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HE bike that nearly made Lotus a motorcycle manufacturer in the 1990s is back with a new set of carbon clothes and twin electric motors. The EV-0 RR will go head-to-head with the American Mission One at the zero-emission TTXGP on the Isle of Man in just 99 days’ time.
‘It’s a racing thoroughbred. We’re going out to win’ JA;C KAEHKGF$ HJGB=;L D=9<=J
Based on the carbon monocoque concept designed by then-Lotus designer Peter Williams, the EV-0 RR boasts a stressed all-carbon body, double-wishbone front end and MotoGP-derived telemetry and control systems. The designers – who have the Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans car and Lotus 79 ground-effect Formula 1 car on their CVs – claim it will have the power, weight and speed of a 600cc sports bike when it contests the one-lap race on June 12. Fabrication is being carried out by the chief mechanic of the A1GP race series, Steve Fyldes. Traction control and other electronics are being implemented by Peter Trevor of MotoGP suppliers KA Sensors. “It’s a thoroughbred racebike,” says project leader Rick Simpson: “We’re going out to win this race.” The bike features a doublewishbone front-end based on Steve Linsdell’s modified Yamaha GTS1000, which he raced to sixth place in the
1995 Formula 1 TT. Steve’s son Olie will ride the EV-0 RR. “The ‘funny front end’ gives the bike incredible stability,” says Simpson. Linsdell believes it will prove one of the bike’s key advantages: “The GTS could run a very soft, grippy 250GP tyre and not work it, and it was completely immune to tankslappers. It’s perfect for the TT.” If he feels nerves about his 21-year-old son racing an unproven carbon-chassis bike round the world’s most demanding circuit, he doesn’t show them, saying only: “I’ve asked them to over-engineer it.” Brian Alexander of Mussett Composites is overseeing the creation of the carbon monocoque which provides the bike’s structure and stiffness: “Everyone knows what the Island is like. It kills bikes. But building a bike from scratch is a lot better than taking the engine out of a street bike and trusting it’ll hold together. The monocoque design is very strong.”
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Combined with the wishbone front end, the team believes the bike will outhandle allcomers. The team has GPSmapped the TT course’s elevation changes to work out the precise power/range balance. They will also give the rider with a selection of power maps he can select depending on location. “It’s a shame electric power goes ‘whiz’ rather than ‘vroom’,” says Simpson, but it does give the rider benefits: “The power delivery is infinitely tuneable, the chassis dynamics are completely stable as you’re not burning off kilos of fuel and the torque is incredible. “We’re talking massive, instant grunt. Olie’s going to have to be all over the front to keep it down.” The team refuses to release detailed figures, but the £48,000 Mission One produced by a group of engineers who used to work with the Tesla electric sports car specialists in the US is shaping up to be the EV-0 RR’s most obvious rival. And the needle has already begun, with experts questioning the team’s claims of 150mph top speed and 150-mile range. “It’s a great looking bike,
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‘We’re talking massive, instant grunt’ JA;C KAEHKGF$ HJGB=;L D=9<=J but it can’t achieve both those figures at the same time,” says Simon Day, of the Production Engineering Research Association: “100kg of state of the art batteries contain about the same energy as 3.5 litres of petrol, and a TT bike gets through about 12 litres a lap.” Even though an electric engine is about three times as efficient as a petrol one, that leaves Mission One’s claims, according to Simp-
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Kmra H]jjq Zj]Yck kad]f[] gf `]j da^]%kYnaf_ kmj_]jq BBC MotoGP host talks exclusively to MCN about her fears that she was going to die
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UZI PERRY has spoken of the most terrifying moment of her life as she recovers from life-saving surgery and the devastating loss of her unborn baby. The popular BBC MotoGP presenter lost almost four pints of blood after suffering a life-threatening ruptured ectopic pregnancy at her Chiswick home. The 38-year-old, who has become one of the most recognisable faces in British biking, was eight weeks pregnant with her first child when she collapsed with
excruciating stomach pains at her West London home shortly before filming an episode of the Gadget Show. Perry was rushed by ambulance to hospital where she underwent a two-hour operation to save her life as the rupture caused internal bleeding and massive blood loss. She needed five days in hospital and she spoke to MCN exclusively before she
‘I was in so much pain that I could hardly breathe’
travelled to France last weekend to continue her recovery. “It is without doubt the most terrifying experience of my life,” she said. “I was horrified at what happened. I was about to film for the Gadget Show and the filming was going to be in my house. I knew I was in the early stages of pregnancy but I’d only just found out, so I was kind of quietly excited without having told anybody. “I’d woken up that morning thinking how excited I was at being able to tell people about the baby. I’d gone from that to thinking I might not make it and I was defi-
nitely going to lose my baby. I had excruciating stomach pains and I was almost passing out. I could hardly breathe because I was in so much pain. “I called my doctor and he thought I’d suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and that is life-threatening. He said what I was experiencing was blood loss and internal bleeding and I was terrified. I knew it was bad because I was in a lot of pain. The doctor called an ambulance for me and while I was in A&E I collapsed twice because I had no blood pressure. “I was rushed to have scans and the next thing I knew I was on the operating table
‘Thanks for all the messages of support on MCN’s website’ with lots of people shouting. It was bloody terrifying because I didn’t have any members of my family there and I thought I might never wake up from this. I knew it was bad from looking at the body language of the people around me. “I lost two litres of blood and I’m not being dramatic about it, but it was a life-saving operation for me. Perry
has suspended all her TV work for at least a month, and confirmed she won’t be fronting the Beeb’s coverage for “the first few races” as she begins to recover from the physical and mental trauma. She added: “It is going to be a long road to recovery. I needed a blood transfusion but my blood count has been really low and I’m having to eat a lot of steak and red meat and spinach for the next few weeks as well as taking iron tablets. “The doctors have told me to have two months off work. I love working but I know I’ve got to get completely better.”
