Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Over the span of eight months and six rounds of the 2001 Formula USA National Road Race Series, Blackmans Aprilia took its RSV1000R Mille R racebikes from being the slowest machines on the racetrack to being the fastest bikes in the 145-horsepower Unlimited Superbike class. Thanks to parts developed by Crew Chief Bill Himmelsbach, the Blackmans Aprilias went from making in the neighborhood of 110-115 horsepower as measured at the rear wheel to well over 140 horsepower. Now Blackmans is offering the same parts to the public.

Blackman’s Stage One kit is designed to increase the output of an Aprilia Mille or Mille R by 10 rear-wheel horsepower. The $1985 kit includes 97mm high-compression pistons, Stage One cams, re-worked cylinder heads, 54mm throttle bodies and a fuel pressure modifier.

The $4371 Stage Two kit is said to be good for 20 extra horsepower at the rear wheel. This kit includes peened and polished connecting rods, a re-balanced crankshaft, Blackmans 100mm pistons and rings, cylinder boring and re-plating, gaskets, Blackmans Stage Two headwork, Stage Two cams, slotted cam sprockets, 54mm throttle bodies, a fuel pressure modifier, a Blackmans Racing airbox, a Himmelsbach crankcase breather and Champion spark plugs.

The race-only Stage Three kit costs $12,800 and is said to increase output by 35 horsepower. The kit includes a Blackmans Supercrank, Carillo connecting rods, a lightened flywheel, Stage Three cylinder head modifications, Blackmans 100mm pistons with rings, cylinder boring and re-plating, gaskets, Blackmans Stage Three headwork, Stage Three cams, slotted cam sprockets, 54mm throttle bodies, a fuel pressure modifier, a Blackmans Racing airbox, a Himmelsbach crankcase breather, Himmelsbach engine lubrication modifications, a racing transmission, a racing radiator, Champion spark plugs and a Tigcraft 2-into-2 titanium racing exhaust with three different EPROM chips.

The Japanese-made Tigcraft exhaust system is available separately for $1695 including a modified EPROM chip.

For more information about Blackmans Aprilia’s Mille high performance parts and service work, call (610) 965-9865, FAX (610) 967-4801 or go to www.blackmans.com.