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Borsoi says CRT is a big challenge
The 2012 MotoGP World Championship will commence on 8 April, which also marks the debut of CRT prototypes in MotoGP.
Among the 21 bikes lining up on the grid will be Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró, the men set to ride the Claiming Rules Team motorcycles for the Aspar Team.
Gino Borsoi, Sporting Director for the Valencia-based team, spoke on the MotoGP website about the impact the new CRT bikes will have on this year's racing.
Where are you currently at with the bike development? Are you concentrating on working on a single prototype or both?
"We are already working on both motorcycles, among other things, but at least one should be ready for the test that we have
scheduled later this month in Valencia. This should be the complete bike, at least with respect to chassis and swing arm, though with the
fairing and other aspects it’s only a first step, not the final. For the second prototype, it’s likely that we will reuse the old
chassis, among other things, to be able to compare its performance to the new one”.
What are the differences between the prototype used by De Puniet at the Valencia test held last November and this new bike?
“Like I said before, we have the chassis and swing arm, we also have carbon discs and some improvements in weight (3 to 4 kg. less than
the standard model). As for the electronics and motor, however, there is nothing new. The fairing will be fully redesigned in the front,
while the sides and the belly pan will remain the same.”
How are Randy (De Puniet) and Aleix (Espargaró) preparing themselves?
“Randy is resting in Australia after the operation he had shortly before the end of the year to resolve a small physical problem. The
operation went well and now he is recovering and doing some training to get ready for the test at Valencia. Aleix trains in motocross often,
actually he spends a lot of his time doing this type of training.”
We still have some time before the start of the Championship, but what are your goals for 2012?
“Clearly, the main objective is to debut in the best way possible in this new category. We would like a season in which we are ahead of
the other CRT bikes. This is our basic idea. There aren’t many CRTs, and we’d really like to have a good campaign and prove to everyone
that when starting a new bike with maximum commitment, you can produce some good results. And then, maybe on one of the slower tracks, one
of the more twisty ones, if we can get be close to the factory bikes, that would be great.”
Do you personally believe in the potential of CRTs?
“I believe they are the future. Now this direction has been set and it has to be followed, also in respect to the new regulations
established by Dorna. I personally believe very much in this project, and I’m convinced that teams have to start to own their bikes,
working with their own strengths and experience of their own engineers. It’s clear that the battle with the official teams will be very
difficult, because in addition to their budgets, they have the expertise to put bikes on the track that have more performance. But with
bikes in the hands of teams that manage all aspects of their own prototypes, not just the motor but the chassis and electronics too, will be
a fundamental step for the small teams that may well find a place alongside the big names in the World Championship. With CRT, a team is
required to manage its prototype the best that it can, to learns the electronics and the ins and outs of the engine. It’s definitely a
difficult step, but very exciting”
How will your role on the team now change?
“Without a doubt, we need a lot more time, because before we had a single partner, Ducati, they provided us the motorcycle and
then left the task of managing it to us throughout the season, plus things like replacing parts when there was a crash, that required
organization of team members and various trips. It was an important commitment, but it did have limitations. Now, with the CRTs, we have to
have a more comprehensive management of the prototype, dedicated to all aspects of bike: Engine, chassis, electronics, suspension…it will
be 360 degree management, and certainly more challenging.”
