Somewhat coincidentally, following yesterday’s story on the new lap record at Jerez established during the first test of the new Triumph-powered Moto2 bikes, we received the following press release from Triumph discussing the power output of the machines (“producing more than 138 hp”), as well as the extensive development steps taken by the British firm in preparation for its role as exclusive supplier of spec engines to the Moto2 classification. Here is the press release:
Engine Development Press Conference – Valencia
- Triumph Motorcycles presents at Moto2™ press conference alongside Externpro, Magneti Marelli and Dorna to announce power figures for Triumph Moto2™ race engines.
- Triumph race engines are supplied fully developed and tested for reliability and consistency, producing more than 138 HP (140 PS) peak power output.
Engine Testing and Development
Triumph has completed a multiple phase testing programme focused on maximising; performance, durability and drivability, including;
- An extensive 2 year engine development program of factory-based, dynamometer and multiple track locations for testing.
- More than 2,500 “race pace” laps have been completed at a range of European circuits
- Developments include the application of high performance coatings to key internal components for enhanced performance
- Completed engine “double-lifecycle” in continuous track durability testing
Stuart Wood, Triumph Chief Engineer said; “Triumph have been extremely warmly welcomed by Dorna, its partners and the Press. It really feels like people share our excitement in Triumph’s entry into factory supported, top flight motorcycle racing. We are confident that our engine development programme has been extremely comprehensive and that the increased power, wide spread of torque and amazing triple sound will bring exciting racing in 2019.”
To understand the background of our engine platform development, our Triumph Moto2™ triple race engines are based on our 765cc Street Triple RS production engine, itself derived originally from the iconic Daytona Supersports 675cc bike.
These new race engines are built to bring more power and torque, designed to rev harder and run with a lower inertia and all delivered in a lighter weight package.
Our Street Triple RS engine which produces 121 HP in standard format was launched with over 80 new parts from the previous generation of Street Triple. For the new race engine in we have made the following changes;
- Modified cylinder head with revised inlet
& exhaust ports for optimised gas flow - Higher compression ratio
- Titanium valves & stiffer valve springs
- Revised cam timing > for increased rpm
- High Flow Fuel Injectors
- Low inertia race kit alternator
- Revised 1st and 2nd gear ratios
- Race developed, adjustable slipper clutch
- Magneti Marelli Race ECU
- Revised engine covers for reduced width
- Different sump for improved exhaust header run
ECU development testing
Triumph has also supported extensive ECU development testing with Magneti Marelli
This has been a track focused development program. In collaboration with Magneti Marelli, Triumph has supplied the base data and the provision of engines, a full test mule and Triumph technical support team.
Chassis development testing
Triumph has supplied development engines via Externpro to the chassis manufacturers to test. These tests have included current and former Moto2™ championship racers. Triumph has additionally provided ECU development input to the chassis manufacturers.
That thing is going to sound niceee.
It does! At least in videos on MotoGP.com.
This is going to sound corny, but this new, growly motor sounds way more “GP” than the outgoing inline fours. As much as I like to hear different engine sounds in whatever racing class, it’s audible that MotoGP engines are sounding more and more alike – clearly there is convergence on a particular set of technologies that maximize traction, tire life, feel, and power delivery at these stratospheric horsepower levels.
This new triple fits RIGHT in, aurally, to the current GP scene. So delicious. Can’t wait to listen to a season of racing!
Sounds very exciting and promising. We shall see.
That triple might be the finest engine ever produced for a motorcycle! Just my humble opinion.
If you stop and think about it, the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP ought to be downright bewildering. The current generation of Honda 600s makes 130 hp. This new Triumph is going to make, what, 140? 145? A Ducati MotoGP bike makes something in the neighborhood of 280 hp. Can you imagine jumping from what is already an insanely fast machine to something that has literally more than twice the power, plus full carbon brakes, and now you have to go take on Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Marquez, all of whom have spent years and years fine-tuning their craft on those monsters?
I can’t think of many other similar situations. The jump from college football to the NFL or college hoops to the NBA or Triple A baseball to the Major Leagues does not involve the players suddenly becoming more than twice as big or fast, or the ball being thrown more than twice as hard, or the fences being more than twice as far away, or the basket being more than twice as high. Graduate from collegiate track and field to the World Championships or even the Olympics and your 10.02 best time in the 100-meter sprint doesn’t see you suddenly facing guys who are doing 4.5s. Even a jockey plying his trade on the lower circuits doesn’t see his horse suddenly become twice as powerful the moment he’s given a Kentucky Derby mount.
It has to be one helluva an eye-opener, the first time a guy twists the throttle to the stop down the main straight at Mugello.
I remember when Lorenzo didn’t turn on traction control at Laguna. Ouch! Wish we knew what happened to Kato’s bike back in the day.
“This new Triumph is going to make, what, 140? 145?”
I’ve read in the neighborhood of 138 hp
Triumph stated, “producing more than 138 hp.” What a strange way to phrase it. Why not just post the number? Bare minimum, why use something as random as 138 mph as the “producing more than” number?
It probably has something to do with the numbers put out on the test mule using the programming that Triumph and Marelli were using. I’m sure, over time, the same engine with zero changes will put down better numbers as the moto2 teams get better acquainted with it and the programming improves. There’s no doubt the the engine is physically more capable than this number.
Well I’m sure if it made as much as 140 they would have been happy to brag about that, so I’m guessing under 140.
As with the Honda engines, teams will be able to run their own exhaust systems and make their own adjustments to the ECU. So all will not produce the same number
Rideability is something that we now have just a little more data on than a mere inkling. The initial results do look promising, though. Reliability and durability are still words in company statements. But, if the first few races next year serve as proof, Triumph will have hit a solid home with this effort. WSBK will also slide backwards even more in how it is viewed by prospective riders and all but the few fans that have heavy passion for a single superbike model.
If this moto2 engine is truly based off the Street Triple, then I’m not concerned about reliability at this state of tune. There’s a whole slew of Street Triples on the road with headwork, pistons, exhaust and intake mods and FI programming that have been running higher numbers than 138 for years. Some people have STs that are pushing 175. Granted they’re not WOT, opening and closing at race pace all those years, but they are running around, munching 10s of thousands of miles so far. I can see this Triumph moto2 engine altering the rules to use 2 less engines a season after the first year of proving itself.
If I recall in the Moto2 scheme the engines are all in a pool and shared. They get returned to the engine maintenance facility after each race or perhaps every other race and then sent randomly back to the teams.
Numbers for engines are drawn out of a black bag by the teams. They are inspected to make sure none of the seals are broken, so teams can’t mess with them, if everything looks ok they sign off on the engine and they keep it for 3 races, then it is returned to the manufacturer and the process starts all over again for the next engine.
It would help amortize development costs to offer these advances in a street version. Just sayin.
Race prepped engines don’t work well on the street; totally different environments.
While I was actually joking, see Bob K post above
It’s hard to believe they won’t make a street version. It’s too sexy of a motor, and while making a great connection between the track and the street (if that matters any more?), it’s truly a motor that will excel in both environments.
In MotoGP I feel like I remember some rules on how long a manufacturer had to wait, after a MotoGP bike was introduced, to make or market a similar bike for sale. I was several years. Does any of that apply for Moto2?