New MotoGP rules for 2007

[wczimmerman]

Saturday, June 04, 2005

This press release in from the FIM:

Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

Amendments to the Rules

Championnat du Monde des Grands Prix de Courses sur Route

Amendements aux Règlements

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Sito Pons (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Mr Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held today at the circuit of Mugello, unanimously decided to introduce the modifications below to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.

- For immediate application:

1. 2 Events

To delete Art. 1.2.2 ("all events in the Championship must cater for all three classes")

1. 19 Ride Through Procedure

During the race, the rider will be requested to ride through the pit lane; stopping is not permitted. He may then rejoin the race.

- For application as from June 9, 2005 (Catalunya Grand Prix):

1. 14 Technical Control

1. 14.1 Second paragraph, to delete "In the classes 250cc and 125cc,"

1. 21 Behaviour during practice and race

1. 21.12 To delete "two way radio voice communication"

- For application as from 2007, valid for 5 years minimum:

2. 2 Classes

2. 2.1 As from January 1st, 2007, in the Motogp class the maximum engine size capacity will be 800cc and 2-stroke engines will not be allowed.

2. 6 Fuel tank

2. 6.5 The maximum fuel tank capacity will be of 21 litres.

ENDS


800cc prototype bikes! Since I'm on an 800cc VFR, I hope this means new techology will trickle down for the 750-800cc real world bikes.

[Tourmeister]

:tab They mentioned that during the race Sunday. I thought it odd because very few of the current production bikes are anywhere near that displacement, other than a few 750's and the VFR. I wonder if it will be the end of the liter bike wars? I wonder if this is an attempt to bring the top speeds back down to sub 200mph. I also wonder if there might be some political pressure behind the scenes from various governments to bring the bikes back down to Earth in performance?

:tab Sunday's race was one of the more exciting races in a while. The 250's were even better!!

Adios,

[VFRinAustin]

I heard this on sunday also. Will be interseting to see what comes from it. I dont think it will change the liter class races though, unless AMA and World Superbike classes decide to not use them.

As for the racing, boy that sure was good, right down to the end even for 4th place.

[scratch]

If the Superbike class stays at 1000cc it may end up having faster lap times than GP. Don't know if that will matter in any significant way, but it seems like a step backwards for what is supposed to be the top series in motorcycle roadracing.

[Tourmeister]

:tab MotoGP is not just about the speed. It is also about the technology. AMA and WSB are basically production bikes. Sure some are seriously tweaked, but they are still production based. MotoGP is the cutting edge. It is where things that might someday see production get tested and refined. So I don't know that just because the liter bikes in AMA or WSB might go faster that it would be the end of MotoGP. Since Rossi has been so dominant the last few years in MotoGP, I have enjoyed watching the 250 and 125 classes more just for the sheer racing excitement!

:tab Can anyone find anything credible that might explain the real reasoning behind the rule change?

[mlinkibikr]

:tab Can anyone find anything credible that might explain the real reasoning behind the rule change?


Maybe it's a tire thing? Same reasoning as Daytona? I would think that these rule changes really discourage any of the smaller companies from gaining access to the big show, just when you get through all the R&D to get semi-competitive they change the rules.

Dave.

[Tourmeister]

:tab Good point Dave. I bet Kenny Robert's Sr. is having fits about this :lol: He spends two year developing a two stroke and they go to four stroke. He starts over developing the 1000cc four stroke and the change it to 800cc... I'd be a bit miffed as well!

Adios,

[scratch]

:tab MotoGP is not just about the speed. It is also about the technology...So I don't know that just because the liter bikes in AMA or WSB might go faster that it would be the end of MotoGP. Since Rossi has been so dominant the last few years in MotoGP, I have enjoyed watching the 250 and 125 classes more just for the sheer racing excitement!


You're extrapolating pretty far on my comment there, Scott. I'm not predicting that this is going to be the end of Moto GP, just wondering what's in it (the rules changes) for the fans. You know, the people who ultimately pay for it all? ;-)

It would be nice if the FIM gave us their rationale for the displacement reduction so that we didn't have to speculate; maybe they'll publish more about it later.

[igo-wfo]

From FIM headquarters:

Oh yes, we forgot ze most important change..

Mssr. Rossi has to ride a mountain bike to balance the field in MotoGP.. :mrgreen:

[Jack Giesecke]

MotoGP has nothing to do with street bikes or street bike racing. See "Superbike" for that. MotoGP is about GP. It's exotic bikes with the best handling, one off machines costing millions, and the best riders in the world. Nothing on those bikes is compromised by street and production line design. They are built for one purpose, win races on a closed course road circuit. I think lap times at most any track will still top anything in superbike even with a deficit in displacement. The liter bikes are just too powerful now, upwards of 250 horsepower. I think they're worried about that, wanna scale 'em back a tad. I just wish they'd allow 500cc two strokes into the formula again. That'd give the smaller factories a cheaper way to build a competitive bike. Aprilia, with their knowledge gained in 250 and 125, could build a 500cc four that could win, theoretically, against 800cc four strokes.

Honda will likely start with a fresh slate. Wonder what it'll be this time. V6? V8? To me, it adds to the intrest, at least engineering wise. It'll be terribly expensive for the smaller budget teams and Honda will once again have the edge, I reckon. Maybe that's what Nicky needs to get the job done, eh? He's riding really well, right there near the front. He just needs another 50 horsepower and he'll beat Rossi, BWAAAAA, ha, ha!