But she hasn’t been denied the opportunity of still becoming a mother in the future. “That’s a positive to help me,” said Perry. “I’m a bit up and down emotionally at the moment but I know I will be completely fine. I’ve heard about the messages of support on the MCN website and I thank everybody for them.”
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H^]a^^]j k`jm_k g^^ ^dm ^gj `ak l`aj\ ogjd\ lald] CHRISTIAN PFEIFFER has won the Indoor Stunt Riding World Championship for the third consecutive year, despite suffering a bout of flu immediately before the event. Riding a specially-modified BMW F800R, the German rider claimed the title at the Swiss-Moto Exhibition in Zurich ahead of Hungarians Balasz Herzceg and Zoltan Angyal. The Indoor World Championship is motorcycling’s most prestigious stunt riding
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:]]e]jk \]Zml Yl K[gllak` K`go MCN’S Scottish Motorcycle Show next weekend is the first place you’ll see BMW’s stunning S1000RR World Superbike contender north of the border. The company is shipping the bike – along with the new-for-2009 F800R middleweight naked – especially for the show. Other debuts at the show,
which runs from March 14-15 at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre, include Ducati’s exquisite 1098-powered Streetfighter, and the storming fairground excitement of the Wall of Death. There’ll also be stunt shows, amazing bikes of yesteryear in the Carole Nash Classics Pavilion, and custom bikes on display
courtesy of Area 51 Custom Cycles. And this year you can make it a true family day out, because kids aged 15 and under get in free! For further information, visit www.scottishmotor cycleshow.co.uk, or call 0844-581-1260 for 10% off advanced group booking of 10 tickets or more.
event. As reigning champion, Pfeiffer was hot favourite. He struggled during qualifying only managing third place. “I had to use a few hot tricks from my repertoire, because I just wasn’t feeling
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fit enough, but it was just about enough to keep me in contention,” said the 38-year-old. Then in the semi-finals, he crashed while doing a one-handed wheelie circle – although he still managed enough points to reach the final. During the final, however, it all came together and he was duly awarded the day’s best score by the five judges – enough to give him a clear victory for the third consecutive time.
DYf\ g^ l`] Af[Yk f]]\k dY\q ja\]jk FANCY riding across the land of the Incas? Established tour company Adventure Peru is looking for four female riders who have faced great personal adversity, either through illness or hardship, for a 10-day trip next October. Heading up the group is Sally Ann Holmes, 56, who made a miraculous recovery from a near-fatal brain haemorrhage six years ago. With her will be biking journalist and occasional MCN contributor Mel Falconer, who has previously ridden the route. Fully-qualified doctor Wendy Peters is also along for the ride. The trip will involve off>gmj oge]f ja\]jk Yj] oYfl]\ ^gj ljah
road riding on dirt/gravel tracks often at high altitude in the Andes and includes a stunning, seven-hour trip through the famous Canyon de Patos (Duck Canyon) rated the greatest motorcycle ride in the Americas. No previous off-road experience is needed – there will be a training weekend (March 21-22) with the Army White Helmets motorcycle display team after which the final rider selections will be made. For more information on this amazing trip call Dave Groves on 01424-838618/ 07768-568811 or visit www.perumotorcycling. com.
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On his first time out with his rookie team, Brit Leon Haslam battles to a stunning third place at Phillip Island
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EON HASLAM defied the odds at Phillip Island. He only landed his ride four months ago and his team, Stiggy Honda, have never raced in WSB before, yet he beat the dominant Ten Kate Honda team to finish top Honda rider. Haslam now sits third overall in the WSB standings. The 25-year-old Brit had to swap places and fairing paint with Aprilia’s Max Biaggi and factory Ducati man Michel Fabrizio to get on the podium – his third in World Superbikes. An ecstatic Haslam told MCN: “I’m absolutely peaking. I knew I had the pace to get on the podium, but I was losing so much time to the
Ducati out of the last two turns and on the straight. I was happy behind Fabrizio, because he was setting a good pace and catching Biaggi, but when he passed Max I knew I had to do the same thing.’” Despite his lack of speed, Haslam made two stunning passes into the 120mph Turn One, seemingly unfazed by the amount of movement from his Stiggy Honda. He added: “We’re lacking in top speed, which is making it hard to pass. I was 20 metres behind Biaggi going in, but I passed him into Turn One. In my opinion he was braking early, but I wasn’t. The bike was juddering, moving and sliding but that’s what made it fun. ‘With two laps to go, I passed Fabrizio, but it took four goes to make it stick.
