Motorcycle fans are in for a treat with the Moto Trainer – a sophisticated simulator rig designed to bring the thrill of riding on a track back home, quite literally!
MotoGP’s parent company Dorna Sports teamed up with Moto Trainer in creating a one-of-a-kind motorcycle simulator, complete with rig housing, advanced software, active suspension, and leaning/fork feedback motors to bring the on-track riding experience as close to real-life as possible.
The Moto Trainer comes pre-loaded with MotoGP tracks, both current and historical, and allows players to rank themselves against their favorite riders using an on-board video feed. It also supports the MotoGP game available on both Xbox and PC platforms.
One area where the Moto Trainer simulator ultimately differentiates itself from other simulators and arcade game rigs is the way it functions – it uses an actual motorcycle as an integral part of the experience. Yes, you heard that right. Moto Trainer’s simulator uses the motorcycle’s throttle and braking inputs to simulate acceleration or deceleration on the screen. And for a truly lifelike feel, the rig also allows leaning into corners 50 degrees on either side.
Andrea Lombardi, Moto Trainer CEO, says: “The software behind Moto Trainer, developed by our engineers, is capable of playing any onboard video and allows riders to save their efforts on a telemetry master track. This means you can load any circuit and motorbike you want, with riders replicating the video to the reference telemetry. The software then analyses the rider’s performance by monitoring the accelerator, front and rear brakes, gearbox and trajectories. It’s a platform that allows bikers to train on every circuit in the world at an affordable price.”
Affordability is a subjective matter though. In order to get your hands on one of these bad boys, you’ll have to shell out a minimum of $6,000. At that price, you get the barebones rig without the techy stuff on it. Things get more serious with the full simulation rig including sensors, motors, and a PC, setting you back a cool $18,130.
Regardless of the price, one can’t deny the awe factor associated with the technology involved in this simulation rig. For sportbike owners restricted to their homes either due to the pandemic or inclement weather conditions, such a setup could make waiting for better days a lot easier.
