Ducati and Lenovo is readying for the new 2022 MotoGP season after a successful partnership last year saw the team take home the MotoGP Constructors’ World Title for the second year in a row.
The collaboration between Lenovo and Ducati has proven fruitful since 2018 with the former provides a wide range of solution in the form of data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Lenovo, the main objective for 2022 is to complete the Remote Garage project, that allow engineers to receive data in real-time and interact with the garage and the GP22 while working remotely.
“2021 was an important year for the Ducati Lenovo Team. We have strengthened our technology partnership – paving the way for bolder innovation in the new hybrid working world.
“We are proud to collaborate with Ducati, who share our core values of speed, dedication, team spirit and a focus on results.
“In line with our mission to enable intelligent transformation, we will continue to invest and innovate with Ducati to achieve increasingly ambitious goals in the fast-evolving industry of motorsports,” said Luca Rossi, President of Intelligent Devices Group at Lenovo.
Ducati Lenovo Team is set to double the effort this year to win the World Championship after Francesco Bagnaia lose out to Fabio Quartararo with just a 26 points gap.
After a successful pre-season test at Sepang International Circuit and Mandalika Circuit, the team is ready to head to Qatar for the first round of the season.
After months of leaks, patents and prototype photos, Yamaha has officially ready to take on the world with the new 2022 Tenere 700 World Raid.
First seen as a Tenere 700 Raid Prototype at EICMA last year, the Japanese later showcased the production-ready version back in January in the form of design leaks.
However, the finished version looks so much more spectacular, given it looks like something that just came off the recently concluded Dakar Rally.
While the World Raid shares the same front headlamp and a rear tail unit like the base Tenere 700, the new variants gained a bigger and more muscular fuel tank thanks to a twin-tank setup.
The twin-tank hangs on either side of the frame and engine, fed by side-by-side filler caps and fits the look of a Dakar Rally inspired machine.
Moreover, the twin-tank can carry 23liters of fuel, that’s 7liters more than the standard Tenere 700 and can take the bike up to 480 km of range.
Despite the twin-tank setup creating a more extensive front end, it also helps to fit in the motocross-style saddle, allowing riders to shift accordingly while riding off-road.
The new seat sits 890mm off the ground (12mm higher than the stock Tenere 700) to provide better clearance.
Other significant updates include:
new 5-inch TFT full-colour display (portrait orientation)
USB socket
three-mode ABS
43mm KYB fork with 228mm travel (adjustable preload, compression and rebound)
rear aluminium piggyback shock (adjustable preload, compression and rebound)
taller front screen
new detachable side-deflectors
under-engine aluminium bash plate
Despite the bigger and taller setup, the Tenere 700 World Raid runs on the same 689cc parallel-twin CP2 engine.
According to Yamaha, the new Tenere 700 World Raid will reach a worldwide dealership in May.
Earlier in January, we were amazed at a particular entrepreneur’s effort to introduce aftermarket self-cancelling indicators for motorcycles.
Nicolas Rogers has just invented a Bluetooth intercom system called Indimate, that reminds you to turn off your blinkers after every turn.
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The mechanism is simple; when the indicator is turned on, it transmits an acoustic signal to the Bluetooth unit in the helmet. (Yes, the Indimate can only function if you installed Bluetooth comms on your helmet.)
The installation process is simple. There are four cables, and each needs to be connected to the right and left indicator, one ground and one on the battery positive terminal.
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The current system only works on big bikes, which runs on bigger batteries and is yet available for smaller capacity two-wheelers such as mopeds and scooters.
However, things are about to change as Rogers has told us that he will make sure that Indimate will be compatible with mopeds and scooters.
*Nicolas Rogers
“I had previously considered it but focused on motorcycles because I am more familiar with them.
“Now that you mention it, though, I think it would be silly to ignore such a big market.
“I will make sure the electronics are compatible with 6 Volt moped batteries and do some re-marketing; thanks for the advice!” he said.
Meanwhile, Indimate also allows riders to use it as a Wi-Fi hotspot and pair it to their smartphones. While connected, riders can hear the indicator ticks in the background while listening to music, during a phone call or while communicating with fellow riders.
Indimate will go on sale soon and is currently available for pre-orders for USD70 (RM292).
Kawasaki recently updated the H2 SX range with all-new radar technology for 2022.
However, the latest reports suggest that there is more to come from Team Green. The firm is reportedly developing a camera-based system to work alongside the radar sensors.
The 2022 H2 SX has two radars, one at the front that enables adaptive cruise control and collision warning, whereas the rear operates the blind-spot monitoring system.
While the H2 SX is not the first bike to feature the radar assisted system, the motorcycle is the only one to hide the Bosch-made sensors compared to the Ducati Multistrada V4, KTM 1290 Super Adventure and the BMW R 1250 RT.
However, while the technology is a big step for two-wheelers, it is not the perfect solution to enhance rider’s safety due to its inability to sense colour, light and surface detail.
To overcome this, Kawasaki is developing a camera system (similar to the one you see on modern cars) as confirmed by the latest patent applications.
According to reports, the camera would likely be placed behind the screen in a purpose-built panel.
While the patent did not reveal much, the document says explicitly that the camera will assist the front headlight, which means it could control the bike’s high and low beam according to the riding condition.
It could also provide extra input to the radar sensor technology by recognizing obstacles or hazards on the road.
We can easily understand the system by looking at today’s cars to see how the camera operates.
Understanding this, the H2 SX could be the safest bike in the future and the first to adopt the camera system ahead of its rival.
