Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

From the university to the circuit

The Christmas repetition: Motostudent is the name of the competition and this is the first time it has been held. The participants are engineering students whose goal is to design and build an innovative motorcycle. Students from 24 state universities, as well as from an Italian school, have participated in the contest. There were three teams from the Basque Country. We followed his bike with students from the Polytechnic School of San Sebastian of the UPV. After a year and a half of motorcycling, they competed in the circuit. And this is the competition that was held last Sunday, October 3, at the Alcañiz circuit.

At the Alcañiz circuit, the competition is about to start. engineering students from 25 universities are in the boxes, putting the finishing touches on the bikes. Nervous, because the result of the last year and a half of work will
compete on asphalt. The Moto Student competition, promoted by the Moto Engineering Foundation, is this year’s first year.

Manex Urruzola, Elhuyar Foundation: The 25 engines that we have here are the result of the research work carried out by the engineering schools. In fact, the fact that the bikes are innovative from an engineering point of view is one of the most important factors that the organization will consider. You'll have to make five laps on the circuit. The winner of the contest will be the one who gets the best time. They're not Ducati or the Honda bikes, but they're going to give a show across the road. In fact, these bikes can reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.

In the box where the students of the Polytechnic School of San Sebastian of the University of the Basque Country are located, everything is
already ready. By chance, a Beasain will drive the San Sebastián motorcycle. The selection has been made by means of a draw and the Basque rider has been assigned to the Basque motorcycle. Andoitz Bonilla, 10 years old, is already a motorcycle driver.

The famous rider Igor Amado gives you the first instructions about the bike you should drive.

they are some of the members of the "Kotodama Sport Spirit" team. And this is their workshop. In the last year and a half, this laboratory of the Polytechnic School of the UPV/EHU has been converted into a factory.

since they decided to participate in the "Motostudent" competition, they are working on the design and construction of the 125 cubic centimeter motorcycle. If they win the competition with the other universities, they will have a monetary compensation of 6,000 euros and the opportunity to work in the engineering of the racing motorcycles.

Iñigo Matia, UPV/EHU: When we are studying a career, there is no competitionoriented study. You study in engineering, but then entering the world of competition is very difficult. This opens a lot of doors for you. We had this illusion of entering into the rivalry, and that’s why we entered.

the team of 30 students started the challenge, but today there are 12 who are fully involved in the competition. They are all mechanical and electronic engineering students. The project is led by Prof. Juakin Albisu, who is assisted by Maestro de Soldering Manu Larramendi.

They don't have an easy job ahead of them. On paper, they need to develop an industrial project to build 500 motorcycles. Each motorbike must cost a maximum of 4,500 euros.

In addition, the motorcycle designed on paper, must be built in the workshop.

Joakin Albisua, UPV: The project consists of the construction of a racing bike. And the conditions of this were: that the cylinder could not be touched, it had to be 125 cubic centimeters; and that some pieces would be given to us by the organizers to have them all equal. Others had to be designed by us.

The engine, wheels, suspensions and brakes have been provided by the organization to all groups. The
rest of the pieces are what the students have to design and build.

The fact that the bike is innovative from an engineering point of view is one of the factors considered by the organization.

Iñigo Matia, UPV: Especially in our case, being stable. Be very stable both in acceleration and in braking mode, especially when you are entering the curve. 0so-are very important points.

Gorka Ibarguren, UPV: we have tried to make the pilot feel comfortable, not to say that he has a brute there from the legs of the chinchila, that he adapts to his body. And be comfortable. We've tried that.

To achieve these goals, they had to design two pieces: The chassis and the swing fork. The chassis is the structure of the engine, the piece that supports the entire engine. The element that supports forces and movements. The swing fork is an element that will connect the rear wheel to the chassis.

For the design of these two pieces, the designs of the main engineering houses in the market have been studied.

Joakin Albisua, UPV: The designs of the chassis have changed a lot. And in recent years there are more and more tubulars. So, the first decision was that, to do it with tubes. Among them, which is the most popular? It was Ducati, no doubt. There are others that make tubular chassis, but at the moment the most prominent one is the Ducati. So we went to his side and, after seeing that, our idea was to improve.

Among the motorcycles of the competition, the most common are the chassis made in the foundry. Made in one piece. On the other hand, in the university workshop, there is no possibility of this, and the structure of the chassis has been built from tube to tube, following the plans of the pieces designed in three dimensions in the Computer.

However, a chassis with these features has its advantages.

Iñigo Matia, UPV: As a mechanic, to insert a hand or change a piece. The weight also has its effect, we can have less weight, which can allow the weight to be placed in another place, so that the whole weight is well dispersed.

The steel for the chassis has been brought from Italy. It is a special steel used in aeromodelling.

Joakin Albisua, UPV: On the one hand, it has to be stronger. But on the other hand, it must have an elasticity. This steel then satisfies both of these characteristics very well. And
then, even when working, it’s pretty good for welding and other varied things.

Aluminium profiles have been used in the construction of the oscillating fork. The goal has been to use a material that is both light and hard.

The main peculiarity of the motorcycle, however, is not in this piece, but in the rear suspension of the motorcycle.

Iñigo Matia, UPV: Especially in the rear suspension, we have made the horizontal suspension, and it is not very common, usually the suspension is placed vertically.

Gorka Ibarguren, UPV: in this case, the farther the body of the pilot is, the better. As if maneuverability were body weight. And so, what we've done is to focus the weight to advance the body.

When all the pieces are ready, it’s time to ride the bike.

The goal of the pilots is to give the circuit, for half an hour, as many laps as possible and as fast as possible. In fact, the winner will be the one who gets the best time in the five fastest laps ever made.

The match is over and it’s time to know the results. The Alcañiz team was the fastest, followed by the University of Zaragoza. The third fastest bike... It belongs to the students of the Polytechnic School of San Sebastián of the UPV.

They were not able to climb the podium. The industrial project presented on paper, as well as the results of the tests carried out on the bike in the previous days, have left the group "Kotoma Sport Spirit" in 4th place.

On our part, receive the warmest congratulations!