Ohvale GP-0: A High Performance Track Bike That Fits in the Trunk of Your Car

We were first introduced to the diminutive Ohvale GP-0 at EICMA last November. While the company behind this track-focused machine might be new to the motorcycle industry, the driving force behind the project, Claudio Pellizzon, is nothing short of a veteran. Claudio, known as "Caio", just happens to have been a test rider for Aprilia since 1974. He started working for the company in 1968 and witnessed Aprilia grow from a small dirt bike and scooter manufacturer into the company we know today - complete with world championships and accolades for bikes such as the RSV1000 (the launch of which is one of Caio's most memorable moments).

At first glance the GP-0 looks like a hell of a lot of fun, no doubt you'd be hard pressed to find a person on the planet to say otherwise. But, it's more than just another "fun mini bike", Ohvale have engineered a serious track bike. In Caio's words:

"The GP-0 is a small bike but with the dynamic behavior of a bigger bike. Pilot has the feeling of a really good balance that allow to dare to the limit of the tyres we are using now. The braking capacity is perfect and this gives a perfect sensation of bike control. You go into the curve very quickly and with a good control of the bike. Bending you can control the bike in a perfect way as you are driving a bigger bike. And when you accelerate going out of the curve the balance of this bike allow to control it perfectly. You have the feeling of controlling every sensation in driving."

While I haven't had the chance to ride one yet, I'm willing to place a lot of trust in a man who was directly responsible for feedback to Aprilia's engineers for so much of the company's history.

The GP-0 is based around a steel trellis frame (Ohvale are an Italian company after-all), with adjustable suspension and all the trimmings to make it feel like a full size bike. The motor is a single cylinder four stroke Honda derivative manufactured by Japanese company Daytona and available in displacements from 110cc to 150cc. There is also the option of a single or four-speed gearbox.

Ohvale are certainly serious about getting the maximum performance out of this bike -- they've even developed "the perfect tire" for the GP-0's 10" wheels. They say that customers are free to mount whatever tires they prefer, but in their opinion there wasn't anything existing in the market that met their needs. The GP-0 branded tires have been developed to exploit the bike fully, offering more grip and stability than other tires they tested. The goal is to make these tires available for around €45 for the rear and €35 for the front (still to be confirmed).

The GP-0 certainly looks the part of an incredibly fun and capable track bike. Beyond the fun factor, it's also a great platform for learning. New racers can take to the track on a light, nimble machine with just enough power to plaster a firm grin on your face without having to fear a high speed get-off from getting a bit too throttle happy. It's also small enough to fit in the back of your car!

At this point, if you're like me, you're probably itching to throw your leg over one of these. Ohvale are currently in the process of receiving all of the parts in order to transition the GP-0 into a production bike within the coming weeks. They are also planning a "ladies version" of the bike, though details of how this model will differ haven't been released yet. No word on exactly when the first units will be available to the public or a final retail price, though they've indicated that it should be under €4,000. We're hoping we can get our hands on a couple... or perhaps a fleet so we can all race.

[cid=15136,http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/eVgVsYaOz18/hqdefault.jpg]