Petronas FP1
Encyclopedia
The Petronas FP1 is a 899.5 cc liquid-cooled inline three-cylinder homologation
special sport bike
that was produced in 2003 by Petronas
.
Originally developed jointly by Petronas
and Sauber Petronas Engineering
as the Petronas GP1 989cc prototype
to compete in MotoGP, Petronas decided to race the motorcycle in the Superbike World Championship
instead. To meet the requirements for the motorcycle's entry into the championship, the engine was reduced to 899.5 cc and Petronas had to produce 150 road version motorcycles for FIM
homologation
, thus making it the first Malaysian-built Superbike.
The first 75 units of Petronas FP1s were built in the United Kingdom
by January 30 2003, passing homologation inspection to enable the bike to contest in . The final 75 units were assembled in Malaysia by the country's motorcycle manufacturer, Modenas
by July 2003.
Out of the 150 units produced only 100 were made available to the public available in Panache Green, Exotic Black and Misty Grey. The other 50 units were kept to be used for racing.
Petronas joined forces with four-time Superbike World champion Carl Fogarty
to form a racing team - Foggy Petronas Racing - to participate in the Superbike World Championship
.
From the FIM changed the rules to allow 1000 cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. The FP1 was developed under the previous regulations (that limited the engine displacement for 3 cylinder to 900cc), as a result the motorcycle was at a disadvantage from the rest of the field.
With the Japanese manufacturers limiting their involvement for and , the FP1 was able to have some good results, finishing on the podium twice in . With Japanese motorcycles returning in the FP1 fell behind and by it was struggling to finish in the points. Petronas terminated the superbike project at the end of
In 2010, Motor Cycle News discovered 60 brand new FP1's stored in Basildon
, Essex
. Manufactured for Petronas by MSX International for homologation purposes, they were part of the original batch of 75, but which were never shipped to Malaysia. The bikes are presently held in the former MSX premises by new company owner Arrk R&D, who are subject to a confidentiality agreement to Petronas.
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
special sport bike
Sport bike
A sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
that was produced in 2003 by Petronas
Petronas
PETRONAS, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, is a Malaysian oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. Wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and...
.
Originally developed jointly by Petronas
Petronas
PETRONAS, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad, is a Malaysian oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. Wholly owned by the Government of Malaysia, the corporation is vested with the entire oil and gas resources in Malaysia and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing and...
and Sauber Petronas Engineering
Sauber Petronas Engineering
Sauber Petronas Engineering AG was a company owned jointly by the Swiss racing car manufacturer Sauber and the Malaysian oil company Petronas . The company was founded for the sole purpose of building engines to the Sauber formula one team....
as the Petronas GP1 989cc prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
to compete in MotoGP, Petronas decided to race the motorcycle in the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
instead. To meet the requirements for the motorcycle's entry into the championship, the engine was reduced to 899.5 cc and Petronas had to produce 150 road version motorcycles for FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
homologation
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
, thus making it the first Malaysian-built Superbike.
The first 75 units of Petronas FP1s were built in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by January 30 2003, passing homologation inspection to enable the bike to contest in . The final 75 units were assembled in Malaysia by the country's motorcycle manufacturer, Modenas
Modenas
Syarikat Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn. Bhd , or known as Modenas for short is a Malaysian national motorcycle company producing various small motorcycle models below 200 cc targeted for local market and export...
by July 2003.
Out of the 150 units produced only 100 were made available to the public available in Panache Green, Exotic Black and Misty Grey. The other 50 units were kept to be used for racing.
Petronas joined forces with four-time Superbike World champion Carl Fogarty
Carl Fogarty
Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty is the most successful World Superbike racer of all time in terms of the number of championships and number of race wins...
to form a racing team - Foggy Petronas Racing - to participate in the Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
.
From the FIM changed the rules to allow 1000 cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. The FP1 was developed under the previous regulations (that limited the engine displacement for 3 cylinder to 900cc), as a result the motorcycle was at a disadvantage from the rest of the field.
With the Japanese manufacturers limiting their involvement for and , the FP1 was able to have some good results, finishing on the podium twice in . With Japanese motorcycles returning in the FP1 fell behind and by it was struggling to finish in the points. Petronas terminated the superbike project at the end of
In 2010, Motor Cycle News discovered 60 brand new FP1's stored in Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Manufactured for Petronas by MSX International for homologation purposes, they were part of the original batch of 75, but which were never shipped to Malaysia. The bikes are presently held in the former MSX premises by new company owner Arrk R&D, who are subject to a confidentiality agreement to Petronas.