New Roberts 800

This is the world’s first look at the gorgeous new Kenny Roberts-built 800cc MotoGP bike.

This was designed and built in less than 90 days in readiness for the 2007 world championship.

The bike is the last of the new generation premier class machines to be unveiled and MCN was given an exclusive look at the new V4 – powered by Honda’s new RC212V 800cc motor – at the Team Roberts factory in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

The KR212V is now in Japan at HRC headquarters for final checks before making its track debut with Kenny Roberts Junior on board at Sepang, Malaysia next Monday. Since HRC bosses sent over computer designs of the engine to Team Roberts staff on October 15, designers and engineers have been working flat-out to meet the January 10 deadline for getting the bike to Japan.

Roberts, who for the second year in succession has secured an engine lease deal with HRC, said: “Last year there were so many uncertainties until we fired the bike up.

“But I have a feeling that, now we have a year’s experience, Kenny Jnr is going to be able to ride it harder and longer on the pace of the other new 800s.

“I think we will be competitive right off the mark.”