'Big Bang' tactics for Proton's top track.

Dutch star Jurgen van den Goorbergh will get more bang from his bike in Germany. A new engine configuration to be used for the first time at the Sachsenring circuit should help him get the best out of his lightweight three-cylinder racer - at the track where the bike has achieved its best results.

The England-based team will be taking an all-new "Big Bang" variation of the V3 500cc motor - a configuration that delivers the power more smoothly, so that the rider can open the throttle earlier in the corner.

Combined with the good braking, handling and high corner speeds achieved by the low, light KR3, and in the hands of a rider who revels in the tight going of the Sachsenring circuit, this reinforces already high hopes for the 2001 bike and rider combination to achieve a best result yet.

Van den Goorbergh has already achieved three top-ten finish so far this year, but circumstances conspired against him and the Proton at the last two races, at the first of the "Big Four" circuits where ultimate horsepower is less important than faithful roadholding. At the last round at England's Donington Park, he was denied his first front-row start on the bike by less than a tenth of a second, then had a potentially strong race spoiled when he was knocked off the track by another rider, recovering well out of touch with the leading group.

"I believe we can get our best results so far at the Sachsenring. I'm really aiming for the front row in qualifying, after just missing it at Donington, and for our best race result as well," said a determined van den Goorbergh. "We need to have everything perfect with the bike, and then it should be possible."

"For sure I'm looking forward to testing the new engine," added the Dutchman. "What you need at this circuit is not so much power but good driveability. We tested a similar engine at Donington, and it was getting there - but we need to get the carburation closer for it actually to be better than the old engine. The configuration cut the vibration a lot, making it nicer to ride."

Sachsenring - the shortest track of the year, and one of the slowest and twistiest - offers a third opportunity for the KR3.

In the past, the continual tight turns have seen earlier versions of the three-cylinder machine whine. In 1998, last race of the Mk1 machine, the Modenas qualified on the front row of the grid, and finished sixth and seventh, ridden by Kenny Roberts Junior and Ralf Waldmann. Last year, the current Mk3 machine was ridden by Luca Cadalora, and the Italian was on course for a possible front row when a heavy crash spoiled his weekend.

The circuit has been slightly changed for 2001 - the back straight extended to add almost 200 metres in length, with lap speeds expected to rise as well. This is the fourth running of the German Grand Prix at the purpose-built track, on the site of the classic old Sachsenring roads circuit. The venue, close to Chemnitz (formerly Karl Marx Stadt) in the old East Germany, took over from the Nurburgring in 1998, and attracts huge crowds.

"I like the track, and I've always had good results there," stated Jurgen. "A lot of people complained when we first went, and it is too short for a 500 really, but it's a lot of fun. You have a lot of power on those short corners, and you need to control it very carefully. And there are some fluent sections as well. Plus the fantastic atmosphere with the big crowds. I'm looking forward to it."

"The circuit should suit our bike, and Jurgen has done well there in the past, so once again we're hopeful of a good result," commented Team Manger Chuck Aksland. "We also showed at Assen that we have good wet settings, so rain will be no problem.

"The biggest change is an engine with closer firing intervals - a Big Bang engine. We tried a version at Donington Park, but it failed - possibly due to a faulty component," explained Aksland. "We have something different again for the Sachsenring - the phasing of the crankshaft and the balance shaft weightings changed. Kenny Roberts (team owner) feels it might help in acceleration.

"The character of the power affects the tyre differently, and it should make it possible for Jurgen to open the throttle earlier with the bike leaned over, to improve acceleration out of the turns. We'll test it in qualifying, and if it does what we expect then Jurgen will possibly use the new motor for the race," concluded Aksland.