The last one was into Honda hairpin – we were side by side and I knew I was going to run about a metre wide. So I just picked it up and he
‘I felt I could have got on the podium in race one as well’ D=GF @9KD9E had to do the same, which allowed Laconi to pass him – that was perfect for me.’” Having finished sixth in the opening race after a tough battle with Jonathan Rea, Haslam and the team worked hard to resolve a front suspension and tyre issue. With the help of his father Ron and dedicated
Ohlins technician Peter Goddard, he made a change which enabled him to extend the Stiggy Honda’s tyre life at the end of race two. Haslam said: “I felt I could have got on the podium in race one, but it would have been easy to make a mistake by pushing too hard. I used a harder tyre in race two, but compared to Haga and Spies we were still having the same problem. “Even though we had issues, I had a really good feel with the bike and I was confident to push it to that limit. I knew I couldn’t go any faster, but if I kept it on that limit it was quick enough. “We know the areas that we’re lacking in and we can still improve it through suspension changes. We’re loading the front tyre too much, which is wearing it out. “This result is a big credit to the Stiggy team, because at every test we’ve made progress and I know we are nowhere near where we can
be – and that makes it really exciting. We’re not touching the electronics and I’m still running a standard clutch, which is causing me to back it in too much. “The reliability of the bike has been awesome, but we know that we are down on top speed, so if we can get a little bit more it will make life a hell of a lot easier. “The team have been on the dyno in Italy while we’ve been in Australia and they are confident they’ve found something which they will hopefully ship out to Qatar for round two.”
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L`] gl`]j :jalk2 [jYk`]k Yf\ lqj] og]k K@9C=Q ;J9K@=K LOA;= SHANE BYRNE saw his hopes of fighting for a podium end in dramatic fashion after crashing out of both races at Phillip Island. Race one came to an abrupt end while dicing with Tommy Hill and Shinya Nakano. Shakey said: ‘I was exiting MG corner and the old girl spat me off. I haven’t been that high for a while and if I’d looked across while I was up there I think I would have seen England.” In race two, Shakey was on schedule to fight for a top eight finish, but lost the front dicing with eventual seventh-place finisher Jacob Smrz. Shakey said: “I wanted to pass Smrz so that I could go with Neukirchner. I went underneath him at Honda Hairpin, but he was still on the outside of me and I just held the brake for a little bit too long and tucked the front.”
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JONATHAN REA left Phillip Island disappointed, having been plagued by tyre problems. In qualifying the 22-year-old showed blistering place to secure a front row position alongside Ben Spies, Max Biaggi and Jacob Smrz. And in race one the Ten Kate Honda man
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stormed to the front and led for the first three laps, but in an effort to conserve his tyre, he dropped off the lead pace. In the end it was the front tyre that let him down, but he was still able to secure an
eighth in the standings. In the second race I got duffed up a bit in the opening lap and whenever I lost time it was impossible to get back without killing my tyre. “I thought the guys at the front would start to slow as the race went on, but they never did.”
His position was compounded by two slow starts on the Yamaha R1 which prevented him from making the break with the leaders. He added: “It’s not too bad, but it could be better. I know that if I could have got away at the front I could have run with the top guys, especially as I can keep doing the times with this bike. “At this circuit you need to preserve the tyre, but in race two I was battling with Shakey and Kagayama and that cost me.”
ing from severe chatter. He said: “On the first lap I decided to change my lines and wherever everyone else was I was on the other side of the track. It worked, because I got through to where I needed to be. “I’ve been struggling with chatter all weekend – in race one it was the worst I’ve ever had it. I kept saying to myself ‘Everyone else has got it, too – keep going’. I had to change my style and stop trail-braking into corners to make the bike neutral.” In the second race, Hill battled with – and overhauled – track specialist Troy Corser on the BMW. Hill added: “It’s my first real race since October 2007 [when he broke his leg] so considering what’s happened with my injury it’s not bad. It’s good to get points, but it’s not where I want to be. I still want more.”
‘I was exiting MG corner and the old girl spat me off’ K@9C=Q :QJF= impressive fifth place 3/100ths of a second ahead of Leon Haslam. In race two his set-up for the warmer track didn’t pay off and after running in sixth he dropped back, eventually finishing ninth. He said: “When I stand back and look at the whole weekend, it’s not bad. I’m
KQC=K L9J?=LK >9KL=J KL9JLK TOM SYKES scored two 10th places, but left Phillip Island disappointed, knowing he had the speed to do better. He said: “I couldn’t believe how much bumping and barging was going on in the first two corners. I saw my team-mate [Ben Spies] get punted off and then in the fourth corner I got tangled up with three other bikes. “It wasn’t the ideal first lap, but after that I was happy with my race pace.’”
@ADD ?=LK AF L@= HGAFLK TOMMY HILL got his WSB season off to an impressive start by securing points in both races onboard his Altea Honda. He spent the opening race battling with – and beating – factory Aprilia man Shinya Nakano to finish 14th despite suffer-
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