MotoGP
All the details you need to know about the Moto3 Championship leader’s Red Bull KTM Ajo bike.
Jack Miller and his KTM RC250GP machine are currently the combination to beat in Moto3 at the moment.
The young Australian has taken the Championship by storm in 2014. So far he's won three of the six rounds to date, and leads the overall standings by five points heading into the Catalonia GP.
Ahead of Round 7 RedBull.com got a close up look at the Red Bull KTM Ajo Motorsport rider's set-up, to see just what goes into powering a top Moto3 motorcycle.
The Engine
A liquid cooled four-stroke, 250cc, single cylinder DOHC engine powers Miller's KTM. Despite being the smallest category in the World Championship the Moto3 bikes can shift, with the KTM making 0-100kph in less than three seconds and reaching top speeds of up to 235kph.
The engine peaks at around 50bhp, maxing out at 13,000rpm and squeezing 28nm of torque out of a relatively lightweight combination of bike (82kg) and rider (60kg).
The Chassis and Fairing
Lightweight steel forms the basis of the frame that makes up the chassis, helping the bike to stay rigid but agile at the same time, and carbon fibre is the material of choice for the fairing which helps to protect everything that lies beneath it while keeping the bike as aerodynamic as possible.
The Electronics
A sophisticated traction control system helps to keep rear wheel spin in check and is accessible via the bike's control panel. The launch control also helps to keep the bike grounded when accelerating from a standing start, as all that power can pack a punch, and the bike's pre-mapped settings can all be selected by Miller through the DellOrto electronics system.
Wheels and Tyres
The OZ racing wheels are cast from aluminium-magnesium and are shod in Dunlop tyres. The photo above shows a set of rain tyres, which bear deep grooves to help displace the water from the track when it's wet, but in dry conditions smooth slicks are used.
Suspension, Brakes and Exhaust
WP suspension helps to make the ride as smooth as possible and absorbs whatever undulations the track has to throw at the bike, with the front taking up to 45mm and the rear adjustable according to the specific demands of each track.
Given that Miller frequently hits speeds in excess of 200kph, a solid set of brakes is more than necessary. Brembo is the brand of choice for many teams, including the majority of the MotoGP line-up, and dual piston callipers on the KTM clamp down onto a 190mm brake disc. Seeing as the front takes most of the strain when braking, the braking gear is doubled up compared to the rear of the bike.
The Akrapovic race exhaust system is top of the range and sculpted from titanium.
The KTM RC250GP: Fast Facts
Engine: Four-stroke, DOHC, 249.5cc, single-cylinder Power: 50bhp@13,000rpm Torque: 28 Nm@ 11,000rpm Transmission: Cassette-type six-speed gearbox Electronics: Adjustable traction control, launch control, fuel mapping, ignition mapping, pit lane limiter, interface for data recording Chassis: Tubular steel with carbonfibre subframe, adjustable swingarm pivot Suspension: WP fork and shock, adjustable for preload, compression damping and rebound damping (separate adjustments for high- and low-speed damping) Brakes: Double 290mm discs (front) with radial-mount calipers, single 190mm disc (rear) with radial-mount caliper Wheels and tyres: 17-inch forged aluminium wheels, Dunlop slicks, 95/75-R17 (front), 115/75-R17 (rear) Fuel tank capacity: 10.5 litres Weight without fuel: 82kg Cost: €45,000
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