Mandalika Test Begins, Alex Rins First MotoGP Racer to Try New Circuit

 Pertamina Mandalika's inaugural MotoGP test officially started Friday morning (11/2) at 10 am local time. Alex Rins, a Suzuki Ecstar rider, is the first MotoGP racer to enter this circuit. 

Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) managed to be the fastest in the inauguration session. On the first day of testing, red flags were immediately raised because the circuit was too wet and dirty.

Alex Rins

Alex Rins, racer number 42 started the session with wet tires. This was done because the weather at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, had been raining since before the training started. In the early session, Rins successfully gushed the 2022 Suzuki GSX-RR, recording the best time of 1 minute 45.21 seconds. As he became more familiar with the track, he also managed to improve his time to the level of 1 minute 33.662 seconds and became the sixth fastest. These results are still likely to be even better if the exercise is done in dry (and clean) circuit conditions.

In harmony with his teammate, Joan Mir (36) also carved a pretty good performance. From a time of 1 minute 48.552 seconds in the first session, Mir managed to record a positive development with 1 minute 33.635 seconds at the close of the session at 4 pm. He also managed to be the fourth fastest in the session. This 1-time MotoGP world champion has a great chance to achieve similar results to the 2020 season.

What is interesting is Marc Marquez. This old rider from Repsol Honda succeeded in being the fastest in the 2 o'clock session.

The 6-time world champion of the MotoGP event managed to find his rhythm. Whereas last season, after an injury at the beginning of 2020 and missing the whole season, he could only finish in 7th place in the 2021 season. With positive results on the first day of testing Mandalika, it is a good indicator that 2022 is the year he returns to his best performance in MotoGP.

Wet (and Dirty) Tracks

Yes, this inaugural test started in wet conditions (wet session) but got worse due to dirt which eventually endangered the riders. I don't know where the dirt came from, but it doesn't seem to hinder the racers' efforts to find maximum performance at this new circuit.

The upload of the racers is also an interesting thing. For example, the Suzuki Ecstar team, via their official Instagram account @suzukimotogp, showed Joan Mir who looked filthy with dirt with the caption "Joan 'Muddy' Mir." Not only the seats, the Suzuki GSX-RR is also dirty like it's been through a non-asphalt track. 

A more dramatic thing was uploaded by Joan Lacueva through the account @joanlacueva, personal assistant to Aleix Espargaro, Aprillia Racing racer. Joan shows the action of a racer on a speeding circuit while lifting dust on the asphalt. This is certainly very dangerous for the racers who have to accelerate to 350 kph. No wonder he marked it with the words "Dakar."

Pertamina Mandalika GP is one of the test vehicles before the season starts (pre-season test). Together with Sepang (Malaysia), Indonesia is the second country scheduled by MotoGP organizers as an official test. Testing at Mandalika starts today (11 February and ends 13 February). Later, the racing season will be officially opened in Qatar on March 6, and then continue to series 2 in Mandalika. In total, there are 21 circuits that will become a fast-paced competition for motorcycle manufacturers this year.

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Preparation for Comeback to Indonesia, Subaru: We Don't Want to Repeat Mistakes

 One old name that is preparing to re-enter Indonesia is Subaru. This news has been around for some time. The Japanese brand is preparing to be back in business in Indonesia. 

Wearing the "Plaza Subaru" flag, this newest brand holder agent (APM) announced last year that it will be fully operational in 2022. However, until the second month there has been no sign of them officially announcing their presence. What is it?

Subaru

The question was finally answered directly by Arie Christopher as Chief Operating Officer of PT Plaza Auto Mega (Subaru Indonesia). He conveyed that currently Subaru is in the final stages of preparation to market some of its flagship products. The goal is to ensure that Subaru can provide maximum service to its consumers and fans.

Plaza Subaru is the fourth APM to officially hold this Japanese brand in Indonesia. The company that became APM previously made history less pleasant because it was involved in a legal case. Arie said that is what Subaru is trying not to repeat under the auspices of the Plaza group.

