FTR MotoLtdwas a British motorcycle parts and frame manufacturer. The name was anacronymforFabrication Techniques Racing Motorcycles.[2]
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mechanical engineering,Motorcycles |
| Founded | 1994 asFabrication Techniques |
| Founder | Steve Bones & Mark Taylor |
| Defunct | December 12, 2023 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , England |
| Products | Chassis,Frames |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
History
editThe company was founded in 1994 asFabrication Techniquesby Steve Bones and in 1995 helpedKenny RobertsandTWRto build the chassis for theirModenas KR3(laterProton KR3) motorcycle. The firm then supplied several teams inGrand Prix motorcycle racingandSuperbike World Championship[2]and in 2001 contributed to thePetronas FP1chassis.[3]
Motorcycle chassis manufacturing
editThe FTR Moto brand, related to motorcycle racing chassis production, was launched in 2009. The company constructed achassisfor the first season of the newly establishedMoto2class inGrand Prix motorcycle racing.The first victory by the manufacturer was achieved byKarel Abrahamin the2010 Valencian Grand Prix.[4]For2012 seasonentered also the then-newMoto3class and the top class,MotoGP,as a manufacturer.[2]In the2012 Qatar Grand PrixMaverick Viñaleswon the first Moto3 race aboard aHonda-powered FTR chassis,[5]while in MotoGP the company followed theClaiming Rule Teams' regulations and supplied its chassis to the Honda-poweredGresini Racing's bike and to Avintia RacingKawasaki-poweredBQR(also namedBQR-FTR) machines.[6]
Demise
editIn 2012 the company was sold for over £400,000 to theHeads of the Valleys Development Company,a private business trying to promote the possibility of establishing an entirely new motor racing circuit, provisionally known as theCircuit of Wales.[6][7]
The business declared substantial losses each year since purchase in 2012 and had stopped producing frames.[7]Motorcycle News reported in 2016 that the new owners wanted production transferred to Wales, and had envisaged a British-built motorcycle, with a British rider, racing on a new British track.[7]
In late 2016 the business entered insolvency,[8]with liabilities believed to be over £500,000.[7]
As of June 2017, administrators Lucas Johnson had instructed a marketer to advertise FTR'sIntellectual Propertyassets for sale,[9]including "Goodwill Rights in the FTR Moto Brand" and "Rights in the Registered Trade Mark and Unregistered Trade Marks".[10]FTR went into liquidation in May 2018[11]before being dissolved in December 2023.[1]
References
edit- ^abFTR MOTO LIMITEDCompanies House.Retrieved 15 August 2024
- ^abc"About Us".ftrmoto.com.Archived fromthe originalon 1 November 2012.
- ^"Selected motorcycle case histories".FabTech.org.uk.Fabrication Techniques. Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2010.
- ^"Moto2: Abraham claims debut win in Valencia cracker".Crash.net.Crash Media Group. 7 November 2010.Retrieved15 December2012.
- ^Lewis, Lisa (8 April 2012)."Moto3: Vinales victorious after fending off Fenati".Crash.net.Crash Media Group.Retrieved15 December2012.
- ^ab"Circuit of Wales group buys FTR".Crash.net.Crash Media Group. 1 October 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 3 October 2012.Retrieved15 December2012.
- ^abcdFTR Moto folds after Circuit of Wales buy outMotorcycle News,18 November 2016, Retrieved 26 August 2017
- ^FTR MOTO LIMITED at Companies HouseRetrieved 26 August 2017
- ^Notice timeline for FTR MOTO LIMITED, Appointment of AdministratorsThe Gazette,3 November 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2017
- ^IP assets of FTR Moto,Metis Partners, 27 June 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017
- ^Notice timeline for FTR MOTO LIMITED, Appointment of LiquidatorsThe Gazette,28 May 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2021