Team Cougar ready for two-stroke motorcycle racing

The world of two-stroke motorcycle racing is poised for the launch of Team Cougar - "Racing Spirit", an exciting innovative UK based manufacturer team set to take the racing scene by storm.

Team Cougar has evolved as a spin off from Cougar RED Ltd (Race Engineering Developments), a leading motorsport precision engineering and design company based in Northamptonshire, a county well known for motorsport excellence.

Mark Taylor and Paul Copperwheat (directors of Cougar RED Ltd) have decided to launch their own team and realise long-term racing aspirations, having supported a number of successful teams in the past.

Mark says "We are taking a radical approach to the whole racing scene. Initially we will be using our own Cougar RED engines, designed and built in-house to contend the Spanish 125cc Championship in 2009 and the European Championship. Our own chassis will follow shortly; these two features alone will set us apart from the rest of the grid".

The Cougar RED engine is manufactured using methods unique to the company. The engine is machined from solid aluminium alloy resulting in very high accuracy, with controlled tolerances superior to cast engines. Mark added "We went down this route as we wanted to develop an engine offering superior quality and durability. The resulting engine is stiffer than a casting, precision machining accuracy results in closer tolerances aiding assembly, internals operate effortlessly and are less stressed as a result, equally important, the engine is very powerful".

As Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) campaign partners, the engine is being adapted for use with ethanol a form of alcohol which is an alternative sustainable fuel. The engine is being optimised to run as close to100% ethanol as possible (FIM restrictions now allow up to 85% in competition). Initial reports confirm that testing to date has been positive. The fuel further enhances engine performance and reduces exhaust toxins, cleaning up the image of the traditional two-stroke engine in the process.

"We are the first to really push the boundaries of design and performance in two-strokes using this type of fuel, which seems well suited to the job, its better for the environment reducing the demand on fossil fuel and has health benefits compared to unleaded as a result of reducing noxious toxins in the exhaust" claims Mark.

"We are enthusiastic about saving the two-stroke, it's an efficient lightweight engine capable of producing strong torque and power, it also has many applications outside of motorsport. The Cougar RED engine will enable our company to exploit them" he added

original article
eemsonline