From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON TEAM KR LAUNCH FAST-FORWARD FOUR-STROKE

Proton Team KR, the only fully independent team in top-level motorcycle racing, is taking a bold step into the future in 2003, with a head-on challenge to the factories with their new V5 four-stroke MotoGP racer. And today they showed a full-scale model of the motor for the first time.

Team Owner Kenny Roberts has made the commitment, after five years of racing a lightweight alternative two-stroke machine, in a rewarding but ultimately not fully successful attempt to beat the big manufacturers at their own game.

“We chose a lightweight three-cylinder bike against the four-cylinder factory machines because we believed that its agility would outweigh any relative lack of ultimate performance,” said Roberts.

“Now we are building a full-scale multi-cylinder machine to tackle the new-generation four-strokes directly … because I’m tired of seeing our riders get overtaken on the straights.”

The new project combines a spirit of sporting and technical adventure with well-founded and thoroughly developed existing strengths.

The all-new V5 motorcycle is a truly innovative exercise in prototype engineering, with a clear goal of racing success for the independent team against the might of the major factories.

At the same time, Proton Team KR will be relying on 17 unbroken years of GP racing experience, and on technical and other partnerships formed and polished during that time.

The new motor, offering high power from a compact package, breaks new ground in its configuration as well as the scale of its ambition. The running gear, meanwhile, will incorporate hard-won knowledge from three previous generations of KR3 racers, including a wide-line chassis already tested and raced successfully in 2002.

Running a four-stroke racer will be a new experience for Proton Team KR, but they are already highly skilled and familiar with racing in general and the motorcycle GP series in particular. The team has already been reinforced this year with ex-F1 technical staff, who can add the special skills demanded by the four-stroke engine.

Former triple World Champion King Kenny Roberts was a legend as a racer. After retirement, he proved himself as a multi-title-winning team owner of Team Roberts Yamaha. Then he struck off as an independent racing manufacturer, and Proton Team KR has earned huge respect during five years in the hardest of all motorcycle sport disciplines.

Kenny and his unique team’s latest venture will prove that the years until now were just the beginning.


AOKI AND McWILLIAMS SIGN UP FOR NEW FOUR-STROKE ADVENTURE

Proton Team KR is pleased to announce that the two riders who joined the team in 2002, and who between them have produced some of the best results and finest performances in the team’s history, have signed to stay on board for 2003.

Japanese star Nobuatsu Aoki and top British rider Jeremy McWilliams, both GP winners, agreed terms before the end of the 2002 season for fresh one-year contracts.

“Each of them has performed way beyond anybody’s expectations so far this year,” said team owner Kenny Roberts, himself a triple World Champion and racing legend.

“I knew they were both good riders, but I had no idea just how much they would bring to the team, how hard they would be prepared to try, nor how well they would work together.

“They’ve surprised all of us not only with their speed and ability, but also the focus and sheer determination they’ve brought to every race.

“They’ve also pushed the machine to new limits, sometimes uncovering weaknesses that hadn’t come to light before, and pushing our engineers to continual improvements to achieve new levels of performance and reliability. They’ve raised each other’s standards, and the level of the whole team,” he continued.

“There was never any question in my mind that I wanted them both to stay for our new four-stroke venture, I’m pleased and proud that they have shown their faith in the team by signing on to stay.”

McWilliams had no hesitation in deciding to stay with Proton Team KR. “In fact, I wish I’d joined the team a lot earlier. It suits me in so many ways, and I think it’s fair to say that I am the right sort of rider for this team as well,” the 38-year-old Ulster rider said.

“I like the independence of the operation, and I’ve been very impressed with their professionalism and dedication, and Kenny’s determination to be successful, which he passes down to the whole team. I think a lot of people have made the mistake of under-estimate them. They surprised me with their capabilities, and the quality of their engineering.

“Working with Nobuatsu has also opened my eyes, to how good a rider he is, and also how a team-mate like that can raise your own standards. We have a meeting every day at the races, and it helps both of us, as well as the team. On the track, we push each other to go better. I’ve certainly learned a lot from him,” continued McWilliams.

