Fiat Yamaha urge FIM to make MotoGP less expensive
Daniele Romagnoli and Davide Brivio, team managers at Fiat Yamaha, have urged the FIM to take decisive actions that would bring about a reduction in MotoGP costs. According to Romagnoli, team manager for Jorge Lorenzo, the FIM should reduce winter testing and/or schedule testing to coincide with the last GP of the season, which would also reduce costs (since bikes and equipment would not have to be ferried from one country to another).
Romagnoli also suggests a drastic reduction in the rev limit for MotoGP engines, which would enhance their longevity. This, according to him, would be crucial in bringing down costs because the engine is the most expensive part of a MotoGP bike in terms of the cost of components as well as research and development costs.
Reducing the rev limit to 16,000rpm would, according to Romagnoli, allow manufacturers to use the same engine in two or perhaps even three races. It would also allow a reduction in manufacturing costs since it would be possible to make these engines with relatively less expensive materials.
The Fiat Yamaha managers recommend the usage of just one ECU per bike and a drastic reduction in the usage of complex, expensive sensors such as inertial platforms and GPS. They recommend going back to simpler, less expensive electronics - the kind that were being used five years ago.
And finally, they suggest that steel (rather than carbon) brakes be used on MotoGP bikes, which would help cut costs further. 'I don't think these changes would make the championship any less spectacular. As a matter of fact, it could lead to even have more surprises,' says Romagnoli.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
All New Bike from Bajaj Next Month
Bajaj is planning to launch its new motorcycle in India. The company has experienced a fall in sales since past few months. It will launch its new model to revive its sales figures. Sales for Bajaj Auto fell by 37 percent in November 2008.
According to the auto analysts, the launch of a new model will squeeze the profit margins for the company. High interest rates and the slowdown in the demand have already left the auto makers ailing not only in India but also worldwide. The dealers have also cut back purchases to avoid piling up inventories at their end.
Bajaj is also offering cheaper financing options with the help of its group company, Bajaj Auto Finance Limited. The company will finance all the vehicles purchased from the Bajaj dealer and will offer cheaper loan options to its customers. Bajaj motorcycles are 125cc which cater to the domestic demands from urban India. This segment has been severely hit by the ongoing credit crunch in the country.
[Via: cartradeindia]
Bajaj to launch 5 new bikes in 2009
Bajaj Auto today announced slew of incentives. The measures include an intense new product initiatives. Through this measure, Bajaj will launch a new motorcycle each month for 6 months beginning January 2009.
The new motorcycles we can expect from the Bajaj includes - new facelifted Pulsar 220 , new Pulsar 200 Fi , XCD sprint , Blade scooter, new low cost product (might be called as Steel)
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