Shuhei Nakamoto: “Our future production MotoGP bike will be…”

It seems to be clear that both Dani Pedrosa and Marc Márquez enjoy this season more competitive frame of the championship, just as every day more data known future HRC-client runs in the top category. However, not everything is going fine for HRC. On Moto3 KTM leads the category clearly and, apparently, the development of the Honda Moto3 designed for privateers is not going so well as they wished.

SM: About the production bike. What are the differences between the factory bike and the production bike?
SN: Engine is different. Production bike is about 6km/h slower at straight in Motegi.

SM: And the material?
SN: Crankcase block of the factory bike is machined and the production bike uses casting. The production bike uses normal valve spring instead of pneumatic valve so that engine rev is a little lower.

SM: It uses the same ECU as current CRT bikes?
SN: Yes, what DORNA supplies

SM: Transmission is also different
SN: Yes

SM: You said 6km/h difference at Motegi. Is it what you have expected?
SN: Almost what I expected. Akiyoshi was riding the bike. When the final engine is ready, it will be faster.

SM: What are the present problems?
SN: Engine reliability is not enough and oil/water temperature is too high. We have other small issues to solve.

SM: What is the performance difference?
SN: Our target is +2%. But in reality it will be +1.something.

SM: So the potential of the production bike will be higher than that of CRT bike.
SN: I think so. But for instance, Toni Elias can mark almost same lap time on any bike. Also the bike Bradl and Bautista are riding now are the same as Dani and Marc’s bike but the factory riders are faster. So everything is depending on the rider’s ability.

SM. How many production bike will you sell?
SN: There will be 12 factory bikes and Yamaha will lease four engines next year and there will be Aprillia also, so we will sell four to five bikes.

SM: Are there already some inquiries and reservations?
SN: Yes there are inquiries but not so many reservations. Gresini Team wants to buy it and some other teams want to know the details.

SM: And the price?
SN: Between 1 million to 1.2 million Euro. We want to supply it with one million Euro price tag but that will be difficult. The price includes complete bike and engine maintenance fee.

SM: What will be the name?
SN: We haven’t decided it yet. How about NSF1000 (laugh)?

SM: When will you test the production bike in European circuit.
SN: After the Valencia GP is likely because we have to clear the engine reliability issue.

SM: May be Dorna want to replace the factory bike with the production bike in the future.
SN: Carmelo is thinking like that. But if that happens, we will quit. It is no meaning for us to continue racing without doing factory bike.

You will find more information about GP in te last number of SMDigital GP Cataluña