Cardion AB Motoracing officially unveiled their ART machine and new livery – created by French designer French designer Sebastien Arputzo – that Karel Abraham will be using in this season’s MotoGP championship.
The Czech team announced last September that they would be switching to Aprilia CRT machinery after a highly disappointing second season fielding the Ducati Desmosedici (Karel Abraham Sr wasn’t happy at all with the GP12) and chose the ART as it is the more competitive bike in the CRT category.
The 23-year Abraham who finished 14th overall in 2012, got his first taste of the ART during the Valencia post-season test which was hampered by rain, will be at the Sepang test next month – however the team will not be able to make use of the extra two days of testing that Dorna set-up for CRT teams that will using the Magneti Marelli spec-ECU as the Czech team will be using Aprilia electronics.
Abraham said, “We have to be prepared for these tests almost as if it were a real race.
I want to see to where we stand compared to the fastest CRT riders.
My first impressions at the Valencia test last year were very good, but since then many things have changed, especially with regards to the electronics, which is expected to have improved top speed.
This winter I worked on getting physically prepared for the new season.
I can’t wait to race with Pesek [Lukas Pesek will riding a BMW/Suter for IodaRacing] will be a very interesting fight, but much will depend on the bikes and this we’ll be able to understand only racing.
” Aprilia ART Specs:Weight: dry 165 kgTop speed: more than 330 km/hPower: more than 230 HPEngineWater-cooled four-stroke engine with four cylinders and four valves per cylinderThe cylinders are formed in an angle of 65 degrees.
Capacity: 999 ccmElectronics: Aprilia Racing ECUGearboxSix-speed, with the possibility to adjust the ratio of degrees.
Clutch: Oil-immersed, multi-plateChain: ReginaChassisART aluminium frameFronf fork: Öhlins with a diameter of 48 mmRear suspension: ÖhlinsBrakes: front four-piston Brembo calipers, 2x disc Brembo with a diameter of 320 mm, rear two-piston Brembo caliper, Brembo steel discDiscs: 16,5“ magnesium OZTyres: BridgestoneFuel tank: 24 litresFuel: Eni