Moto3 in MotoGP in 2012...

[hondahawkrider]

The officical announcement came this past weekend at Brno.. Apparently, the MotoGP Moto3 category will be based around 240cc Single Cylinder engines.. It's going to replace the existing 125cc class.. However, unlike the new Moto2 class the difference is that the Moto3 class will not be a spec-motor series, meaning any manufacturer can build a thumper and compete in the series
http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/162431 ... 125cc.html

Hmmmmm... This could have some interesting impacts on developements of single cyclinders

Check this out
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/mo ... 89190.html

IIRC the current Yamaha Wr250r makes 30hp, maybe 32 with a exhaust - which is a hell of a bike for a 250cc Single... Now there looks like their may be reasons for the other manufactures to make 250cc singles - that could or would eventually be parted or also used in Dual Sports...

[Bucho]

Interesting. I think its sad to see the 125's go, but should make for some neat competition in the thumper world.

[mdubya]

I am even more surprised to see that motorcycle.com is still around! They used to have a different name to go with that URL back in the late nineties. They sealed their fate when they started charging an online subscription fee to read their content way back when. Curious.

[Roadracer_Al]

I expect that they believe this will be a cost-saving class and a feeder class, much like the old 125s. However, MX based motors will be *extremely* costly to run due to the incompatibility with continuous, extended high-RPM running. That's why F450 never really took off.

Let's hope this triggers a new era of durable Thumper technology that will eventually trickle down to the street!

[hondahawkrider]

I expect that they believe this will be a cost-saving class and a feeder class, much like the old 125s. However, MX based motors will be *extremely* costly to run due to the incompatibility with continuous, extended high-RPM running. That's why F450 never really took off.

Let's hope this triggers a new era of durable Thumper technology that will eventually trickle down to the street!

By the f450 I am guessing this is the Honda crf....

I will agree that a gp bike is extremely costly for all the reasons you mentioned above.. However its not like most folks go out any by a gp bike for the street either (ok...well unless you got 60k to go get a ducati desmoducci).. However there has been allot of good tech that comes out of it... For example, I know that that the latest Honda cbr's have cartridge transmissions that can removed/replaced easily, that all came from at the rc211v gp bike iirc...

I gotta believe that with 250cc moto gp and the Dakar with 450cc singles, that some stuff is going to have to trickle down into the dual sport arena

[Bucho]

I gotta believe that with 250cc moto gp and the Dakar with 450cc singles, that some stuff is going to have to trickle down into the dual sport arena

Would be nice if Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki/Kawasaki would field factory teams for the Dakar. Then I'm sure we'd get some good trickle down into the dualsport area.