A Swiss company, Marilley Motosport, has designed and built a 125cc entry level racer called the Formula Bike. Its purpose is to give young racers the chance to prepare for racing in the higher level classes and also to be a very accessible level of racing for the non professional. The initial version is a 40+ horsepower 2 stroke available in March of 2008 eventually to be transitioned to a 4 stroke by 2010.
The Formula Bike sports 14 inch wheels front and rear on a tube frame with an aluminum swingarm. Price is quoted as 8500 Euros.
There seems to be growing interest in small displacement motorcycles at reasonable prices for entry level racing, something less costly and more manageable than jumping on to a 120+ horsepower 600cc racer. The formula bike is similar in concept to the 450cc dirt bike based racer from Gavin Trippe.
The company is working to organize a Formula Bike World Cup series to showcase these bikes and the racers who ride them.
Link: Marilley Motosport Formula Bike via Motoblog.it
Bryce says
Great idea. Wish there would be a street legal one here in the US too. I’d ride something like that. Or I’d pull the engine and shoehorn it into a classic Lambretta.
RH says
Sounds like something Metrakit has been doing for years: http://www.metrakit.es/vehiculos.php
kneeslider says
Yep, looks pretty similar. Never heard of them, but then, I don’t really follow 125cc racing. Either way, it looks like a pretty good idea.
Johan says
I like it very much, it is a bit scooter based. The wheels are from a Gilera DNA, the frontfork is from Malossi for scooters I guess. It’s a bit like the Metrakit racers and the french Conti racers
PigIron says
How different is this bike from the existing MotoGP 125’s?
Phoebe says
Wow, a 40hp 125cc? I could have a looot of fun with that. Too bad it’s not street legal.
hpfabe says
This is definitely cool, and I love the idea, but at 8500 Euros (convert that to dollars), I don’t know if I’d consider this affordable by any means. I’m looking for something that my son can learn to ride on, that doesn’t break the bank.
Formula Bike says
Hello everybody,
Thank you very much for your comments. You, all are right! But Metrakit has less power, so the Formula Bike gives more fun!!! 🙂 The idea is to offer a motor for to start in the really road racing after the minimoto (pocketbike). With more than 40HP!
Hello from switzerland!
RH says
Considering what an unlimited minimoto costs, it sounds like a bargain. I hope you do well with it!
That people are actively formulating entry level road racers is encouraging. Are any of the racing organizations actively promoting any new classes for them? Racing with real race bikes (as opposed to DOT approved mass produced consumer product) sounds a lot more realistic to me.
Formula Bike says
Dear RH, you see very well the situation! We are on the way to negotiate with the federations to accept this new class. And (unfortunatly only in Europe at present) we organise a Formula Bike Academy too. With 5 races in a saison, and finally a European Cup. So, our Formula Bike is a really race motorcycle for the young people.