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If you had the chance to take one of them for a spin, which would it be?
100 metre sprint: who is the fastest?
When it comes to motor sports, speed is key, right? Well, that’s not always the case as a Trial bike doesn’t normally go faster than 50 km/h, meaning that Toni Bou would inevitably come last in this test. The Sodicar BV6 can reach maximum speeds of up to 185 km/h, which is fast enough for a rally but, on the tarmac, it pales in comparison to the other Repsol vehicles.
If what we’re looking for is speed, the Edge 540V2 aeroplane takes the crown, with top speeds of 426 km/h thanks to its powerful engine and aerodynamic design. In comparison the MotoGP bike, with maximum speeds of just over 350 km/h, would be left eating its dust.
However, the 100 metres isn’t just about speed and we can’t ignore the MotoGP bike’s powerful acceleration, which also plays an important part. In this sense, the RC213V is the undisputed champion, reaching 100 km/h in just 2.6 seconds. Such fast acceleration would even leave the Edge 540V2 behind, which takes off in just five seconds over a distance of 90 metres, reaching a speed of 130 km/h.
High jump
Even though aeroplanes can take off and remain in the air for long periods of time without coming back down to the ground, we can’t consider that to be a jump. Juan Velarde’s Edge 540V2 can reach heights of up to 4876 metres in under five minutes, climbing at a rate of over 20 metres per second. That is nowhere near as impressive as watching a 1820-kilo rally car jump. We saw how Isidre Esteve reached some pretty impressive heights when he performed several jumps to overcome bumps and dips in the terrain during the Dakar.
However the gold medal goes to the Honda Montesa. This light motorbike can jump 2.05 m from a standstill and up to 3.28 m with the help of a ramp — both records held by 22-time World Champion Toni Bou.
Inclination: who is the most flexible?
How far can a sturdy rally car lean? Well, you’ll be surprised to know that Isidre Esteve’s can reach a lean angle of about 40° if necessary. Trial motorbikes can’t lean as far, but their vertical inclination is impressive and they can reach 180° to climb up sheer walls with the powerful low gears.
Six-time world champion Marc Márquez holds the record for the largest lean angle on a MotoGP bike — 68° at the 2014 tests in Brno. It’s much more difficult to turn when you’re on the ground, and that’s why its so easy for the Edge 540V2 aeroplane. Not only can it perform large turns, but it can do this very quickly. It can do a 420° horizontal turn in just one second. That’s almost one and a half turns!
Javelin throw: who has more power?
In other words, which vehicle has the most powerful engine? With its 1000cc displacement and four-cylinder engine, the RC213V is the most powerful of the two motorbikes. In comparison, the single-cylinder Honda Montesa only has a displacement of 260cc. The difference in horsepower is also striking — 256 hp for a MotoGP bike and around 30 hp for a Trial motorbike.
Now we’ve looked at the results for the lighter vehicles, let’s take a look at the heavy ones. Both the Sodicar BV6 and the Edge 540V2 have a horsepower of 335 hp generated by a six-cylinder motor, but there is a considerable difference in the displacement; while the car has a displacement if 3000cc, the aeroplane has an impressive capacity of 8874cc.
Marathon: who has the most stamina?
The fuel tank is one of the most strictly controlled elements in motor sports and it is what determines the distance a vehicle can travel without having to stop and fill up. It’s no surprise that with its 2-litre fuel tank, the Honda Montesa can only travel a few kilometres without having to refuel. The MotoGP bike can travel somewhat further — 120 km — thanks to its 22-litre fuel tank.
But once again, the bigger machines are the clear winners in this event, with the Edge 540V2 being able to cover 833 km without stopping to fill up. It’s not really surprising that the Sodicar Bv6 rally car can travel the largest distance on one tank — 880 km. After all, you wouldn’t want to fuel gauge to hit empty when you were on the Fiambalá dunes!
Although they’re very different, all these vehicles have something in common: their riders, drivers, and pilots are cream of the crop. If you had the chance to take one of them for a spin, which would it be?