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Electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica Motors is set to enter the Indian market to expand its brand exposure whilst reaching for a bigger audience.

  • Energica to enter India by 2024 with a wide range of electric motorcycles.
  • Energica Motor will establish a partnership with an existing India-based motorcycle firm soon. 

Although the Italian firm is still considered small compared to larger and established two-wheel companies, penetrating the Indian motorcycle market within the next two years is the most likely option to compete with more prominent players.

Considering India is the single most significant motorcycle market globally, seeking growth in the region makes sense for Energica.

That said, Energica Motor CEO Livia Cevolini admitted that it is essential for the company to seek the right partner and get the timing right.

According to reports, Cevolini already spoke to multiple potential Indian partners.

“We have a couple of very big manufacturers (from India) interested in working with us and we have also some other requirements for our own brands from importers. 

“India is a very is huge it’s the biggest market so we want to be ready for that. We don’t want to rush and make mistakes, so we are taking our time to be sure that we are entering the market the right way and also have the right partners.

“You cannot go to a market like that (India) alone, if you are not from there. 

“You need to have the right partner to be to have bigger shoulders and the good thing is that it seems that we like each other because we have many contacts in India and it is a really exciting partnership,” reveals Cevolini.

However, the biggest hurdle Energica needs to overcome is trying to sell high-performance and premium-priced electric motorcycle to a market that focuses on entry-level and smaller displacement two-wheelers.

MotoGP legend, Max Biaggi has decided to shutdown his Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing Moto3 team after four years.

  • Max Biaggi is heavily linked with a move to RNF Aprilia MotoGP team for the 2023 season.
  • Sterilgarda Husqvarna Max Racing to exit Moto3 by the end of 2022. 

The announcement came at the back of John McPhee and Ayumu Sasaki taking top two podium position at the Malaysian MotoGP on Sunday.

The four-time 250cc Grand Prix champion and two-time Superbike World Champion (WSBK) titleholder recalled the team achievement in the last years.

“A wonderful double, after a very difficult period, in which it was necessary to make painful decisions. 

“We started the World Championship Moto3 four years ago and every year we got at least one win. In the debut year there were even three, like this year. 

“We had the pleasure and honor to bring three different drivers back to victory and we brought a young driver to the first victory. All this fills me with pride and satisfaction. We started very far away and after a few years we set up a winning team, but now for me the time has come for new challenges. 

“Valencia will represent the last race in Moto3 of the Max Racing Team. I want to thank Sterilgarda Alimenti, which has always supported me, Husqvarna Motorcycles, KTM and all those who in recent years have contributed to achieving these results,” he said.

In addition, the 51-year-old also hints looking forward to the next project in 2023.

Reports suggest that his next destination is to join Razlan Razali’s RNF Aprilia MotoGP outfit where he will assume the role of Technical Advisor.

MForce Bike Holdings, the official distributor of QJMotor brand in Malaysia, is set to roll out three new motorcycles in November.

  • QJMotor SRK250RR, SRV250 and SRK250 to be available at authorized dealership beginning November 2022.
  • Alll model features the same 249cc two-cylinder engine. 

In an official statement, MForce will introduce the QJMotor SRK250RR, SRV250 and SRK250.

Despite the differences in styling and riding ergonomics, all three quarter-litre motorcycles feature the same 249cc two-cylinder 8-valve DOHC engine.

However, all models offer different engine tuning to best suit their purposes.

As a result, the SRK250 is the most powerful among the three, with 31.5hp @ 11,000rpm and 21.2Nm @ 9,000rpm. Meanwhile, the cruiser-style SRV250 makes 27.5hp @ 9,000rpm and 23Nm @ 7,000rpm. The engine is also tuned for a fiercer engine grunt. 

Next, the SRK250RR is intended for sportier riders, and as a result, the bike makes 25hp @ 8,500rpm and 24.1Nm @ 6,500rpm. The gear shift is also improved thanks to Assist/Slipper Clutch system. 

Spec-wise, the SRV250 gets inverted telescopic forks and dual-shock absorbers to allow for better stability on the road.

As usual, all three motorcycles feature LED lights and a digital LCD instrument display.

