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Ilmor V4 800cc MotoGP Engine

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Ilmor V4 MotoGP engine has that high tech exotic look you would expect, but it's just so impressive when you see it
Ilmor V4 MotoGP engine has that high tech exotic look you would expect and it's just so impressive when you see it
Photo credit - ICEngineWorks

Ilmor Engineering is one of those companies you always hear about in racing circles, designing all sorts of exotic racing engines and back in 2007 they decided to put together an engine for the then new 800cc MotoGP rules after the phase out of the two strokes. While researching an article about ICEngineWorks for HorsePowerSports, I came across this photo someone from their company had taken of the Ilmor engine. I had never seen it and I just thought it looked perfect, and then there's this: 800cc, 215 horsepower@18,000 rpm! Yow!

The Ilmor guys build engines for Formula One and various other forms of racing so it only makes sense they might know a thing or two about getting lots of power from a small package. They also designed the 5 stroke engine we mentioned a while back.

Doesn't that engine look great? The appearance alone just exudes high quality. I love it.

Ilmor Engineering

Posted on Filed Under: Engines

Comments

  1. It is nice you bringing the ILMOR project ! (mind you 8 years is a bit long ) Try to get some NEWS from KTM…they are try to get to motoGP in 2017 with theire own engine !?

    • I actually first mentioned this engine in November 2005, almost ten years ago! Then again in 2007. I haven’t been following MotoGP very closely for a little while, probably why I never saw a photo of this engine before, but I still think it’s an impressive bit of engineering. There’s a lot going on in MotoGP and I simply can’t keep up with all of the latest developments, life keeps getting in the way, but I do try to mention the things that catch my eye. If you see something that you think deserves wider coverage, send me a note and I’ll take a look.

  3. I saw that they previously released a 111hp v twin job that looks like it could be crow-barred into a harley (clone) frame.

  5. I’ve often wondered why there weren’t more V4 engines in bikes. I rode a Honda V4 Interceptor in the ’80s that was impressive and I’ve always liked the V Max.