“I’ve never raced a four-stroke before, but I think we’ve seen that they’re easier to ride than the two-strokes. There’s only a handful of people who can get the best out the old 500s, and they don’t have any trouble when they get on a four-stroke. I don’t say it’ll be easy, but I don’t have any fears, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Aoki (31) came to the team after a year testing tyres for Bridgestone, preparatory to the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s entry to the top class of racing. Prior to that the GP winner had ridden factory Honda and Suzuki machines in 250 and 500cc classes.

“I am very happy to stay with this team,” said Aoki.

“I have been so impressed with their efforts during my first year, and also the partnership with Jeremy has been very good. We help each other a lot, and also enjoy racing against each other, which improves our performance as well as the team chances.

“Of course, I am also very excited about riding the V5. It’s already an interesting idea for a motorcycle. To develop this new machine with an independent team is a big responsibility for a rider, and an honour as well. Not many riders get a chance like this,” said Aoki.


BRIDGESTONE LOOK FORWARD TO FACING THE NEW CHALLENGE

Bridgestone tyres, who came into the top class in GP racing in 2002 with Proton Team KR, will continue with the team in 2003. And the successful Japanese manufacturers are looking forward to the new challenge of the four-stroke machine.

“Our results so far this year have been better than we expected, and that is partly thanks to Proton Team KR, who have given us a lot of valuable input and information,” said Mr Hiroshi Yamada, motorcycle racing manager of Bridgestone Tyres.

“We know we face a new level with the new four-stroke project. The machine will be more powerful and also heavier, and we will need another step forward to achieve the grip and durability,” he continued.

“We will begin tests before the end of this year with another four-stroke machine that is already racing this season. By the time the Proton starts testing we will already have some experience and data,” he said.

“Our experience with Proton Team KR this year has been very rewarding – the team includes gifted engineers with some very original thinking.

“Next year will be a new level, and we are happy to take that step with this team,” he concluded.

Kenny Roberts echoed the mutual confidence achieved between team and tyre manufacturer in their first year together.

“Bridgestone came into the top class with no previous experience, and they have achieved a high level well before the end of their first season,” he said.

“They bring new tyres to every race, and they’ve made very big strides – especially since the restart of the season after the summer break, when the endurance of the tyres improved significantly,” he concluded.


FOUR-STROKE PROTON ON SCHEDULE FOR 2003 DEBUT

Construction of the exciting new V5 Proton engine has already begun, and the project is on schedule for its debut in the first GP of the 2003 season.

The full-scale model shown today is not a working engine. But it is a significant piece of equipment nonetheless – making use of Proton’s rapid prototyping facility to fine-tune details of the design even before the whole engine has been made in metal.

In this way, details such as exhaust and coolant plumbing can be refined, as well as the fit in the chassis.

Meanwhile, back at Proton Team KR’s base at Banbury in England, large parts have already begun arriving for machining and assembly, with the engine on schedule for bench-testing soon after the end of the 2002 racing season.

The first stage is reliability and endurance testing, which should be concluded during the month of November.

Directly afterwards, track testing will begin. This is scheduled for January, starting in Europe and moving to Malaysia soon afterwards.

By the time the season begins in April the new Proton will not only have hundreds of laps and miles completed, but the process of refinement – to turn a first rough prototype into a fully developed racing motorcycle – should already be well advanced.

“We know from experience what a big job it is to make a racing motorcycle from scratch. At the same time, that same experience means that it should be much easier this time round,” said team owner Kenny Roberts.


Specifications

Engine and Transmission

Type: Four-Stroke Liquid-cooled V5

Bore / Stroke: na

Displacement: 990cc

Horsepower: More than 200 PS above 15000 rpm

Induction: Downdraft inlet tract with butterfly throttle and multipoint programmable fuel injection

Exhaust: Multi-branch titanium

Pistons: Aluminium, one compression ring and one oil control ring

Lubrication: High pressure oil

Ignition: Fully programmable CDI

Spark Plugs: NGK

Clutch: Dry multi-plate

Transmission: Six speed sequential

Drive Chain: Regina