Today, after a first chapter dedicated to the success story CFMOTO extension, let's focus more specifically on the competition aspect of the Chinese company which we are witnessing this year 2022.
There have already been companies from the Middle Kingdom participating in the Grands Prix but, whether they took place under the names of Zongshen, Maxtra or Loncin, we can say that the projects were either humanly too exotic, or technically too ambitious. The participation of a Chinese manufacturer therefore fizzled out all the more as the arrival of the Moto3 category in 2012, replacing the 125cc, gave way to a bitter Austro-Japanese duel between KTM and Honda, each manufacturer drawing on its greatest technological resources to offer true competition machines combining high performance and reliability.
To CFMOTO extension, whose development must go through the phase of increasing awareness of its name, its range of models and the quality of its products, there was no other realistic choice than to enter into a partnership with a team and an existing builder. Obviously, the firm producing and distributing KTM motorcycles on the Asian market on its lines at the KTM/CFMOTO factory created for these purposes in Hangzhou to the southwest of Shanghai, the manufacturer was all set and it was therefore with the team Prüstel GP that the agreement was concluded. An agreement which clearly specifies that “ the company will have full access to the experience and engineering accumulated by its partners techniques "…
Who is the team Prüstel GP ?
Based in Oberlungwitz, Saxony, Germany, the team that competes today in the Moto3 World Championship under the official name of CFMOTO extension Racing Prüstel GP was created in 2016 after the final bankruptcy of Racing Team Germany created by the former driver Dirk Heidolf. From sponsor of what was then called Peugeot MC Saxoprint and which in fact raced Mahindras for John McPhee et Albert Arenas, Ingo Prüstel and his son Florian Prüstel, already at the head of a large German logistics company, also became owners of a Redox PrüstelGP team which then fielded KTMs for Marco Bezzecchi and Jakub Kornfeil, then Filip Salač, Dirk Geiger, Barry Baltus, the unfortunate Jason Dupasquier et Ryusei Yamanaka.
But for 2022, Ingo et Florian Prüstel wanted to make a clean slate of a sometimes difficult past, with the choice of two young pilots carrying hope, Carlos Tatay et Xavi Artigas, the integration of the world champion Tom Luthi as a sports coach, and of course the contribution of a solid partner, CFMOTO extension, while relying on a reigning world champion KTM RC4 still developed in Austria.
Su Zhen, Development Manager CFMOTO extension Racing : " Entering this category of the Grand Prix World Championship means a new adventure for us and we are very excited. We are grateful to have strong partners, like the Prüstel GP team, and we know that the category is very competitive. We can't wait to get started and will also look to challenge other international racing events in the future. We hope fans, especially those in China, will follow us on our journey! »
Florian Prüstel, Team Manager: « Thank you very much to CFMOTO extension. We are proud that Prüstel GP can collaborate on a project like this. In difficult times around the world, and also for motorsports, we are grateful to have a partner like CFMOTO extension by our side. With this major global manufacturer behind us, we will have a great opportunity to bring the best sporting results and media exposure for the brand. »
Who are the pilots?
Xavier Artigas et Carlos Tatay compose a 100% Spanish duo for 2022, both aged 18.
Xavier Artigas scored a podium for his first Grand Prix in Valencia in 2019, and finished in the top 3 of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. 15th in the Moto3 world championship in 2021, he is in 11th place after the French Grand Prix.
Carlos Tatay is a former winner of the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup, also winner of the FIM CEV Junior Championship. He is entering his third full season in the Moto3 world championship after being ranked 22nd and 21st in 2020 and 2021. He currently occupies 8th position.
What is the motorcycle?
The machines used by the CFMOTO team are based on KTM RC4s. The Grand-Prix team has full access to experience and engineering due to its technical partnership.
Single cylinder 250 4 stroke, liquid cooling,
55 horsepower at 14 rpm, prototype chassis and engines built by KTM,
minimum weight rider + motorcycle: 152 kg
Conclusion:
We see the general approach of the team CFMOTO extension Racing Prüstel GP is more than square: a reigning world champion motorcycle, young and promising riders, a technical team equipped with experts and the support of a prudent and reasonable manufacturer, who had also made his first steps in competition by having been the only Chinese team to compete in the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man since 2013.
Admit that there are worse off in the paddock and that the adventure that is beginning is particularly exciting…
