The pursuit of an FIM Motocross Championship title involves equipment that is at the forefront of technology. This is exemplified by Rockstar Energy Suzuki Factory Racing, as visitors can see at the team’s workshops at Lommel, Belgium. Parts and equipment which are assembled there meet the commitment of the Hamamatsu brand to make its RM-Z 450 machine both pin-sharp and unbeatable.
Thus, the development of the team has benefited particularly from an engine test bench which deserves some explanation, given to us by Roy Matheson, one of the team’s five technicians: "Our inertia test bench measures power and torque of the engine from the lowest to the highest of the RPM range. We connect a complete motorcycle to the bench, with the rear tire having been replaced by a road tire for better traction to the drive system. That way we can carry out our tuning not just on a single engine, but on a fully-fitted bike with exhaust, air box, fuel system. This allows us to make multiple adjustments.” Much of the development, together with improvements made by the factory, is therefore carried out before the first race of the season. “But we are still finalising the settings on the track,” says Matheson. “When it leaves the bench, it never means work is finished. Evaluation equipment such as this is a big investment, but it doesn’t have all answers and the results it gives us must absolutely be backed up by what we find out on track.”
Not to mention the different habits of riders or their personal choices. Behind the machine, racing remains a very male-dominated business!
Photo credit: Suzuki-racing.com
