Gloucestershire-based global engineering technologies company Renishaw has renewed its sponsorship of French Moto2™ team, TransFIORmers.

In partnership with I3D Concept and Renishaw, the team has used additive manufacturing to improve the performance of its Moto2™ bike. Renishaw first sponsored TransFIORmers in 2016 and for 2018, the team's new rider, Corentin Perolari, will take to the track to race for a podium position, starting at Estoril in Portugal on March 25th.

The TransFIORmers team, led by former rider Christian Boudinot, is based in Perigueux, France and won its first race at the CEV Repsol European Championship in June 2016. In recent races, the team has regularly finished in the top five. In 2018, the team will attend the CEV European Championships, building up to the French Grand Prix on May 20th.

TransFIORmers considers itself to be the only Moto2 team to use additive manufacturing to produce a structural component for the bike - a titanium wishbone formed part of its revolutionary front suspension system. By working with Renishaw and I3D Concept, the team achieved a 600g weight saving on the part.

Chris Pockett, head of communications of Renishaw, said: "Additive manufacturing is becoming a more popular technique in racing events. In high-speed, high-performance applications like Moto2, the America's cup and even the supersonic car, BLOODHOUND SSC, Renishaw's additive manufacturing expertise has allowed teams to maximise performance and gain a competitive edge."

Jérôme Aldeguer, mechanical engineer, TransFIORmers, said: "Following the success of the wishbone, we are now designing more and more parts to be additively manufactured. Not all parts can be made in titanium, so we are looking to alternative materials to manufacture brackets, footrests, a chain tensioner and other essential parts of the bike.

"Additive manufacturing increases flexibility for improving the bike. We can change our designs easily, without tooling, and are also able to optimise the topology of each part. In 2019, we plan to use additive manufacturing on a larger scale - including a total redesign of the bike as part of the move from a Honda to a Triumph engine."