MOTOGP » Moriwaki Moto2 enters All Japan 250GP race

I'd love to see the Moto2 bike get its a*se kicked by the 250's.

So would I. At last, someone else who (perhaps) doesn't agree with the Moto2 format?

If you agree with Moto2 or not there are a couple of thing that's wrong with 250s

1) It's basically a one make series as it is - manufactures have all but abandoned the series

2) Being that it's basically a one make series, Aprillia should not be the one to decide who gets the good engines and who gets the also ran bikes. The blame for Moto2 being a one engine make series can be laid right at their feet because of this practice.

3) It shouldn't cost a couple of million dollars to LEASE a winning bike and run a team in what's basically a feeder series.

4) 2 Strokes are dead. Most manufactures don't even have them in their product offering.

Well said!

I think the fact that three times as many teams wanted to enter suggests that this series is going to be a success.

The Moriwaki is on its 9th frame evolution and will be on its 10th by the time of the February tests - it will be interesting to see how it goes - pesumably they participate, but don't score points.

@RawDawg....

Try searching the web using... Lotus and 2 Stroke engines, think your find the 2-stroke combustion process is not confined to history just yet!

Granted it's not from the the bike industry, but from small acorns.....

Should be interesting! I realize all 2-stroke engines are slowly being phased out (on everything!) but the 250's have been quite entertaining to watch this season. I just hope the new Moto2 class is just as enjoyable...

Nick - Yes the Lotus design does look interesting, but don't hold your breath. Ford spent a huge amount of money developing a two stroke engine with the lubricating oil seperated from the combustion chamber, but could not get it to last longer than 100,000 miles so it was deemed unsuitable for car use and dropped.

The new six stroke engine design looks promising - the exhaust gas goes into a second cylinder of much larger bore so more energy is taken from the combustion process and hence better economy and emissions.

I'm familiar with the Lotus engine and other developments in 2 stroke technology like direct injection but the fact that the manufactures aren't using it in mass production bikes means in all sense and purposes that it's dead.

I just think it's lame that

1) it will be the same size as supersport.... i want to see some variety in racing.

2) the engines will all be the same, production design. that's boring too. at least make it prototype. and why honda? they're just going to get a whole bunch of other companies to pay them to develop chasis and suspension ideas for them. They must love it.

I don't think you will consider it lame this time next year.

The engine is the most difficult and expensive element of a bike. These new rules will allow a much wider range of teams to compete for a reasonable budget, therefore more sponsors will get involved and hopefully progress up to MotoGP. Plus those teams currently paying millions to lease 250's may consider moving to MotoGP (The top 7 Aprilias lease at 1.3 M Euro each).

We will have leased engines in MotoGP in the future - if you read Herve Poncharal's interview you will see his comments about teams gaining experience with chassis design and development in Moto2 taking those skills to MotoGP to build chassis for leased engine