P124
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
T
here's always a frisson
when a new manufacturer
dives headlong into the top
level of racing. Will they make it?
Or will the waters be too deep?
More of a frisson still when
they eschew conventional racing
practice to embrace novelty.
After all, what succeeds in rac-
ing is what succeeded last year,
plus a couple of percent. The
same mantra upon which the
Japanese bike industry achieved
its strength: copy, but improve.
So when, for example, Aprilia
greeted the new 990cc four-
stroke era with a unique and
sonorous in-line triple designed
by racing-car firm Cosworth, it
was not so great a surprise that
it was ultimately found wanting.
It was very fast as well as very
noisy. But also very difficult to
ride. Honda's successful V5 was
also unconventional, but based
around familiar V4 motorcycle
technology, and performed like a
motorcycle.
Now it's KTM's turn. And while
their V4 engine is in line with
main rival Honda's (although the
vee angle and firing intervals
remain a closely guarded secret)
the Austrians have been unable
to stop themselves from the
same heresy that has marked
their participation in the less
demanding technical enclaves of
the smaller classes.
They are using that old and
long since out-dated chassis con-
struction—welded steel tubes.
ANYONE FOR TRELLIS?
