Honda’s new gear system can make the difference – MotoGP news
Honda’s new gear change system has made the MotoGP world to ask bitter questions, that HRC has been using the banned Dual Clutch Technology (DCT) by the FIM regulations.
It has appeared that Honda Racing Corporation has come up with a sacred system of ‘seamless shift’ that swiftly passes the FIM rules, developed to discourage the high-cost inventions.
The new FIM rules were a step to stop the use of Dual Clutch Gearbox system, in serving the purpose to stop the increase in cost in developing such technologies. HRC cited this regulation of restricting the use of the DCT in their MotoGP machines as
engineers came with something new and efficient with a single clutch. Honda VFR1200F is available with the Dual Clutch Technology.
It will be seen that FIM is pushing back the innovations in technology, but the fact remains that it was to control the costs from getting higher. As seen by the Repsol Honda rider’s performance in last month’s two preseason tests, if the seamless
and efficient gear changing system is the key to success in MotoGP, the question raisers will be proved wrong as the first race comes closer by the end of March.
Honda’s outrageous performance unfortunately had to face some rumours that HRC is using an illegal technology. But by the help of engineers at HRC they worked out to something better keep the FIM laws bound.
Honda is a giant in automobile manufacturing industry and holding pedigree in racing world, with involvement in IndyCar, and running in Formula 1 until they called an end at the end of 2008 season. Honda has proved to be the Hi-Tech kid on the block
of MotoGP, but lacking of some skilled riders as they lost Valentino Rossi in 2003.
Formula 1 holds the history and evolution in the development of gearbox systems, and without F1’s participation, we would have not had these technologies. Many companies have been working on the development of efficient compact gearbox system comprising
on single and dual clutches.
Recently, an Italian generalist came up to say that Honda has been using DCT system.
Honda HRC Vice President Shuhei Nakamoto responded at the end of the Sepang tests by saying, “Obviously HRC is not using anything illegal, but it's true that we have something new on the transmission that currently allows for faster gear changes. We
are not talking about a DCT, but I can't tell you how it works... because I don't know!”
Honda Racing Corporation engineers deserve to be proud and head high on their staggering innovative gearbox system, which made the difference and RC212V was the fastest machine in preseason test held in February.
By the end of 2010 MotoGP season Dani Pedrosa was often fast Honda rider, which Jorge Lorenzo admitted as well. So adding a new mean gearbox to the fast machine is more than enough to shoot Honda in top-four places at Sepang I-II tests.
However, the gear system entered the RC212V it’s a key factor to shift the crown of MotoGP title. Honda is been working with a British company named Xtrac in IndyCar racing for some time, which provides the gearbox for the 3.5-litre Honda V8 engines
used by all competitors.
Xtrac has only revealed that they have developed a “Instantaneous Gear-change System,” which does the same job as DCT but with a single clutch.
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