The Grand Prix Commission met today, and came to a resolution on what direction the MotoGP series would take in the coming years. As expected the committee members agreed to a 1000cc format for the 2012 season, and finally revealed some of the details of that switch, such as a maximum of four cylinders allowed in the race motorcycles, and a bore size that can be no larger than 81mm. The announcement was devoid of any further details about “production motors“. More after the jump.
With the need to come to a more affordable format in prototype racing, MotoGP has dropped the increasingly expenisve 800cc formula. Talking about the changes, FIM boss Vito Ippolito said:
“The main changes we have decided on are new rules for the MotoGP class. We will have four cylinder engines, 4-stroke of course, with a 1000cc maximum, and the bore of the cylinders will be 81mm. This base will give all the manufacturers the opportunity to start work. At the beginning of next year we will produce the new rules in a more complete format, but that is the basis; 2012 will be the year of a new era of MotoGP.”
Stating that “it’s a very important measurement because with this we can have all the characteristics of the engine,” it would seem speculation that Ezpeleta’s “silver bullet” is in fact limiting the bore size used on the motorcycle motors. In theory, this should reduce the amount of power the race bikes produce, but innovations in piston design could change this.
Expect to see more on this issue as the Grand Prix Commission further refines their formula before the 2012 season.
Timeline of engine changes in recent years:
2002: Introduction of 990cc 4-stroke MotoGP (instead of 2-stroke 500cc).
2007: Maximum engine capacity reduction from 990cc to 800cc.
2009-2010: Maximum engine usage (6 engines per rider in 2010).
2012: Maximum engine capacity increased to 1000cc, with a limit of 4 cylinders and a maximum 81mm cylinder bore.
Source: MotoGP
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If they intend to have a rev limit they should just have a rev limit instead of attempting to limit it mechanically, because all that will result in is ever higher-tech and more expensive engine bits.
Also I want the V5s back :(
RT @Asphalt_Rubber MotoGP: 1000cc Formula for 2012 – 81mm Bore http://bit.ly/5Q0YcP
990cc → 800cc → 1000cc みたいですね。 RT @daruyanagi: RT @Asphalt_Rubber MotoGP: 1000cc Formula for 2012 – 81mm Bore http://bit.ly/5Q0YcP
your so greedy ceolwulf ;) haha
this should be fun!
-peter
It seems this change is driven by a concern about costs, but what is this the 3rd significant change to the engine rules in what 4-5 years? Talk about costly.
Well, I wonder how long it takes until the manufactures grow tired of not being able to run a long term development due to all changes in the technical rules.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if there soon will be another series of racing with traditional long-term rules that you can rely on. A serie run without any “formal” world champion title, but where the best riders will be due to the good competition there.
Dorna is just running a short term schedule for their own profit with no engagement at all in the true soul of racing.
The world has changed really fast and Dorna finds itself with the wrong product with bad timing.
The key justification for a factory run race team is brand exposure and a platform for R&D. Focus on the factory run teams as they are the core of MotoGP. They leave, it’s all dead.
MotoGP has tooled itself up for essentially speed at all costs, but that isn’t where the market is. The bikes are already plenty fast. The real challenge is efficientcy, noise and emissions. MotoGP doesn’t care. By being locked into a complete prototype package, the cost of productionising any benefits are large and long. And since they can’t use production anything really, MotoGP effectively becomes a full on factory in its own right with no rapid or easy way of merging the road and race business. The priorities are different.
The second justification is exposure. And this is MotoGP’s biggest pain. And that pain has a name. Its’s World Super Bike.
SBK is cheaper, easier and has vast amount of higher credibility in engineering and marketing terms then MotoGP. The link between SBK and the fan in the stand is short, tangible and understandable. MotoGP is a hard-on for the afficianado’s, not the masses. SBK gets the eye balls.
Anyway, the FIM were stupid to allow this situation to develop. Production is production, prototype is prototype. I don’t think its a particularly smart divide, but if that’s what it is, then that’s what it is.
But since the FIM are Dorna’s bitchslap, they’ll float anything if asked.
MotoGP moves to 1000cc max beginning 2012 http://tinyurl.com/y9tecyg
MotoGP: 1000cc Formula for 2012 – 81mm Bore: Dec 11, 2009 … MotoGP has tooled itself up for essentially speed a… http://bit.ly/6m0kPF
its good to surf u….
nice experience..
i want to have core engine knowledge…. can u please help me..??
m waiting for ur reply…..:):):)