Goldstar
2009-07-14, 12:10 AM
I'm a real fan of road racing and follow it in both its automobile and motorcycle manifestations. I know we have some bike enthusiasts on the Forum so the following information may be of interest to that group.
In 2002, Grand Prix motorcycle (MotoGP) engines under the new formula were switched from the previously used 2-stroke engines to a 4-stroke design - first a 900 cc maximum and then to the current limit of 800 cc.
Moto GP, under the control of the sanctioning body FIM, got its start in 1949 when the engines were all air-cooled 4-strokes and was organized into 4-classes: senior-500 cc; junior-350 cc; lightweight-250 cc and ultra-lightwight-125 cc. At a later point, 2-stroke engines and different displacement classes came to dominate and became the required type for MotoGP. This is all old news.
Under a new formula still under development, the present 250 cc 2-stroke engines will be phased out in favor of 600 cc 4-strokes - the class to be known as Moto2. In 2010, both types of engines will be allowed to compete but the following year only the 600 cc 4-strokes can run.
According to FIM rules, Moto2 will feature 4-stroke 600 cc engines with a maximum of four cylinders. Revs are limited to 16,000 rpm for four cylinder engines, 15,500 for triples, and 15,000 for twins. Pneumatic valves, oval pistons and carbon brakes aren't allowed and spec PCMs will be issued by the FIM. Internal moving parts must be made of either aluminum or iron-based alloys with no titanium or other exotic materials allowed. The mandated minimum weight for the new bikes is 135 kg (298 lbs).
However, the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association recently unanimously proposed a "one-make engine regulation," which if adopted by the FIM would have all competitors using identical prototype engines (similar to current IRL practice). This would guarantee that the new class wouldn't conflict with World Supersport which is supposed to be the sole realm of production 600s for world championship racing.
To keep the class relatively affordable, the FIM has adopted a number of regulations. As with MotoGP, each team will have access to a limited number of control tires for each event. Only one motorcycle and two engines can be provided for each rider per race weekend. A claiming rule lets teams buy the engine (excluding exhaust, throttle bodies, and PCM) of another competitor's motorcycle for 20,000 euros (~US $26700). This provision is intended to limit the ability of big-budget teams to spend excessive amounts of money building engines, while simultaneously enabling smaller teams to affored technology that would be otherwise unobtainable.
As an example of the new technology, the BQR team has built a Moto2 prototype that utilizes a conventional Honda CBR600RR engine that has been tweaked to develop 140 HP. While the HP numbers are similar to the Supersport bike, the BQR bikes lower weight and specific track designed focus promise higher corner speeds and lower lap times.
When the BQR was tested at the Valencia circuit in Spain, in only its second outing on a racetrack, Spanish rider Dani Rivas clocked a fast lap of 1:36.8 - just .4 slower than the current 250 cc world champion Marco Simoncelli's fastest lap at the same circuit one week earlier.
While there are rumors of Yamaha and Honda developing Moto2 factory machines, if the FIM adopts a spec engine rule, this would obviously preclude multi-brand participation. In any case, we have a new Grand Prix racing class about to be adopted and this should lead to some interesting times for those of us who follow this activity.
Happy Motoring!
In 2002, Grand Prix motorcycle (MotoGP) engines under the new formula were switched from the previously used 2-stroke engines to a 4-stroke design - first a 900 cc maximum and then to the current limit of 800 cc.
Moto GP, under the control of the sanctioning body FIM, got its start in 1949 when the engines were all air-cooled 4-strokes and was organized into 4-classes: senior-500 cc; junior-350 cc; lightweight-250 cc and ultra-lightwight-125 cc. At a later point, 2-stroke engines and different displacement classes came to dominate and became the required type for MotoGP. This is all old news.
Under a new formula still under development, the present 250 cc 2-stroke engines will be phased out in favor of 600 cc 4-strokes - the class to be known as Moto2. In 2010, both types of engines will be allowed to compete but the following year only the 600 cc 4-strokes can run.
According to FIM rules, Moto2 will feature 4-stroke 600 cc engines with a maximum of four cylinders. Revs are limited to 16,000 rpm for four cylinder engines, 15,500 for triples, and 15,000 for twins. Pneumatic valves, oval pistons and carbon brakes aren't allowed and spec PCMs will be issued by the FIM. Internal moving parts must be made of either aluminum or iron-based alloys with no titanium or other exotic materials allowed. The mandated minimum weight for the new bikes is 135 kg (298 lbs).
However, the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association recently unanimously proposed a "one-make engine regulation," which if adopted by the FIM would have all competitors using identical prototype engines (similar to current IRL practice). This would guarantee that the new class wouldn't conflict with World Supersport which is supposed to be the sole realm of production 600s for world championship racing.
To keep the class relatively affordable, the FIM has adopted a number of regulations. As with MotoGP, each team will have access to a limited number of control tires for each event. Only one motorcycle and two engines can be provided for each rider per race weekend. A claiming rule lets teams buy the engine (excluding exhaust, throttle bodies, and PCM) of another competitor's motorcycle for 20,000 euros (~US $26700). This provision is intended to limit the ability of big-budget teams to spend excessive amounts of money building engines, while simultaneously enabling smaller teams to affored technology that would be otherwise unobtainable.
As an example of the new technology, the BQR team has built a Moto2 prototype that utilizes a conventional Honda CBR600RR engine that has been tweaked to develop 140 HP. While the HP numbers are similar to the Supersport bike, the BQR bikes lower weight and specific track designed focus promise higher corner speeds and lower lap times.
When the BQR was tested at the Valencia circuit in Spain, in only its second outing on a racetrack, Spanish rider Dani Rivas clocked a fast lap of 1:36.8 - just .4 slower than the current 250 cc world champion Marco Simoncelli's fastest lap at the same circuit one week earlier.
While there are rumors of Yamaha and Honda developing Moto2 factory machines, if the FIM adopts a spec engine rule, this would obviously preclude multi-brand participation. In any case, we have a new Grand Prix racing class about to be adopted and this should lead to some interesting times for those of us who follow this activity.
Happy Motoring!