders to communicate with virtually any number of participants in the Mesh 2.0 network within a range of up to 5 miles / 8 km. Open Mesh also features multi-channel options, riders can switch between nine frequencies for conversations with different riding groups within the larger Open Mesh group.
SMARTPHONE PAIRING & AUDIO MULTITASKING
Bluetooth 5.1 allows users to pair a smartphone to the SPIDER ST1 or RT1 in order to stream music, hear turn-by-turn GPS directions, even take or make a phone call. All audio will be heard through the device’s premium HD Speakers, which provide a marked increase in volume, bass boost, and clarity. The affordable headset is also equipped with Sena’s Audio Multitasking technology so users can have a conversation via Mesh 2.0 Intercom while simultaneously operating their smartphone’s Bluetooth features like music, GPS, or phone calls.
Pictured above is the Spider RT1
SIMPLIFY DEVICE SETUP WITH THE SENA MOTORCYCLE APP
The all-new Sena Motorcycle App gives users a way to visually configure the SPIDER ST1 or RT1’s device settings. Download the Sena Motorcycle App to customize a variety of settings and features including the ability to remotely manage channel settings for Open Mesh, or even set a private group for Group Mesh. The Sena Motorcycle App can be downloaded in both the App Store and Google Play store.
The bike was working pretty well today and straight away I felt a good rhythm. The level of grip of the track is pretty low compared to 2019 but I don’t think there has been a lot of activity here. So it just took a little bit of time to understand and we tried not make too many changes because we expected the track to have more tyre rubber laid down as the day went on. We made a set-up change that would increase agility, especially in the first two sectors and I felt as big improvement – but it compromised the last two sectors where I was really strong in FP1. So we need to find a middle ground for tomorrow. But I felt quite good and my rhythm was really strong. I could ride in the 1’28 lows so I feel that has put us in good shape for tomorrow. I am satisfied with the days’ work
.
📸 @geebeeimages
.
@krt_worldsbk @alpinestars @araieu @monsterenergy @showaperformance @oakleymotorsports @insidebikes #team65
MV Agusta has now entered the e-bicycle segment in the quest for relieving urban mobility. Next comes kick scooters.
Begin press release:
MV Agusta Motor S.p.A. is announcing its upcoming entry into the electric mobility market with a range of lightweight e-vehicles bearing its iconic wings and gearwheel logo. A long awaited brand extension that leverages MV Agusta’s growing brand equity in the urban mobility segment. With this move, the brand from Schiranna is directly targeting the untapped market of sophisticated, discerning urban dwellers for whom moving around the city on a sports motorcycle is not the most practical option. MV Agusta e-mobility light vehicles will fill the gap and meet the need for a fast, stylish and eco-friendly way to roam the metropolis.
E-bicycles will be launched first, soon to be followed by kick scooters. MV Agusta chose the name AMO, Italian for “I love”, for this first e-bikes series. It takes after the company’s passion for the two wheels world. There will be two models in the series, the RR and the RC, both featuring a 250W silent Mahle engine with assisted speed of up to 25km/h, a 250Wh Panasonic battery providing 75km autonomy on a single charge, and premium quality components such as the Pirelli tyres, the Magura disc brakes and the Gates Carbon Drive belt. At just 15.5 kg, AMO bicycles are lightweight and inconspicuous, ideal for urban commutes or leisure trips.
The elegant RR version will come in a choice of two liveries, one yellow and black, the other red and black, while the limited edition RC will be offered in the classic red, white and black Reparto Corse livery.
The newcomers in the MV Agusta family will be designed and engineered in Italy, following the brand’s tradition of impeccable craftsmanship, using the latest technology and advanced, premium materials. Partnerships have been developed with established manufacturers for kick-scooters, while e-bicycles will be entirely assembled in-house. Both product series will be available online at www.mvagusta.com in the e-mobility section as well as through MV Agusta’s traditional sales network. External partners will also be involved to boost launch and distribution.
The development of a strong, scalable online platform for the brand’s e-mobility vehicles is an important part of MV Agusta’s strategy for the future of this segment. The plan includes a dedicated online space to learn about the products, an online store and in general a robust ecosystem where clients can order e-products, and buy or return parts.
Timur Sardarov, CEO of MV Agusta Motor S.p.A., commented: “Our world is moving fast, society is evolving at a cadence the pandemic and the new-normal have dramatically accelerated. The motorcycle industry has come to form part of a single, larger market of lightweight mobility that encompasses all two-wheel vehicles. There is a growing need for affordable, light and eco-friendly mobility solutions, especially in large, busy urban contexts. An entire segment, almost untouched. We realised the time was right for us to unlock the full potential of what the MV Agusta brand stands for. Speed, quality of engineering and authentic Italian design are values that resonate with urban dwellers and bikers alike. I am confident this move to diversify our product portfolio with an exciting and different product range will be well received by the markets and bring us the expected returns.”
Well, it’s finally happened – and it’s VERY Italian.
Energica Motor Company has just revealed a partnership with an engineering company called Mavel to create an all-new liquid-cooled electric motor.
This isn’t a patent, nor is it a concept – in fact, the motor (christened the “EMCE,” an acronym for Energica Mavel Co-Engineering) is a powertrain that will grace Energica’s entire upcoming electric motorcycle range of this year, including the Energica Ego and the Eva.
According to Energica’s website, Mavel has already made great strides in the automotive industry and now makes its debut in the two-wheeled sector with the release of the EMCE.
Giampiero Testoni, CTO of Energica Motor Company S.p.A., says in a statement:
“The introduction on the market of the new EMCE engine was scheduled for release in 2022, but following the difficulties of our supply chain – due to the global pandemic situation – we decided to anticipate this timing and instead, in just 6 months, we have developed this co-engineering with Mavel, into our current model year production.”
Energica President Franco Cevolini (left), Chief Technical Officer Giampiero Testoni (center), and CEO Livia Cevolini (right). Photo by John Ulrich, copyright Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
The EMCE boasts a liquid-cooling method that supports a peak power of 126 kW at 8,500 rpm and has made it possible to lighten the bike by a hefty 10 kg – with the ability to ride 10-15% further than the competition.
For those of you still dubious, here is a list from Energica’s website showing off the serious benefits that this motor will provide in future electric motorcycles:
Innovative rotor and stators’ geometries minimize energy losses and maximize performance. The uniformity of the torque delivered and the optimization of the weights make the engine unique in terms of power and torque density and allow the optimization of production processes;
Innovative and patented cooling of the rotor capable of generating an internal flow of air that laps the magnets and cools them. This allows the engine to exploit its potential even at high speeds;
Adaptive control algorithms that ensure that the inverter is always able to operate the system as efficiently as possible;
Patented sensors capable, among other things, of collecting and storing the operating data of the motor to predict the onset of any mechanical failure.
Testoni is proud of the progress made by the two Italian companies, leaving us with the following words:
“Progress is what drives us to look beyond, all for the benefit of our end customers. We are proud to place a major new technological advance in the Electric Valley that, day after day, we are building with so much commitment and passion.”
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