Transponder 'explosion' costs MV Agusta top ten
MV Agusta was cost its first World Superbike Championship top ten finish with the F4RR at Assen by a freak accident prompted by a battery explosion on the bike's Dorna-supplied timing transponder.
Claudio Corti was enjoying a strong ride in the wet second race at Assen, despite having never ridden the F4RR in such tricky conditions, the Italian rising from 17th on the grid to ninth when he fell in the closing stages.
Though initially diagnosed as a simple fall, it was discovered that the lithium battery on the compulsory transponder - which determines position the circuit - 'exploded', preventing the bike from sending a signal to the control unit at the finish line.
Sending the electronic set-ups 'haywire' as a result, an unawares Corti lost traction control and promptly fell in the difficult conditions, forcing him into a disappointing retirement.
"We were really unlucky! In the afternoon, things got complicated as we have no racing experience in such tough weather. I started in 17th place, but still managed to climb up to ninth. We were in the top ten, ahead of the EVOs.
"Unfortunately we hadn't reckoned with the compulsory transponder imposed on us by Dorna. Its internal lithium battery exploded so the transponder stopped working and failed to send the control unit the over-the-finish-line signal: this sent all the electronic set-ups haywire. I found myself concerning without traction control and that's why I fell."