“Why do many people ask us, why did Subaru take so long to sell in Indonesia? What are you waiting for?, that's the term since we were appointed in February 2020 until February 2022. It's been two years why haven't we launched a car?” said Arie during a virtual press conference on Wednesday (9/2/2022).

“This is a form or a real activity or our real commitment that we want to fix the mistakes of the previous APM in the past. We want to be in line with Indonesian government regulations. So all of this is good from a legal point of view, both from the production plan side of the factory, the commitment from the Subaru Corporation in Japan, we are laying the foundations, we are tidying everything up," added Arie.

As the first step in returning to Indonesia, Plaza Subaru focuses on the availability of after sales services for existing consumers. Therefore, since last year, a 3S dealer (showroom, service, spare part) has been established, located in Alam Sutera, Tangerang. After guaranteeing services for consumers, then it will be followed by the launch of new models.

Arie even at the same time revealed a little about Subaru's plans in Indonesia, both for the short and medium term. Including the expansion of the authorized dealer network to a number of major cities in Indonesia for at least the next five years.

"Perhaps in the short term, we will definitely inform you that starting from the second quarter, we have started to market several new types of Subaru in Indonesia," continued Arie, who previously led Ferrari Indonesia.

"Then for the medium term plan, we certainly adjust it according to the sales volume that will increase. We will open our network both in Jakarta and outside Jakarta, such as Bandung, Surabaya, Batam, and other cities," continued Arie.

Regarding the product line and model that will be brought to the country, Arie does not want to clearly reveal it. However, from what was mentioned during the press conference, several Subaru models from the SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) class to sports cars will be imported. This means that there are opportunities for Impreza, Forester, BRZ, and even WRX to greet fans in Indonesia. (Why/Raju)

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Triumph TE-1 Electric Motorcycle Project Begins to Be Revealed

Towards the end of March 2021, Triumph Motorcycles released a sketch of a prototype electric motorcycle called the TE-1. 

After a year has passed, the British manufacturer has finally started to reveal its ambitious project with a pretty self-explanatory mockup. The zero-emission iron horse now looks real and shows the finished prototype version. The motorcycle is now entering a six-month testing phase before entering the electric motorcycle market.

Triumph TE-1 Electric Motorcycle

The Triumph TE-1 project has actually started work since 2019. And this year it has entered the collaborative stage. Triumph Motorcycles does not work alone, they are assisted by Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain Limited, and the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick. WMG also received funding from the UK Innovate Office for zero-emissions vehicles.

"It's great to see the progress made during phase 3 of Project Triumph TE-1. The motorcycle prototype is now in the final category and ready to be tested in real life. We look forward to continuing this ambitious and innovative work through the hands-on testing phase and sharing the results with Triumph fans around the world. Everyone involved is proud to be a part of this innovative UK collaboration," said Triumph CEO Nick Bloor.

To reach this point, each team member has a specific area of expertise that they bring to Project TE-1. Triumph is responsible for the chassis including the frame, rear subframe, cockpit, panels and wheels, final drive systems (including the Carbon Gates transmission and belt drive), electronics, ohlins suspension including the RSU prototype, Brembo M50 monoblock calipers, and motorcycle control software. Triumph.

Williams Advanced Engineering handles the battery pack (which incorporates a dedicated cell pack for the center of gravity), integrated cooling, vehicle control unit, DC/DC converter, charging port and Styled carbon covers.

The Integral Powertrain is in charge of the electric motor itself. A prototype design that weighs just 10kg and is capable of producing a peak power of about 130 kW (174.3 hp) for a short time and a maximum continuous power of about 90 kW (120.7 hp). The powertrain has an integrated inverter, which can be scaled for use on motors of different diameters. The inverter itself can handle more than 500 kW of power (equivalent to 670 hp).

Integral Powertrain Chief Technical Officer Andrew Cross said that integrated motor and inverter units can now deliver the target performance and cycle efficiencies that we engineer, model and simulate to achieve. "We are looking forward to the feedback from this test and the benefits of the high efficiency," he said.

