Ducati reveal details of carbon fibre frame

The most significant innovation of the DUCATI DESMOSEDICI GP9 is the monocoque frame in carbon fibre composite.

Ducati DESMOSEDICI GP9的最顯著革新就是碳纖維複合材料車架。

The technical selection of this type of frame is the next step in the advancement of the bike that has undergone previous major developments in its GP3 and GP7 versions.

在GP3和GP7的研發後，車架材料的選擇是賽車下一階段的發展目標。

The concept of the engine casing has been the guideline of the DESMOSEDICI project. The objective is to create a chassis set-up in which each element carries out a specific function, to obtain the desired rigidity with as little weight as possible, thus attaining maximum efficiency.

引擎的發展雛型已經有了DESMOSEDICI 結構。發展目標是建立一個車架，車架的設定由每個元件來調整，以最輕的重量來達到設計的強度，這樣才能有最大的效益。

The engine, the main frame, the rear sub-frame, the rear suspension system (comprising swing-arm and linkage) and the front suspension system are the main components of the bike.

引擎、主車架、後輪副車架、後避震系統(包含搖臂和連桿)和前避震系統是一台車的主要部份。

The basic idea is to abandon the classic concept of the chassis as the element that connects all other elements, in favour of a design in which the engine is the central element to which the main frame, rear sub-frame and rear suspension system are individually connected.

基礎構想是跳脫車架傳統概念，由車架將每個部分連接起來的想法。而是改用引擎為車架的核心元件的方向，後副車架和後避震系統則分別組合上去。

The GP3 was unique in having a rear swing-arm that was attached solely to the engine. In particular both the swing-arm pivot and the suspension linkages were connected directly to the engine without any attachment to the main frame.

GP3的後搖臂設計為單獨依附在引擎本體上。特別是搖臂樞紐和避震連桿都直接連接到引擎上沒有連接到車架。

The GP7 featured a main frame that was totally detached from the rear sub-frame. Basically the engine was the central element of the bike. The main frame was used as link between the engine and the steering head. The rear sub-frame linked the engine to the seat and to the footpegs and controls. The two frames, main and rear sub-frame, that were still linked to each other on the GP3, were now only attached to the engine on the GP7, meaning that they were smaller and lighter.

GP7的特徵是主車架和副車架完全分開。根本上來說，引擎是賽車組成的核心元件，主車架只用來連接龍頭，副車架連接引擎和座椅、腳踏和檔桿等。主車架和副車架，在GP3上有互相連接，在GP7上只有和引擎連接，表示現在的系統將更小、更輕。

On the GP9 the main frame is formed to connect the engine to the steering head. The main frame now also incorporates the air-box in one single construction. This monocoque construction allows the air-box to function efficiently within the main frame.

在GP9上，主車架作用是連接引擎和龍頭。主車架結構現在再加入一個空間，這樣的結構可以讓主車架效率提高。

Choosing to utilise the carbon fibre composite technology to create the frame means that, on the one hand, one can mould the piece into the desired form without incurring enormous equipment costs and, on the other hand, varying levels of rigidity and torsional characteristics can be attained simply by altering the type, the number and the directional orientation of the carbon fibres, using the same equipment.

選擇使用碳纖技術來製造車架有其他優點。一方面，分為各個零件就可以不用花費龐大的的費用來製造，另一方面，修改車子鋼性和抗扭曲強度就更簡單了，用相同機台，改變碳纖類型、數量、方向就可以達成。

In testing carried out up until now the GP9 guarantees greater precision and stability in breaking and on entering corners. We maintain, however, that only by using it to race on the various world circuits will we be able to properly evaluate the potential of this technical solution. Employing the said technical solution in competition at the maximum level is the only way to effectively assess it in all its aspects.

從測試到現在，GP9保證煞車和過彎更為穩定和精準。我們認為，無論如何只有讓車子實際在所有賽道下場比賽才能衡量這個技術的潛力。在最高競爭性的賽事中用上這個技術是唯一全方位衡量價值的方法。