According to MForce, the SRK250RR is priced higher than the rest at RM18,888, while the SRV250 and SRK250 are available for RM16,888. 

Francesco Bagnaia took another step closer to hist maiden MotoGP world championship title after winning the Malaysian GP at Sepang International Circuit.

  • Bagnaia and Quartararo to take the championship battle to Valencia.
  • Bagnaia recorded his seventh win of the season. 

Despite starting from the middle of the grid, the Ducati rider made a brilliant start to place himself just behind race leader, Jorge Martin at Turn 2 while Quartararo was up from 12th to fifth.

Martin made the early effort to widen the gap from Bagnaia but his effort were in vain as the Spaniard crashed out on lap seven.

While the disaster may be a gift for Bagnaia, the Italian got into an intense battle with Gresini’s Enea Bastianini who remained close behind the championship leader.

Bastianini made the move on lap 11 when he pounced under braking at Turn 3.

However, Bagnaia managed to find an extra speed to overtook his soon to be teammate at Turn 15 and maintained his lead until the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo managed to hold on 3rd spot to keep the championship fight alive ahead of Valencia.

Although there were some pressure from the emerging Marco Bezzecchi, the Frenchman managed to widen the gap at lap 15 to secured the much-needed podium. 

Bagnaia continue to lead the championship with 258 points after claiming his seven win of the season while Quartararo is close behind with 235pts. 

Both riders will take the fight to Valencia in November.

More than a year since its global introduction, the 2022 KTM RC390 has finally landed in Malaysia with a recommended selling price of RM33,800. 

  • KTM claimed the new RC390 is heavily inspired by the firm’s effort in MotoGP.
  • The 2022 KTM RC390 features lighter frame, increased aerodynamics and higher torque engine. 

Despite the long wait, the official introduction of the latest generation RC390 will put a smile on the brand loyalist.

Coming in new for 2022 is a reworked front fairing to accommodate a new single-piece LED headlight.

Moving on to the bike’s overall look, KTM claimed that MotoGP-derived lines and graphics heavily inspire the new RC390.

Interestingly, the entire body structures are now easily removable thanks to a redesigned mounting systems that allow the use of fewer fasteners and clips.

Not only the new bodywork is more aerodynamic thanks to the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) process, but it also removes the flow of hot air coming from the engine.

Thanks to MotoGP derived technology; the new RC390 is equipped with a 1.5kg lighter frame, 3.4kg lighter wheels and 1kg lighter ByBre brake callipers.

The new RC390 also features state-of-art hardware, including an updated WP Apex upside/down fork with 30-step compression and rebound and a new WP Apex rear shock (adjustable) absorber.

Thanks to Euro 5 requirements, RC390 now feature a single-cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine with twin overhead camshaft, 4-valve and electronic fuel injection.

The 2022 model also delivers a higher torque thanks to a newly designed airbox and a new engine mapping.

Other exciting features include:

  • new TFT instrument cluster
  • SUPERMOTO ABS
  • Lean Angle Sensitive Cornering ABS
  • Cornering MTC
  • Quickshifter+ (optional)

 

Kawasaki Malaysia has officially showcased the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R during a special preview at the Sepang International Circuit.

  • Currently, the ZX-25R is only available in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
  • The Ninja ZX-25R makes 51hp and 22.9Nm of torque. 

To our surprise, the unit on display is the newly updated Ninja ZX-25R previously launched in Indonesia, earlier last month. 

That said, the Ninja ZX-25R features TFT instrument display replacing the semi-digital meter on the previous model. Thanks to the new dash, riders can now connect the bike to their smartphone via the Kawasaki Rideology app.

The ZX-25R also features new adjustable front suspension and electronic package.

Other notable features include:

  • assist & slipper clutch
  • economical riding indicator
  • electronic throttle valve
  • KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter)
  • KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control)
  • power modes

Powering the 2023 Ninja ZX-25RR is an inline four-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC mill displacing 249.8cc that produces 51hp @ 15,500rpm (with Ram Air) and 22.9Nm @ 14,500rpm.

Power goes through a 6-speed transmission with a claimed max speed of 197km/h.

However, no official price is announced just yet with the ZX-25R is expected to be launch mid of 2023. 

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