Kenny Roberts has come a long way since he earned the nickname "King
Kenny" back in the 1980s. Roberts cut his teeth on the AMA Grand National
circuit, dominating dirt track and road racing courses of the U.S. and then
capping a legendary racing career by becoming the first American to win the
coveted 500cc World Championship Grand Prix title - which he won three times
in a row.
But Roberts' career was far from over when he hung up his leathers. The
52-year-old Californian from Modesto returned to racing at the top level with
a Grand Prix team of his own, running the successful factory Yamahas to more
world championships with Americans John Kocinski, Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson.
In 1996, Roberts took a significant step in his storied career: He founded the
GP Motorsports UK Corporation to build a truly independent Grand Prix challenger
from the ground up.
Over the next seven years, the KR3 challenged the might of the big factories.
At the same time, Roberts was creating a unique top-level engineering facility - dedicated
to motorcycle racing.
Superbly equipped and generously staffed, Kenny's firm in Banbury (in
the heart of England's famous "Formula One Belt") combines
design, engineering and manufacturing under one roof. It is the complete motorcycle-racing
firm.
Joined with then-sponsor Proton, the team's Proton KR3 had its best season
against a growing field of four-strokes, with fastest-ever two-stroke laps at
two circuits, pole position in Australia, and a string of top-10 finishes for
riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki.
But it didn't take long for the new-generation MotoGP 990cc four-stroke
prototypes to swamp the two-strokes with sheer horsepower.
There was just one choice for the Roberts team: To build a world-caliber four-stroke
MotoGP machine.
Redoubling the strength of the Banbury design, engineering and manufacturing
base, including a significant influx of F1 engineers, Roberts committed to building
a brand-new racing challenger. Using Proton's automobile engineering resources
for prototyping work, and operating closely with famed British racing name Lotus,
the team conceived a MotoGP four-stroke of their own.
The result was both ambitious and innovative - a radical and powerful 990cc V5 engine housed in a compact high-technology chassis. It married well over 200 horsepower to the legendary handling of the KR chassis.
Throughout the 2005 season, the team continued development of the new four-stroke
engine, which showed promise at many circuits. Unfortunately, the team's
engine supplier and key sponsor departed the team prior to the end of the 2005
season, leaving Roberts with yet another challenge: Finding an engine capable
of putting the team back in the championship hunt.
The situation for Roberts was dire at the end of the 2005 season, threatening
the very existence of the team. Several months after the former engine supplier
departed, however, Honda stepped in to assist the team, agreeing to provide
Roberts with the fabled V5 RC211V engine through HRC's lease program in
time for the team to take part in critical winter pre-season testing.
Perhaps it was inevitable that Roberts and Honda would form an alliance for the 2006 MotoGP season. Honda's legendary five-cylinder RC211V has notched win after win in the hands of a host of MotoGP stars, proving its stellar credentials under a worldwide span of track conditions and varied riding styles. The Honda factory team and a deep contingent of Honda-supported teams fill the majority of the MotoGP paddock, and those ranks will now include the KR Engineering squad as well. Thanks to the convergence of all this engineering power and racing savvy, the Honda-powered KR211V has already achieved notable performances in early off-season test sessions in the able hands of former world champion Kenny Roberts, Jr., charting lap times that foreshadow amazing results for the upcoming 2006 MotoGP season.
Although there's a lot of truth in the old trackside adage, "You can't win practice," the impressive results the KR211V garnered in preseason testing definitely provide strong indicators for future races. And now the 2006 season looks very bright indeed for Team KR and the Honda-powered KR211V.
Specifications
Team Name: Team Roberts
Bike: KR211V
Rider: Kenny Roberts, Jr.
Chassis and Running Gear
- Frame Manufacturer/Design: GP Motorsports
- Frame: Twin spar aluminum
- Fork Manufacturer: Ohlins
- Rear Suspension Manufacturer: Ohlins
- Steering Damper Manufacturer: Ohlins
- Wheel Manufacturer: Marchesini
- Brake Discs (front/back): Carbon/Steel Nissin
- Calipers: Nissin
- Pads: Nissin
- Wheelbase: Variable
- Rake/Trail: Variable
- Fuel Capacity: 22L
- Dry Weight: 148 KG (approx.)
Engine
- Engine: Honda RC211V
- Engine Type: Liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4-valve V-5
- Displacement: 990cc
- Maximum power (PS): 240-plus
Key Suppliers
- Engine: HRC
- Tires: Michelin
- Telemetry: 2D
- Brakes: Nissin
- Exhaust: Akrapovic
- Air Filter: K&N
- Chain: REGINA
- Screen: Hotbodies Racing
- Fasteners: WRP Racing Products