A fourth partner, WMG (which stands for Warwick Manufacturing Group), University of Warwick, was responsible for simulation work, including a physical rig to test drivetrain performance and durability, control systems as well as electronics such as traction and brake control.

Impressively, according to Triumph, the test results exceeded the UK Automotive Council benchmarks and targets by 2025. That means the project is ahead of the curve in terms of development. This, in turn, bodes well for Triumph's future development of electric motorcycles.

With the collaboration phase now complete, move on to Phase 4 of the TE-1 Project. That's the live testing phase, starting about six months into the future at Triumph's testing facility. The test will be live on track for throttle calibration and powertrain mapping to find a balance between performance, usability and range, as well as developing driving modes and ensuring nothing overheats.

Then on to the track for the kind of conventional testing that every new bike goes through. Examine handling, performance, braking and electronic control systems in real-world scenarios. Once that's done, the prototype will get body panels and a paint scheme. Triumph will reveal the latest version of Project TE-1 in the summer of 2022. At the same time, the company is also ready to release full specifications and performance details with test results.

“During Phase 3, we have focused on building the physical foundation of Triumph's first electric prototype motorcycle. I am pleased with these results and the efforts of the TE-1 partners in creating a demonstration bike that is not only highly visually desirable with the Triumph DNA, but also packaged with a new electric powertrain. It is exhilarating and thrilling to have such potential for the future,” said Triumph Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent.

“I look forward to continuing the development of this demonstrator vehicle through phase 4, and using our knowledge and capabilities to bring all of the partners' cutting-edge technologies together into the final output that will guide Triumph's electric strategy for the future. I'm really looking forward to the first opportunity to ride the finished prototype."

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The Ducati Team's MotoGP Racing Bike Has Arrived at the Mandalika Circuit, Take a Peek at the Specifications

Indonesia's dream of holding the prestigious MotoGP race will soon be realized. Referring to the official MotoGP calendar, in March 2022 there will be a race at the Mandalika Circuit, Lombok, NTB starting with a pre-season test on Friday to Sunday (11-13 February) tomorrow.

Racers from several teams have also arrived in Lombok, followed by logistics and motorcycle units that will be used in the pre-season test later. One of them is the Ducati Lenovo Team, through their @Ducaticorse Instagram account they uploaded the moment of 'unboxing' the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 which will be ridden by Francesco Bagnaia and Jack Miller.

Motgp Ducati Lenovo Team di Mandalika

Neatly wrapped in a special red box, the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 with race numbers 63 and 43 was opened and brought into the paddock at the Mandalika Circuit. Some of the Ducati crew were also seen busy working on the Italian motorcycle.

"Unboxing the Desmosedici GP22! Nice to be here (Indonesia). Mandalika, you are so beautiful!," wrote the Ducati Corse admin in the caption column.

Specifications of Ducati Desmosedici GP22

Previously, Ducati officially introduced the Lenovo Ducati team motorbike on Monday (7/2). From the visuals, it looks like there are not many revisions to motor racing in the 2022 season. 

In general, the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 is still dominated by the red color, but now there is no longer the Audi Sport logo and has been replaced by Daiko. The red color selection itself was chosen in harmony with the iconic Ducati red color, the same as the color of the mass-produced Ducati motorcycles.

Speaking of specifications, the Ducati Desmosedici GP22 has a 90-degree V4 engine, Liquid cooled, four-stroke, Desmodromic DOHC. With a cylinder capacity of 1000cc, which is capable of producing a maximum power of up to 250 more horsepower.

Ducati claims, the GP22 can go up to 350 km per hour with a 6-speed transmission. The frame uses a double beam model (twin spar made of aluminum alloy) which offers a good balance.

Affairs of the legs, in front of using Ohlins upside down claim with a special protector of carbon material. While at the rear use a monoshock with adjustable dampers and hydraulic compression models and rebound brakes.

