CCM poised to return to top-level motocross in 2008
 •
Britain’s, Bolton based motorcycle manufacturer CCM
is poised to return to top level motocross with an exciting
project that has been developed behind closed doors over the
last two years. The attached drawing reveals a flavour of
the machine that will be launched in the flesh at one of the
major two wheel shows later this year. Whilst the production
version is not scheduled to be on sale until the second half
of 2009, CCM are set to return to the racing arena with a
prototype model early in 2008.
• With a great history and heritage of racing success
alongside names such as John Banks, Bob Wright, Greg Hanson
and the late Donny Schmidt, CCM is currently in negotiations
with a handpicked selection of top ten British motocross riders
ready for their full assault on the MX1 Maxxis Championship
next year. With the right results, CCM is also looking at
the opportunity of making a few appearances on the World stage
in 2008 in readiness for full campaigns in 2009/ 2010. Aside
from contracting a suitable rider, CCM is also in the process
of recruiting other key personnel to work under the guidance
of newly appointed race team manager, Bob Bratcher who has
more than twenty years experience on the Grand Prix motocross
scene.
• Just twelve handmade bikes will be produced purely
for team use in 2008, these will not only hopefully propel
CCM back to the winners’ rostrum, but will also be the
testing ground for future production models. Whilst exact
technical details cannot be released at this moment, the bikes
will incorporate several revolutionary features. These include
a unique bonded aluminium chassis that is being developed
in conjunction with engineers from Aston Martin and Lotus,
and will be a first for the motocross World. The bike has
been designed to run on Bio-Ethanol E85 fuel and will use
a one-piece carbon fibre sub-frame / airbox.
• The CMX450, as the project has been code named, is
based on a single cylinder 450cc, liquid cooled four stroke
engine with five valves and a DOHC. This will be fed via a
Keihin carburettor that will be supplied by the eight-litre
handmade carbon fibre fuel tank. A titanium exhaust system
rounds out a bike that in every sense will be a true factory
special.
• CCM’s Managing Director Gary Harthern confirmed
the importance of this project to the company. “This
is a very exciting development for CCM and one we have been
working on for sometime. We still believe in the ‘race
on Sunday, sell on Monday’ approach to reinforce to
our customers the pedigree of the bikes we build, so it will
be great to be back racing at a high level.”
• “We have won domestic titles and even the World
Four stroke championship with Donny Schmidt, but despite coming
close, never a GP, nor a World title. Whilst we know it is
going to be a tough road ahead, I feel we can be on the pace
next year at British level before moving up to the World championship
in 2009. I think people will be impressed at the highly technical
nature of the CMX450 when it breaks cover later in the year.”
Concluded Harthern.
|
