the third year in a row, the Girona brand has launched a special limited series of the TXT Pro 300, a replica of the mount used by Adam Raga in the World Championship. Its renowned exclusivity, together with the large list of special components it incorporates, make it a highly sought-after piece, both in the world of competition and for those collectors of the latest generation. Gas Gas’ forecast is to manufacture only 370 units of the “Raga Racing”.
Starting from the standard TXT 300, Different modifications have been introduced that affect both its mechanics and the behavior of the suspensions. As in past editions, what continues to impact the most at first glance is the exclusive gold finish of its crankcase, clutch cover and swingarm, designed according to the standard parameters, but using a material as light as Magnesium T6.
Once inside its engine, we continue to enjoy the behavior of a truly “Pro” element, such as the 28mm Keihin carburetor. In addition to these already known components, new ones have been added, as a result of the evolution carried out by Adam in the last year on his Gas Gas. Thus, a new exhaust elbow has been designed, with a different curvature at its highest part, which helps to improve the response of the engine at low revs. However, at Gas Gas they have not been satisfied with that, and sought to offer the user something more, something never seen before in a production trial bike: a revolutionary ignition system.
To this end, The previous programmable Ducati system has been replaced by a new programmable one signed by Kokusan. The particularity of this system is that it is equipped with a switch placed on the handlebars, from which we can easily select one of the two power curves previously programmed on the motorcycle. As far as the suspension section is concerned, we continue to be in luck, because one more edition, we will be able to enjoy the exclusive Öhlins shock absorber evolved by Adam Raga.
There are other details of a lower range that complete this preparation, such as the special tensioning eccentrics, the handlebar with variable diameter with Raga flanges, or the brake and clutch hoses made of Teflon. For its part, the decoration follows the same guidelines of the 2005 range, including Adam’s signature on the rear fender, and a nameplate numbered as a true limited series.
SURPRISING
Although aesthetically this new edition does not allow for many surprises, they begin to appear from the first moment we put ourselves at the controls of it. As for the riding position, we continue to praise the good sensations that the variable diameter handlebars give us, makingthe posture more comfortable, while improving the poise of the front end. We are particularly struck by the new switch located next to the throttle control, through which we can select one of the two curves stored by the Kokusan ignition. Many of you will wonder why the Ducati ignition is abandoned, being also programmable.
The answer is simple, the Ducati allows an infinite number of configurations, but only one can be stored in the ECU. The Kokusan, on the other hand, contemplates only two possibilities , but both can be stored at the same time, and controlled by the pilot by means of the aforementioned device. Once the concepts were clarified, we moved on to the action, this time with a terrain where large rocks predominate and we have good traction. From the first moment, we realize that little remains of the sweetness that we applauded in the “three hundred” series.
The mood of “Raga Racing” is aggressive, with an immediate response speed, which forces the driver to be very attentive at all times. Perhaps the key to this behavior lies in the Keihin carburetor configuration. Simply with this modification, the gain compared to the standard bike is close to the hp of power, and its effects have a special impact at medium and high revs.
Logically, the obstacles that the “top” riders must overcome require a lot of power instantly, so the great task of the technicians is to find the balance between power and smoothness. The “Racing Raga” is therefore the first to have two useful corners under the same ignition.
DIFFERENT MAPS
During the test, we chose a mixed zone, with delicate turns of earth and steep stone steps. After making three passes over the area with map one, and another three with map two, we assessed the sensations of each one of us. Actually, none of us were able to make any big clear differences between the two configurations, but you can see that the first one is less aggressive and favors traction on delicate surfaces.
Map two offers a wider range of useful power, being able to stretch hard up to 8,000 rpm, in exchange for sacrificing efficiency at low revs. In short, surely eighty percent of us would hardly notice the change if we selected one or the other map with our eyes closed. However, for those who are looking for greater possibilities, or simply to have such an exclusive component, the Gas Gas will certainly satisfy your needs.
Another of the great surprises of this set is the very high level at which the suspensions are. The presence of the Öhlins shock absorber translates into greater smoothness, better traction, and above all a more successful homogeneity with the front end . Its effectiveness can also be seen with the stationary movements, which are now simpler, also due to the lower weight of the “Raga Racing” compared to the “three hundred” as standard.
Text: David Quer