So, to be more complete, below are the official specifications taken from the Ducati MotoGP website:

Ducati Desmosedici GP22

• Engine: 4-stroke, 90° V4, liquid-cooled, Desmodromic DOHC (double overhead camshaft) valve drive, 4 valves per cylinder
• Capacity: 1000cc
• Maximum power: +250 hp
• Maximum speed: +350 km/h
• Transmission: Ducati Seamless, chain-end drive
• Combustion system: Indirect electronic injection, 4 throttle bodies with injectors above and below the throttle. Butterfly valve (butterfly) controlled double Ride By Wire system
• Fuel: Shell Racing V-Powe
• Lubricants: Shell Advance Ultra 
• Exhaust line: Akrapovic
• Chain: DID
• Frame/Chassis: Double beam (or Twin spar, two posts designed to hold the engine from above) in aluminum alloy
• Suspension: Ohlins. Front: inverted fork (upside down or upside down) with carbon guard. Rear: Monoshock with preload adjustment and hydraulic compression and rebound brake
• Electronic system: Magneti Marelli ECU with single software Dorna
• Tires: Michelin, front-rear rim size 17 inche
• Rim: Marchesini magnesium alloy
• Braking system: Brembo. Front: 340 mm diameter dual carbon discs with four-piston calipers.
• Rear: Single steel disc with two-piston calipers
• Empty weight: 157 kg (without racer and fuel).
  

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The Attraction of a Used Honda PCX 150

Honda PCX 150 has stopped production after the latest generation PCX 160 was launched in February 2021. To redeem the new model, you have to be willing to spend IDR 30,945,000 for the CBS type and IDR 34,545,000 for the ABS type.

If the funds have not been collected, another alternative can be to look at the older model, namely the Honda PCX 150. This large automatic can be an attractive option for those of you who want to upgrade to a premium scooter with a maxi style.

Honda PCX 150

Head of Marketing for Antara Motor (used motorcycle dealer) in Jakarta, Dwi Aryanto, said that the price tag of used PCX 150 can now be redeemed at prices ranging from Rp. 23 million to Rp. 28 million.

"Honda PCX 150 is still good (selling power), we have several models from 2018 the market price is Rp. 23 million for CBS type and Rp. 25 million for ABS," said Ary, his close friend, when contacted, Tuesday (8/2).

Meanwhile, for the 2019 production year, the CBS variant was sold for Rp. 24 million and Rp. 26 million for the highest variant, namely ABS. Meanwhile, if you are more interested in a production unit for the young year around 2021, the price will be Rp. 27 million to 28 million depending on the condition of the unit.

Tips for Buying Honda PCX 150

Advice from Ary, when deciding to buy a 150 cc class scooter, don't focus too much on the condition of the motor body. However, consumers should be more careful about the health of the engine and legs.

"If you buy a used 150 cc automatic motorbike, don't focus on the body, the most important thing is the engine. Because the price for the body is at most Rp. 500 thousand and above. For the engine, you can spend Rp. 2 million, that is not necessarily 100 percent correct," he concluded. 

In addition, also inspect the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) components. The trick is to listen to the sound or vibration that is produced. Don't ever hesitate to try the unit directly, if you feel there is something strange, you must be vigilant.

And what should not be missed is checking the completeness of the letter and vehicle tax. At Ary's stall, it is certain that the documents and motorbike taxes sold are safe and ready to be used by consumers.

Honda PCX 150 . Specifications and Features

For your information, the Honda PCX 150 produced between 2018 and 2020 is packed with a 149 cc, SOHC, 4-stroke, 1-cylinder, liquid-cooled, and PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection) injection engine. On paper, this motor has a maximum power of 14.7 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and a peak torque of 13.2 Nm at 6,500 rpm.

Overall, the Honda PCX 150 has a length of 1,923 mm, a width of 745 mm and a height of 1,107 mm. While the wheelase (wheelbase) is 1,313 mm with a ground clearance of 137 mm. Oh yes, he has a main trunk with a volume of 25 liters, a fuel tank capacity of 8 liters, and a seat height of 764 mm.

