MOTOGP » 500cc twins join 250 replacement list

I would like to see 250cc 2S vs 450cc 4s twins or even better 650cc singles.
The 600cc 4cyl make no sense. We already have WSS for that.

Get some real motors in there, not outboard engines.

500cc twins can be light, and can have good power and torque.

More rubbish ideas from the same idiots. We could do away with the tarmac and just have the four strokes running round the green bit at the side in a lawnmower chassis as thats all they will be good for.

It's just a logical maneuver from the manufacturers ... after all, the 2-stroke market is severely limited (banned ?) in "important" countries like the US, and practically no jap factory is producing 2-stroke engines anymore (at least not "mass" producing, that is).

I know we love the sport and I know we all love those "close combat" images like we get in the 125/250cc races, but this is a business, after all

What I do NOT like is the "single engine" idea... I still think that the 125/250/MGP is "prototype racing", so turning any of those classes into something like GP2 *boring* "races" is plain dumb. Either way, I don't think the jap mfgs will "buy" that one ...

I think that any change to the GP classes will be detrimental, to both the sport and to bike development. Some of the best racing to be seen is in the 125 & 250cc classes,
To see a procession of underpowered would be boring in the extreme. Lets return to proven race classes as existed back in the 50''s & 60''s.
These gave rise to exciting developments, that gave great racing and encouraged developments that benefitted motorcycling in general.

In response to thoughts on underpowered, or same engines, racing in the 50s & 60s et.al :-
In the 50s & 60s, when you had a grid full of mainly single cylinder Manx Nortons, the racing was just as exciting as any other era. When all the engines started up (they had push starts then) the ground literally shook. They all had between 50-53 BHP and tyres weren't an issue so the best rider won. To see and hear 5 or 6 riders cresting the drop to paddock hill at Brands Hatch made the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You do not need 200BHP or 200MPH to make racing exciting, after all if you did nobody would watch the 125s.

Superbockster - It might be a business, but it's one that continues BECAUSE of the fans not inspite of them. If it wasn't for the spectators at the track and those watching at home there wouldn't be big sponsors and without them you wouldn't have professional racing as it is today. And so what if the Japanese aren't producing 2T engines tne Euro factories are. Once again we have the 'suits' making decisions with little thought for the fans.

The move to four strokes in MX and enduro hasn't spoilt the racing, in fact its made it closer and more exciting, who's to say it won't do the same in road racing. Strikes me this is the usual knee jerk reaction to change which us humans don't take kindly to

The same was said of the change from 500 two strokes to the 990, anybody want to go back, its evolution, the manufacturers are moving away from two strokes so why pay to develop something that is redundant

500 twins, open configuration but a minimum number of engines to be made available at a set price would be my choice. The rules would also need to ensure the state of tune is such that the running costs are acceptable. Factories could then continue to run their own teams provided they make engines available to others.


Lightweight twins with reasonable power in a racing chassis would be a worthwhile replacement class but keeping the involvement of the many factories who currently support the sport should also be a priority. No Honda benefit please.

190mph - Yup, european factories still build 2-stroke engines, but we have to face it: the environmental restrictions will eventually "kill" those engines.

But on this subject, just remember what everyone said about the transition from the 500cc 2-stroke to the 990cc 4-stroke... everyone said it would "kill" the sport, and it turned out just the opposite

Again, I just hope that they won't be settling for a "single engine cup": *THAT* would turn the 125/250 classes (or their 4stroke replacements) into some boring carousel ...

Regards