Comments on: Proposal for 250cc GP 4 Stroke Replacement

By: Dr. J

Dr. J — Fri, 23 May 2008 03:12:14 +0000

I think a problem with tire size limitations is that amount of grip a tire has is based more on the tire compound than the overall surface area (although footprint shape is important).

So larger tires don’t neccesarily accomodate more horse power, although they might last longer before going off.

By: aaron

aaron — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:15:11 +0000

I say give up limiting the classes by cc’s – go by tire size. scrap all traction control systems, divide the classes like this:

motogp=all the power you can feed through a 190 tire, with the weight required to keep it in line.

gp middleweights: all the power that can be fed through a 150 rear

gp lights: 120 rear tire

all classes: four stroke only, common fuel supply, single tire manufacturer, no limit to # of cyl. (although Wankels are limited to middleweight and lights, at first)

By: mark

mark — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:25:46 +0000

If the purpose is to have a meaningless and forgotten class that is a feeder to the Big Time, then this is a way to start going about it, though I don’t see the manufacturers buying in.

After all, why would they? The have already MotoGP (800 prototype), WSK (1000 and 600 inline fours), various country prod championships (all 1000 and 600 inline fours), plus the twins, endurance, and so on.

If they are serious about smaller bore racing, then perhaps they should open this class up to more makers and have a true prototype class that allows an anything-goes approach, limited by fuel economy of say 80mpg, based on an allocation for each race (race length 160 miles, you get two gallons of 95, sir. Good luck!). Blowers, suckers, two-strokes, electric hybrid: bring them all on, so long as then have two wheels.

My $0.02

By: motoxyogi

motoxyogi — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:27:41 +0000

How on earth are they going to make 4-strokes cheaper than 2-strokes. they’d have to put serious caps on the amount of tuning allowed to keep the prices down which would how much anyway? And that would be even more difficult if they are supposed to be prototypes.
Personally i think 2-strokers still have quite a bit of future ahead of them what with direct injection and other things bringing about cleaner more efficient engines.
Another suggestion is what if they reintroduced forced induction on gp racers. Anyone remember the BMW Kompressor?

By: Matt in NC

Matt in NC — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:33:15 +0000

The 450 single setup is a proposed 125cc replacement for entry level racing.
http://www.450moto.com/

Still way cool, and I’d love to have one as a track bike.