4 stroke GP bikes

[elephino]

FIM Press Release - 09 APR 00

The Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA) have proposed, yesterday 8th
April 2000, that the FIM makes a proposition to the Grand Prix Commission with
the following exceptions to the technical regulations for the 500cc class of the
FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, that will be effective from 1st
January 2002, and the FIM has accepted to do so.

The said exceptions are the following:

For two-stroke engines only, the fuel tank capacity will be limited to 32
litres maximum. Four-stroke prototype motorcycles will be experimentally
allowed in the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, with the
following characteristics:
Engine displacement
maximum:
990cc, regardless of the number of cylinders
(minimum 3 cylinders).
Minimum weight:
three-cylinders: 135 kg.
three-cylinders (oval pistons): 145 kg.
four- and five-cylinders: 145 kg.
four or more cylinders (oval pistons): 155 kg.
six or more cylinders: 155 kg.
Fuel tank capacity:
maximum 24 litres for years 2002 and 2003.
maximum 22 litres from year 2004.
Noise limit:
pre-race limit: 115 dB/A.
post-race limit: 120 dB/A.
All the rest as per current
regulations.


However, if the following revisions are proposed by GPMA within one month of
the signing of this agreement, providing enough arguments to guarantee that
only prototype motorcycles will be used for Grand Prix racing, FIM will accept
and approve them:

Engine displacement:
maximum 990cc regardless of the number of
cylinders.
Minimum weight:
3 or less cylinders: 135 kg.
3 or less cylinders (oval pistons): 145 kg.


"It is a very important day for our sport," President Francesco Zerbi said. "The
philosophy of this new agreement is to clearly state that production motorcycles
cannot be transformed to participate in the Grand Prix, which are restricted to
prototype bikes. I think that this means a very important step forward in the
progress of motorcycling and for our sport to be adapted to modern
technologies."

[Rossifumi]

This four stroke thing is only called in to life because the Superbikes are getting more and more the upperhand in motorcycle racing.
I wonder what will happen to the Supebikes when this is gone take place.
I think they should stick to the 2 stroke because we have now two nice separate classes to look at that are different,who needs two classes of the same!!!!

[Kai Higdon]

4-stroke GP bikes are supposed to be "prototype" machines, not based on production equipment - therefore differentiating the two series.

The proposed rules are insane and costs will only escalate if 4-strokes are run.

What manufacturer has the budget to build/race competitive 4-stroke prototypes?

Honda.

Who was pushing for inclusion of 4-strokes in the 500GP class?

Honda.

What about sponsors? Do they care what is being raced? Does the series need the escalated costs associated with 4-strokes?

Oh, and the rules sure looked stacked against v-twin Ducatis... :-)

[IAM]

I'm a little confussed. With the rules already
"990cc regardles of number of Cylinders"

"3 cyliders minimum"

"Max weight 3 cylinders or less 135Kilos"???

Anyway apart from that I'm a little old and slow and didn't notice the passing of the rules banning 4 strokes.

And now these new rules seem a little strange. 1950's Moto Guzzi V8 500cc; Morini 250cc 4 cylinder. 1960's 350 & 500cc class 2 strokes and 4 strokes. Honda 297cc 6 cylinder, rider Mike Hailwood; winner Mike Hailwood still in the 60's 500cc class; 500cc 4 cylinder Honda, rider Mike Hailwood, 500cc 4 cylinder MV Augusta, rider Gacamo Agustini; winner Ago, Honda had too much power and kept burning the rubber of the tyres.

What I was getting at....back then more cylinders less cc's for the 4 strokes and they would beat the 2 strokes.

American market not allowed to have 2 strokes on the street. So 2 stroke GP bikes are proto types to us. No street bike around here with oval pistons and the BIG BANG

Ian
PS and OH! the sound of the 6 cylider Honda..OOOOOOooooo!

[Redneck]

I agree... I was a little surprised to see the exclusion of 2 cylinder engines.

But could a 1000cc 2 cylinder compete against a 1000cc multi-cylinder?

I am excited to see the rule changes. Motorcycling is in the middle of a major rennaissance, and it is time for racing to evolve with it. America is one of the largest markets for bikes, and thus the 2-strokers have no relevance to our showrooms. I wish the 2-strokers could come back, but it does not look likely.

[elephino]

As long as the new rules produce good racing, most people won't complain about the loss of two-strokes. They will be missed though.

[Redneck]

I have all but quit watching the F1 guys and spend what time I have watching WSB. It has been a much better show! Now that Mick Doohan is gone (what a guy though) the F1 guys are getting much more interesting

[elephino]

I seem to have been forced into quiting watching SBK as channel 10 are having problems with Fox over broadcasting rights, which means I still haven't been able to watch Sugo yet. And I just hope they show the next round on the weekend.