This season is the ninth and last for the Honda CBR600 RR engines, used since the creation of the Moto2 category. The new 3-cylinder 765 cm3 Triumph recently appeared in a Kalex chassis, and several manufacturers have it to manufacture their new chassis.
As with the Honda for six years, maintenance will be carried out by ExternPro, based in the Technopark of the MotorLand Aragón circuit. Günther Wiesinger from Speedweek took stock at the start of the season with Trevor Morris, Technical Director of ExternPro.
Preparation of Triumph engines for 2019 is already in full swing. Do you have a testing team? Or do you leave most of the on-track testing to manufacturers like Kalex and KTM?
“So far we have done a lot of work on the dyno, and we have done a lot of endurance testing on a track near Barcelona, at the Alcarras Circuit. Julian Simon participated in an ExternPro test in Aragon. But Triumph has its own test riders, about eight of them, they go for miles and miles. It's all about endurance and stability, but we simulate track conditions. »
How many Triumph racing engines have you built?
“We started at the beginning of the year. I wanted to do enough endurance tests beforehand, so we were always sure of what we needed. In November there was a meeting with the suppliers, because the delivery deadlines were set. »
Have you done the endurance tests with production engines?
“No, no, we built engines with Moto2 specification. All kilometers were done with engines that were in MotoGP race configuration. »
How many test kilometers have you covered with Triumph?
“I think it was over 12 km. We did this: we drove 000 km, then we opened the engine, then we reassembled it and drove another 3000 km. Then everything was checked again. We just wanted to ensure stability. »
In the meantime, manufacturers are already building prototypes. Kalex has already tested with Triumph engines.
“Yes, we have equipped chassis manufacturers with a standard engine. This allows them to make sure the engine fits into the frame.
Such an engine was also supplied to the newcomer NTS? Besides Kalex, KTM, Tech3, Speed-up and Suter?
“Yes, NTS has one. Tech 3 got a motor. It's for sale.
When will manufacturers be able to test the racing versions for the first time?
“The official standard engine for 2019 will only be available during an official IRTA test. It hasn't been confirmed yet. We intend to ship the official engines Triumph 2019 for all IRTA tests. There are usually three. So far we have only supported the latest test. But because it's a new engine, it will be available for all IRTA testing in winter 2019. What we are doing for 2018, we haven't determined exactly yet. We have to wait and see how the preparations with the electronics go.
Are manufacturers getting additional testing days for Triumph prototypes in 2018?
“Yes, they have ten days of Triumph engines. This is in addition to the private test days they are allowed to do with Honda. Test drivers or regular drivers can be used as far as I know. There is also interest from new Moto2 chassis manufacturers for 2019.”
MV Agusta? What about former FTR designer Steve Bones?
“Yes, and I can imagine that some of the new manufacturers don't have the resources to test as much as the well-known and established Moto2 chassis manufacturers. Bultaco also contacted us. »
Title photo © Triumph
Photos above, in Valencia at the end of February © Thomas Morcellino Kalex Engineering
Source: speedweek