Regarding the completeness of features, the PCX 150 is still very suitable for use in 2022. It is equipped with a full digital panel meter that displays a variety of important information from the vehicle.

Then there is also a 12-volt power outlet type charging dock complete with a closed storage slot on the left. While on the right side is just an ordinary storage area. Below is a list of features that the Honda PCX 150 has:

• Full LED lights (front, rear, turn signal)
• ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
• CBS (Combi Brake System)
• Idling Stop System (ISS)
• Keyless
• Answer Back System
• Side Stand Switch
• Hazard lamp.
  

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There will be a new model, the Honda HR-V 1.5L E Special Edition is still worth eyeing

Recently, information about the existence of the latest honda HR-V has spread across various media. From the leaked photos circulating, the shape is no different from what is offered in neighboring Thailand and comes with a variety of advanced features.

Although the update is coming soon, this condition does not stop HR-V fans from looking for the last unit available at various Honda dealers. From an Oto.com search, the HR-V model was offered with special offers to lure consumers to make SPK on the Honda crossover.

Honda HR-V 1.5L E Special Edition

"The special offer for the HR-V currently has a discount of around Rp. 10 million to Rp. 15 million. For most units, there are only 1.5 E CVT Special edition variants," said one of the Honda salespeople who was contacted, Thursday (10/2/2022).

Several other Honda salespeople also revealed that the latest HR-V model is expected to arrive this month or early next month. Estimated price difference is around Rp. 40 million to Rp. 50 million from the current model. This is because the changes that are present are quite a lot starting from the engine to the features.

The current HR-V model can't be underestimated. Especially if you look at its sales contribution in 2021, which reached 16,802 units with the E Special Edition variant being the most with a contribution of 9,665 units. Let's take a look at what the HR-V E CVT Special Edition has to offer, so it's worth ogling before the newest model arrives.

First, the position of the E Special Edition variant is in the middle between the 1.5L E CVT and 1.8L Prestige variants. Comes with a price tag of IDR 398.9 million, the Special Edition variant is IDR 20 million with the E variant and IDR 40 million cheaper with the 1.8L Prestige model which is offered at IDR 438.9 million. In addition, almost all the features that exist in the HR-V 1.8 Prestige are in this HR-V 1.5L Special Edition.

Call it the presence of a headlamp with DRL and fog lamp which all use LED technology. This headlamp also has an auto leveling feature. The legs use 17-inch 5-spoke rims with tire sizes 215/555 R17. Regarding the exterior design, the HR-V offers a grille with thick lines and the latest model front and bottom bumper designs that present a sporty impression.

Entering the interior, the impression of luxury is obtained from the use of elegant black leather that dominates. This leather material is present in almost all parts of the cabin such as the seats, dashboard, door trim, transmission lever and steering wheel. HR-V offers paddle shift for a sporty sensation when driving. Unfortunately, in this Special Edition variant, there is no panoramic sunroof that is exclusive to the HR-V 1.8L only.

Another feature is the presence of an AC smart touch button, cruise control and an 8-inch floating-style head unit with smartphone connection capabilities. This head unit also features a multi-angle rear view camera to see the vehicle's position better when you want to park or reverse the vehicle.

In the HR-V Special Edition, safety features that are present include dual SRS Airbags, vehicle stability assist, ABS + EBD + BA braking capability, Brake Override System, hill start assist features and Emergency Stop Signal. The HR-V Special Edition is also equipped with an electronic parking brake which is paired with auto brake hold capability.

Talking about the engine, the HR-V still uses a 1,497 cc SOHC 4 cylinder i-VTEC + DBW engine that produces 120 ps of power at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm. The Special Edition variant is offered with one transmission option, namely CVT with Earth Dream Technology.

For potential customers who want to own the HR-V Special Edition, Honda provides a credit scheme to facilitate vehicle ownership. Comes with a 30 percent down payment calculation, prospective customers have an advance of Rp. 119 million with a choice of tenors of one to five years. The amount of installments also varies from Rp. 6.2 million to Rp. 24.3 million per month. The following is the HR-V E Special Edition credit scheme.

