Having made further developments to the MV Agusta F4 1000 the STP Motorsport MV Agusta team took the opportunity to get some track time at Croft this week. A further increase in horsepower and a change of ignition system where the major items that needed to be tried under race conditions.
The change to the Motec ignition package has released a few extra horsepower and, combined with some engine development since Cadwell Park, Chris Burns was eager to get out on to a track that he has not ridden in competition for some time. Thankfully, the first session was dry and allowed the team to get a good number of laps in. Chris was happy to report that the new ignition and engine maps making the bike much smoother out of the corners. Then, while most looked on in dismay as the weather deteriorated for the next session, Chris took the opportunity to work on the wet settings of the MV Agusta.
Chris Burns – Rider: “The opportunity to test the new Motec system before the race at Croft was good and it was reassuring to put in a few laps without any problems in the first dry session. It was difficult to quantify the difference in power given that I was familiarising myself with the circuit, not having ridden here for a while, and this wasn’t helped by the very bumpy surface, which was not ideal for evaluating any change in performance. In the second session we found that our normal wet set-up was not good around Croft so we made a few changes which should make life easier if it is raining when we come back for the race.”
Paul Snell – Crew Chief:“The change to the Motec ignition system will prove to be a positive one. We are already getting a high level of support and technical input from their technicians and this can only lead to further improvements in the MV Agusta’s performance as we head in to the last few races of the season. The new engine maps are making the bike easier to ride for Chris, especially in the wet and as we learn more about the system this will only get better.”
Jon Strike – Team Principal: “This season has been one of constant development and, hopefully, as we come to the end of it we will be even more competitive and continue to score the podium finishes that we are becoming accustomed to. Our plans are to continue this work in the close season and return next year with one, if not two, MV Agusta Superbikes, fully prepared and ready to race from round one.
Image credits: Turn One Photography
