Arbolino fastest from Fenati on Friday at the Qatar Test

Ai Ogura’s (Honda Team Asia) 2:08.784 puts the Japanese rider in seventh place on Friday, with less than a tenth separating him from eighth place Alonso Lopez (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and ninth quickest Kazuki Masaki (BOE Skull Rider Mugen Race), who was also the leading KTM rider. The only man in the top ten who failed to improve their time in the third and final session of the day was Gabriel Rodrigo (Kommerling Gresini Moto3), the Argentine’s 2:08.926 set in session two.

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Episode 3 of the #MotoGPPodcast is now LIVE!

It’s here! Join hosts Fran Wyld and Matt Dunn for Episode 3 of the official #MotoGPPodcast as we delve into everything that went down in Doha. This week we’re talking all things Qatar Test, with special guests including Randy Mamola, Matt Birt and Simon Crafar…as well as some key insights from the riders.

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Long lap penalty introduced

At every circuit a route will be defined and marked at a safe point around the track, (usually an asphalt runoff area outside of a turn), which is some seconds slower than the normal racing line. The penalised rider must ride through the defined area within 3 laps of being notified, thereby suffering a penalty equivalent to several seconds, (typically 2 or more seconds), on that lap. Procedures will be in place to enable the Stewards to use an equivalent time penalty in case the rider is unable to complete the Long Lap, (e.g. in case of a red flagged race). This penalty will be added to the list of sanctions available to the FIM MotoGP Stewards, and whilst it is primarily intended for track limits violations, it may be used in any circumstances deemed appropriate by the Stewards. The drop position penalty will continue being available to the Stewards.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Inside The Kawasaki Centifiugal Motorcycle Supercharger

There’s no replacement for displacement—unless you have a blower bolted onto the intake, like Kawasaki’s Ninja H2 motorcycles. These Japanese-made powerhouses use a centrifugal supercharger, forcing compressed air into the combustion chamber for more bang.

Kawasaki claims 300 hp for the top-of-the-line R version, giving it the title of the world’s most powerful production motorcycle. The compressor is so compact and spins so quickly (up to 130,000 rpm), Kawasaki had to tap its KHI aerospace and gas-turbine divisions to manufacture it after traditional supercharger manufacturers turned down the project due to its complexity.

Smaller than a gallon of milk, the 9-pound unit uses a 69 mm impeller carved from billet aluminum. It drives off the engine’s crankshaft, allowing for nearly instantaneous boost through the H2R’s 14,000 rpm powerband. As beautiful as they are functional, the blades turn 9.2 times faster than engine rpm, pushing almost 53 gallons of air per second into the inline-four engine at 2.4 times the atmospheric pressure.

The 12-blade impeller spins on ceramic bearings before “floating” on a thin film of oil, which mitigates friction and reduces heat, so there’s no need for a bulky intercooler.

Supercharger production is housed in a separate production area at the Kawasaki factory, which tests each unit before it arrives at the assembly line. Kawasaki values an individual unit at $3,436—or you can get it standard with a new H2 SX sport-touring rig, starting at $19,000.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

2019 preseason: what do the numbers tell us?

Take a look at four pieces of data extracted from winter testing ahead of the Qatar GP

Preseason has officially come to an end for the premier class as all eyes turn to FP1 on Friday 8th March at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. But before you do, take a look at some of the numbers behind 2019 winter testing below. 

Honda had the highest top speed at the Qatar Test

A surprising stat to some, but it was in fact the reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) who set the highest number through the speed traps in Losail. His 348.4km/h was slightly quicker than Jack Miller’s (Alma Pramac Racing) Desmosedici, that clocked in at 347.2. Proof that HRC has managed to improve their engine for the 2019 campaign.

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