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Anti-Reverse Driving a Manual Car on an Incline, Note the Powerful Kick

 Driving a car with a manual transmission does require more expertise than an automatic car. 

Especially if you are a beginner, the incline can be the scariest thing, if you operate it wrong, it can be dangerous for yourself and other drivers.

The occurrence of a manual car turning back when on an incline is generally because the driver is unable to adjust the clutch and gas openings. While on the car there is a backward pull force due to the resulting load.

Anti-Reverse Driving a Manual Car on an Incline, Note the Powerful Kick

For those of you who are novice drivers of manual cars, don't be afraid anymore, Director of Training Safety Defensive Consultant (SDCI) Sony Susmana tries to share safe and effective tips. The key is to train the feeling of the clutch opening and the gas.

"On an incline without obstacles (congestion) pay attention to the momentum of both steep and sloping climbs, you have to read the vehicle's capabilities. You have to read the car with what kind of power it has and what the manual system is like. Initially, you have to know the character of a new car going uphill,"

Sony continued, novice drivers if driving on an incline should not be too quick to remove their feet from the clutch lever. This causes the car engine to die. Now to make it easier, here are the operational steps for driving a car on uphill road conditions.

Really understand the character of the car

Okay, here's the first one. As explained above, the most basic thing to smoothly drive on uphill roads with a manual car is to understand the character of the car. 

"We know that cars are made with various cc as well as power and torque. Note, if general manual cars are 1,200 to 1,500 it means that it needs more momentum. Meanwhile, if a 1,500 turbo car or 2,000 cc and above will generally be easier to bulldoze uphill," he said.

Correct Clutch and Gas Aperture

To find this out, look at the RPM opening on the car engine roar rule meter panel. step on the gas slowly to 2,000 to 2,500 RPM.

Release the clutch pedal slowly, taking care not to let the engine die. You can do this while adding gas pressure.

"This is an operational talk, we have to maintain RPM. Don't get used to following the car in front, don't keep your distance. When you want to go (on an incline) step on the clutch into 1st gear then release the clutch slowly and when the RPM has started to drop and the car has moved off the brake pedal, move it right foot to the gas pedal while slowly releasing the clutch.

Keep 2 Vehicles Distance

When driving, get rid of the character who doesn't want to give in or is selfish. Usually, said Sony, for fear of being overtaken the driver ignores the safe driving distance.

On an incline, the ideal safe distance from the driver in front is 2 meters or it can also measure 2 vehicles (cars). This is important so that we have space to guard the vehicle in front of the back.

"Don't get used to following the car in front of you. Give him a distance of 2 cars then stop and walk. We have to consider if the car in front sag, also have to consider the escape room in case of an emergency."

Change Gear

Another case when bulldozing the incline but the car feels like it's out of breath. According to Sony, the most correct thing is to keep it in 1st gear position. However, understand the correct technique so as not to lose power.

"If the incline is not finished, then just keep 1st gear at 2,500 RPM, that's okay. Don't gas until 3,000 RPM to 4,000 RPM, the engine will automatically ask for a gear change," he said.

But when indeed if the condition of the car has asked for a gear change, do the transmission change correctly. The trick is to step on the gas a little deeper, then do the gearshift step. By adding the gas earlier, it is a method so that acceleration is maintained when the momentum is shifting gears.

Handbrake Function

You must be asking why there are no tips on using the hand brake (parking brake) when on an incline. According to Sony, the use of the handbrake when on an incline is inappropriate for manual car drivers in Indonesia. According to its name and function, the parking brake is only used when the car is parked.

Sony said, the use of the handbrake is not entirely wrong. But if you look at the safety driving point of view, the use of the handbrake to assist braking is not quite right. So, according to him, get used to using the foot brake alias pedal and adjust to the clutch and gas openings.

"It's not wrong, yes, but we will never learn that we are actually not capable. Once again, this is a parking brake, not a stop brake," he concluded.

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