Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Warwick Moto superbike designs unveiled

As the government has announced proposals to ban the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035 the race to electrify the motor industry is on, and motorbikes aren’t to be overlooked.A rendered image of the front of Aurora

This has inspired 25 students from a range of Departments including: WMG, School of Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Law and Maths to work together to make Aurora, an electric superbike with thanks to support from WMG and the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult team at WMG.

The superbike, Aurora, will be raced when appropriate after the Coronavirus pandemic, however the students have been working hard at home, and have finalised their designs for the bike.

Aurora will house a 17 kWh oil-cooled battery, a powertrain capable of delivering 150 kW (200 hp) and 400 Nm of torque at an estimated top speed of 160 mph for racing driver Tom Weeden to take advantage of. Along with a carbon fibre subframe, Aurora has a uniquely positioned radiator to maximise the cooling to the powertrain components and weighs 260kg.

4th year Physics student, Rishi Bhugobaun has created the video of the bike, sharing the vision of all students.

Aman Surana, a School of Engineering student at the University of Warwick is managing the Warwick Moto team, he comments:

“We have tried our best to design a bike that is performance oriented but is also a learning platform for us as students. With the TT cancellation and our racing and testing plans impacted with COVID-19, our focus has been to make strategic decisions that align with our long term objectives and ensures future teams have something to work with.

“It’s been one of our goals to design a vehicle around a rider rather than converting a vehicle to suit a rider. Tom Weeden, our rider has been involved throughout this design process where we have sought his opinions and view on various characteristics of the bike and tried to implement them where possible. We cannot wait to get back in the workshop, action on our designs and go testing with Tom later this year!”

The team have been receiving support from industrial partners, such as MUPO Race Suspension, Rock West Composites, Michelin Tyre PLC, Rajputana Custom Motorcycles, Demon Tweeks and SITRa Moto.

The team’s long-term objective is to compete with a podium qualifying time at the Isle of Man TT 2022, to make this a reality the team are looking for more supporters to make their first electric bike, you can sponsor them or donate to them here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/warwickmoto

Follow their journey:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warwick.moto/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warwickmotoracing/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warwick-moto/

ENDS

3 JULY 2020

NOTES TO EDITORS

Video of the bike available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAzyGAAIobw&feature=youtu.be

Video of the team during lockdown available to view at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLyj7fzbIw0&feature=youtu.be

High-res images available credit to WMG, University of Warwick at:

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/june2020/aurora_render_2.png
The front of Aurora. Credit: WMG, University of Warwick

THE FOLLOWING IMAGES WERE TAKEN BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/february2020/tom_20.jpg
Caption: The full team of students and academics with the driver, Tom Weeden

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/february2020/tom_04.jpg
Caption: The students and some academics working on the Warwick Moto team with the bike

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/february2020/tom_08.jpg
Caption: Tom Weeden, left with students and the bike

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/communications/medialibrary/images/february2020/tom_18.jpg
Caption: Tom Weeden, on the electric superbike

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of Warwick
Tel: +44 (0) 7920531221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Alice Scott
Media Relations Manager – Science
University of Warwick
Tel: +44 (0) 7920531221
E-mail: alice.j.scott@warwick.ac.uk