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Moto2 List Hits 40 Teams – Still Not Official

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Moto2 entries are overflowing at this point in time, with 40 teams on the provisional provisional list (not a typo) that was supposed to contain onl7 37 brave entrants. The overbooking doesn’t seem to be an accident though, as while many teams jumped on-board with the pocketbook friendly GP series, the reality of funding a new racing effort in this economy has become apparent.

Moto2 teams are scrambling to make the bottom-line turn from red to black, and for many this means finding riders with personal sponsorships. There are only so many riders who can fit this bill, suggesting that this number of 40 could be dropping radically in the near future as teams realize that their ends won’t meet. Entry list after the jump.

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Racing

MotoGP: 1000cc Formula for 2012 – 81mm Bore

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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.

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Ezpeleta on 1000cc Engine Switch in MotoGP: “Production Engines” Won’t be in the Rule Book

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There’s be some trouble brewing in the MotoGP/WSBK camp after news hit that MotoGP would be switching back to a 1000cc format by the 2012 season. In that story, several possibilities on how that format would work were put forth by various sides, one such proposal being the running of production based motors in MotoGP.

These motors, which would be based off those found on streetbikes, could be tuned to any degree, provided it met the criteria in the MotoGP rule book (1000cc & four-cylinders are the only regulations agreed upon currently). This news of course drew the ire of World Superbike promoter, Infront Motor Sports, in the form of Paolo Flammini, who believes that format would infringe on his license to exclusively run a production based race series.

Refusing at first to define what a production engine is, Dorna’s Carmelo Ezpeleta is now switching gears and saying the term “production engine” won’t even appear in the new MotoGP racing regulations.

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Racing

MotoGP Returns to 1000cc Format, Drops 800cc

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MotoMatters is now confirming that as early as 2012 we will see MotoGP racing back in the liter-bike category. Never popular with the manufacturers, the 800cc rule change not only cost teams in added development costs, but also never brought the promised the safety and closer racing that is was supposed to offer. For the moment it appears MotoGP will remain a prototype class, with there being no discussion of a production motor being used (like in Moto2), at least at this time.

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Racing

MotoGP to Return to 990cc Formula?

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When MotoGP switched from the 990cc displacement format to the 800cc formula, it was done so on the idea that it would make the premiere racing class safer for the riders. This proved to not be the case, as the 800cc bikes clearly carried more corner speed through turns, and were still able to approach 990cc top speeds on the straight-aways.

The result, a racing class that was more dangerous and more expensive for manufacturers.With this in mind, Dorna Boss, Carmeloa Ezpeleta, wants to return the series back its previous 990cc format, by as early as 2011.

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Dorna/Ezpeleta to Lead the Anti-Formula 1?

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In case you don’t follow the series, Formula 1 has been in state of flux for the past few years. 2009 saw a host of new rules introduced to make the sport once again exciting. Adding to the on-track drama has been the discourse off the track by the teams, race promoters, and drivers. Currently, Bernie Ecclestone (Formula One Management) and Max Mosley (FIM) are attempting to impose a £40 million budget cap on the teams, which follows their attempt to instigate a two-tier technical rule system for capped and uncapped teams.

Unwilling to follow such a system, the newly formed Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), has come together as a collective bargaining group aganst Ecclestone and Mosley. FOTA has raised the ante in their negotiations, and has now threatened to pull out of the 2010 Formula 1 season. Taking their toys and going home, FOTA plans on starting its own series, with perhaps Carmelo Ezpeleta, of Dorna fame, as its head.

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Rumors

Michelin to be Sole Tire Supplier for Moto2?

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With Moto2 being an ever evolving race class, there is still some speculation as to whom its official partners will be. Repsol seems to be an almost lock on supplying oil and lubricants to the over-pepped 600cc Honda powerplants, as the Spanish company has a strangle hold on the MotoGP racing series.

What may come as a surprise to race fans though, is the resurgance of Michelin in prototype racing. After a less than stellar season last year in MotoGP, . Now, the French company is allegedly poised to sign a contract with Dorna to be the sole-tire provider with the fledgling Moto2 race class. This rumor seems to put out Dunlop, which has had a long history with the 250GP series.

With Moto2 constantly changing and adopting, we’ll believe this rumor as being possible for now; but, as always, time will tell.

Source: Moto.Caradisiac

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60 Entries Made for Moto2 Bids

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UPDATE:  the FIM is reporting that 47 teams submitted entries for the 2010 Moto2 series, for a total of 91 riders.

Applications for the Moto2 series closed today, with nearly 60 teams making bids to join in on the fun of 600cc prototype racing. Likely, this number will be reduced to somewhere around 36 teams, the typical number of slots on GP circuits.

Of the applicants, all of the satellite teams from MotoGP submitted entries, with the exception of Sete Gibernau’s Grupo Francisco Hernando squad, as well as most of the 250 teams as well, with the Aspar team asking for three places on the grid.

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Changes to MotoGP Front Tire Rule

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The FIM has announced that MotoGP riders will have added choice for their front slick tire allocation from the end of next month. Although the total number of front slick tires permitted for a race weekend will remain unchanged at eight, three different distribution options will be made available. However, new rules on when the tires can be ordered may make the tire situation much more difficult for teams.

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