British chassis company FTR delays Aprilia 1000cc project for MotoGP debut – MotoGP news
Britain-based chassis company FTR has postponed its plans to enter MotoGP with their Aprilia powered 1000cc prototype.
FTR had designed its project around the Aprilia RSV-4 power plant. The chassis was tailored according to the engine.
FTR Steve Bones talked to Motorcyclenews.com and said, “We had approaches for various engines but we put together a proposal to take the Aprilia superbike engine and electronics. Clearly it is a strong package in WSB and we felt it is already developed to
a high level.”
The project is based on the Aprilia motor for which the cost is quite high. The price of the project forced to temporarily halt the plan.
On the other side, Fausto Gresini also showed some interest in the project after HRC announced to reduce its budget for 2012. San Carlo Honda Gresini boss Fausto Gresini was willing to lease an Aprilia machine for Hiroshi Aoyama, whereas Marco Simoncelli
would run the full factory setup RC213V in 2012.
Bones further added, “People don’t really know where to put their money and place their confidence at the moment and while that is happening the time scale is getting shorter. There are a few people still interested but in terms of the time scale it is too
late to pick that up and start running again.”
Honda Racing Corporation did not allow Gresini to run an Aprilia machine along a Honda bike in the 2012 MotoGP season.
On a critical side, Bones added that the FTR project ran out of testing time. The time is too short before the Valencia test. Therefore, at the moment the plan is on hold until the 2013 MotoGP season.
FTR has also been engaged in the development of the aluminium chassis for Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 and GP12.
Apparently, the company built a carbon fibre chassis with a part aluminium head for the GP11.1. Coming to the GP12, FTR was ordered to create a full version of Deltabox frame in aluminium as used by Japanese rivals in the premier class.
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