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Akrapovič ((:aˈkrapovitʃ)) is a Slovenian manufacturer of exhaust systems primarily for motorcycles, but more recently also for automobiles. A global exhaust supplier in motorcycle sport, Akrapovič exhausts are used on motorcycles in Moto GP, superbike,〔(【引用サイトリンク】publisher= Yamaha World Superbike Team )〕 supersport, supermoto, motocross, enduro and rally raid. , Akrapovič systems have been used in a total of 38 world championships all across motorsport. ==History== Akrapovič was established in 1990 as "Skorpion in Scorpion" by Slovenian racer Igor Akrapovič who had found that during his racing career there was a distinct lack of high-quality exhaust systems on the market to the public. He believed that the pipe walls were either excessively thick or that the technically superior exhaust systems were too expensive and difficult for the average customer to obtain.〔 He designed his own exhaust system, which was sufficient to his requirements, based on the experience gained in the field of motorcycle tuning. Steel was replaced with materials such as carbon fibre and titanium.〔 In 1993, Kawasaki in Germany tested the exhaust systems and in 1994, Akrapovič exhausts were first used in international competition, in the ESBK and WSBK.〔 The company soon attracted numerous teams in the Pro Superbike championship, not only Kawasaki, but Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati and Honda etc.〔 In 1997, the company changed its name from Skorpion in Scorpion to Akrapovič and that year Akira Yanagawa became the first racer to win a race using an Akrapovič exhaust on a Kawasaki bike.〔 After a strong growth in sales, particularly from Germany, with a growth as high as 70% per annum,〔 production capacity was expanded in 1999, moving location from a workshop to a then factory in Ivančna Gorica.〔 This factory has since more than quadrupled in size to . In 2000, the first world championship title using an Akrapovič exhaust was won in the WSBK when Colin Edwards won the world championship title on his Castrol Honda SP-01.〔 That year, the 600 SS class with Yamaha and Joerg Teuchert also won using an Akrapovič exhaust. Modifications made to the design saw the company enter into the American AMA Superbike and the Japanese All Japan Superbike Championship and then in 2002, the MotoGP class, forming an alliance with the Honda, Kawasaki and Aprilia factory teams.〔 As income increased, the company invested in new technology and modernization, upgrading computers in 3-D planning of configurations, programming of tools and computer-aided manufacture.〔 In 2004, the company made its first contact with automobile industry and in 2007 developed and equipped an exhaust system for a Formula 1 race car.〔 In 2007, the company changed its logo. Akrapovič is now active as a supplier in the Porsche Sport Cup, where Porsche cars compete at six fully licensed and unlicensed series.〔 In April 2007, the company was awarded the Best Exhaust Pipe Manufacturer Award from German Motorrad magazine, winning 42% of the votes. The company has since won the Best Brand award in every subsequent year with 2011 by its highest ever margin of votes.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』 ■ウィキペディアで「Akrapovič」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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