900 in 2007- definite!

[Gerrit]

The GP Committee (FIM, Dorna, GPMA and IRTA) has decided that as of the 2007 season, four-strokes will be reduced in size to 900 cc. Furthermore, the minimum weights for the various engine sizes has been increased by 3 kg as of this season, i.e. twins and triples now have a minimum weight of 138 kg (was 135), fours and fives 148 (was 145) and sixes or more cylinders 158 kg (was 155). Oval-pistoned engines mean a 10 kg weight penalty as before.
Fuel tank capacity will be 22 litres as of 1/1/2005.
The Committee also confirmed that the 250 class will remain as is until the end of 2009 at least, so NO 600 valved horrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnnyFiama]

Can we expect someone to bring out a 500cc 2-stroke in 2007 then?

[Gerrit]

Aprilia are in extreme financial difficulties- according to one of my contacts they have not paid Rotax for engines for two years and are kept afloat by the Italian government. The main cause of these problems is the extremely high cost of their RS3 project. Sooner or later they will be forced to abandon this project by the shareholders. Possibly they will build a 500 two-stroke as a replacement, especially since the cut in fuel tank size as of 1/1/2005 will limit the power these 990 monsters will be able to develop for full race distance. Cutting engine size to 900 cc will further narrow the gap, which wasn't all that great to begin with.
As things stand, WCM will be the first to disappear- they have no sponsor. Their 2003 spec four developed 205 hp, which they can raise by 10 hp with new valves, pistons, cams etc. BUT- developing these parts cost 1.5 million Euros, which they simply do not have. To put things in perspective, 1.5 million Euros would get you NSRs or YZRs for two riders a few years ago.

[ChrisUSA]

Originally posted by Gerrit
The GP Committee (FIM, Dorna, GPMA and IRTA) has decided that as of the 2007 season, four-strokes will be reduced in size to 900 cc. Furthermore, the minimum weights for the various engine sizes has been increased by 3 kg as of this season, i.e. twins and triples now have a minimum weight of 138 kg (was 135), fours and fives 148 (was 145) and sixes or more cylinders 158 kg (was 155). Oval-pistoned engines mean a 10 kg weight penalty as before.
Fuel tank capacity will be 22 litres as of 1/1/2005.
The Committee also confirmed that the 250 class will remain as is until the end of 2009 at least, so NO 600 valved horrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well, being that the bikes are now hitting 215mph, some limitations have to be brought to bear, though i guess my dreams of storming the field with my 990cc 2stroke will be forever dashed...

i'll tell you what aprilia's problem was - it wasn't horspeower, that's for sure. it was the monstrous dimensions of that triple! even with F1 bore/stroke dimensions the engine is just too tall. i predict the Suzuki V4 will come real good this season and eventually be the engine of choice. oh, and in case nobody heard - CHEATER 4 STROKES, GET OUT OF MOTOGP(or at least allow the strokers some displacement :-)

[asha]

I'm hoping that the suzuki will come good. I think Kenny has spend long enough in the wilderness

[DavidStHubbins]

Me too. Seeing Rossi on the Yamaha and Roberts on the Suzuki battling the Hondas for wins will be awesome.

[CleanTone]

Last year I would have laghed so hard seeing what i'm about to say but, here it comes:

Don't write Kawasaki off this year, maybe not for a win, but a podium is likely

[asha]

well Nakano is a great rider

[DavidStHubbins]

Very smooth rider. And Hoffman is highly rated too. Two young guys with plenty to prove..

[N I Tram]

Yamaha winning races this year is a certainty - Tino's good enough to win on anything, maybe even a Kawasucki. Podiums seem optimistic for Kawa and Proton, but everyone else has that hope.

I'd love to think that Aprillia can win, but considering that Colin couldn't do it stepping up from WSBK last year (he will this year though), Shaky will struggle to from BritSBK.

[Airhead]

Originally posted by CleanTone
Last year I would have laghed so hard seeing what i'm about to say but, here it comes:

Don't write Kawasaki off this year, maybe not for a win, but a podium is likely

Son..

You gotta give up the recreational drugs, your grip on reality is becoming tenuous to say the least.

[CleanTone]

amoffat, with 10 minutes to go in qualifying were YOU eating your words?

[asha]

anything that nakano can do


edit:
btw, since when have i been a "Veteran"?? i only just noticed that o0

[Gerrit]

Weight limits will also be revised as of 1/1/2007. Four-cylinder bikes will have a minimum weight of 148 kg; every extra cylinder means a 7.5 kg weight penalty but every cylinder less a weight bonus of 7.5 kg. So, the Aprilia RS3 will be allowed a minimum weight of 140.5 kg, but the RC211V will have to weigh 155.5 kg.

[Alex K]

I'd like to see Eric Bostrom in MGP next year, and I think Kawasaki did mistake, yeah I know money..., not signing him. I really do hope to see Boss in at Ducati.