Ilmor X3

Infobox Motorcycle
name = Ilmor X3


aka = Ilmor X³
manufacturer = Ilmor
production = 2006-present
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engine = 800 cc four-stroke V4
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similar = Aprilia RS3 Cube
Ducati Desmosedici GP8
Honda RC212V
Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR
Team Roberts KR211V
Suzuki GSV-R
Yamaha YZR-M1The X3 "(also known as the X³)" is an 800 cc V4 race bike built by Ilmor Engineering to compete in the 2007 MotoGP series.

The X3 is the brainchild of Ilmor co-founder Mario Illien and former grand prix rider Eskil Suter of Suter Racing Technology (SRT). Illien used his world championship winning F1 engine experience to design the machine's V4 powerplant, with Suter, who has previously designed Kawasaki's MotoGP chassis, in charge of the twin-spar aluminum frame.

With rider Garry McCoy, the X3 made its debut as a wildcard entry at the 2006 Portuguese Grand Prix and then two weeks later at the 2006 Valencia Grand Prix where the emphasis was more on testing than competition. McCoy exceeded expectations, putting in consistent performances to bring the Ilmor team their first two championship points and the first ever points awarded for an 800 cc capacity bike.

2007 Season

McCoy worked as a test rider for on the X3 development team and was expected to ride for Ilmor in 2007, but Andrew Pitt and Jeremy McWilliams were chosen instead. [http://www.ilmor.co.uk/pdf/AN979.pdf Ilmor Announce 2007 Riders] official Ilmor press release, accessed 18 December 2006] On 15 March, 2007 after one race, the team announced that they were taking a break from Moto GP as a result of funding issues. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57335 Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily] autosport.com, accessed 15/03/2007] On 30 April they announced that they would run a "slimmed-down" set-up focused purely on engine development, releasing all unnecessary personnel but keeping under contract riders McWilliams and Pitt. [ [http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=19543&championship_id=3&section=1 The Official MotoGP Website ] ]

2008 Season

Ilmor has not contended the 2008 MotoGP championship to any extent so far.

References

External links

* [http://www.ilmor.co.uk/ Ilmor Engineering] official site