Ilmor X3
Encyclopedia
The X3 is an 800 cc V4
race bike built by Ilmor Engineering
to compete in the 2007 MotoGP
series.
The X3 is the brainchild
of Ilmor co-founder Mario Illien
and former grand prix rider Eskil Suter
of Suter Racing Technology (SRT). Illien used his world championship winning F1
engine experience to design the machine's V4 powerplant, with Suter, who has previously designed Kawasaki
's MotoGP chassis, in charge of the twin-spar aluminum frame.
With rider Garry McCoy
, the X3 made its debut as a wildcard entry at the 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix
and then two weeks later at the 2006 Valencia Grand Prix
where the emphasis was more on testing than competition. McCoy exceeded expectations, putting in consistent performances to bring the Ilmor team their first two championship points and the first ever points awarded for an 800 cc capacity bike.
and Jeremy McWilliams
were chosen instead. On 15 March 2007 after one race, the team announced that they were taking a break from Moto GP as a result of funding issues. On 30 April they announced that they would run a "slimmed-down" set-up focused purely on engine development, releasing all unnecessary personnel but keeping under contract riders McWilliams and Pitt.
V4 engine
A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....
race bike built by Ilmor Engineering
Ilmor
Ilmor, founded by Mario Illien and Paul Morgan in November 1983, is a British independent high-performance autosport engineering company. With manufacturing based in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, and maintenance offices in Plymouth, Michigan, the company supplies engines and consultancy to the...
to compete in the 2007 MotoGP
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
series.
The X3 is the brainchild
Idea
In the most narrow sense, an idea is just whatever is before the mind when one thinks. Very often, ideas are construed as representational images; i.e. images of some object. In other contexts, ideas are taken to be concepts, although abstract concepts do not necessarily appear as images...
of Ilmor co-founder Mario Illien
Mario Illien
Mario Illien is an engineer specialising in motorsport engine design and comes from Chur in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Despite living in a country in which motor racing was banned in 1955 , he developed an interest in the sport during the 1960s while following the career of Jo Bonnier,...
and former grand prix rider Eskil Suter
Eskil Suter
Eskil Suter is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and current motorcycle chassis constructor from Switzerland.In 1991, Suter finished in second place in the 250cc International Lightweight class at the Daytona International Speedway. Suter had his best seasons in 1994 and 1996 when he...
of Suter Racing Technology (SRT). Illien used his world championship winning F1
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
engine experience to design the machine's V4 powerplant, with Suter, who has previously designed Kawasaki
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
's MotoGP chassis, in charge of the twin-spar aluminum frame.
With rider Garry McCoy
Garry McCoy
Garry McCoy is a professional motorcycle racer. He has won races in the 125 cc and 500 cc World Championships, as well as in the Superbike World Championship. He is noted for his oversteering style of riding, earning him the nickname "The Slide King".McCoy was born in Sydney...
, the X3 made its debut as a wildcard entry at the 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix
2006 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
__FORCETOC__The 2006 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth race of the 2006 Motorcycle Grand Prix season. It took place on the weekend of 13 –October 15, 2006 at the Estoril circuit.-Moto GP Classification:-250cc Classification:...
and then two weeks later at the 2006 Valencia Grand Prix
2006 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix
__FORCETOC__The 2006 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix was the last race of the 2006 Motorcycle Grand Prix season. It took place on the weekend of 27 –October 29, 2006 at the Valencia circuit.-Moto GP Classification:-250cc Classification:...
where the emphasis was more on testing than competition. McCoy exceeded expectations, putting in consistent performances to bring the Ilmor team their first two championship points and the first ever points awarded for an 800 cc capacity bike.
2007 season
McCoy worked as a test rider for on the X3 development team and was expected to ride for Ilmor in 2007, but Andrew PittAndrew Pitt (motorcycle racer)
Andrew Pitt is a professional motorcycle racer. He is a double World Supersport Champion, and has also won a World Superbike race and competed in MotoGP. He lives in Peel on the Isle of Man.-Early days:...
and Jeremy McWilliams
Jeremy McWilliams
Jeremy McWilliams , is a motorcycle road racer. Until Scott Redding's win at the 2008 125cc British Grand Prix, he remained the only British rider to win a race or pole in an FIM MotoGP World Championship class in the 2000s.For 2007, he was to race in the MotoGP series for the Ilmor team, despite a...
were chosen instead. On 15 March 2007 after one race, the team announced that they were taking a break from Moto GP as a result of funding issues. On 30 April they announced that they would run a "slimmed-down" set-up focused purely on engine development, releasing all unnecessary personnel but keeping under contract riders McWilliams and Pitt.
External links
- Ilmor Engineering official site