New 4-stroke class to replace 250s in 2011

ptlcb1 · 05-17-2008, 3:43 PM

From the MotoGP website, there has been a proposal to replace the 250cc 2-stroke class with a 4-stroke class in the year 2011. 2010 will be the last year of the 250s. The 125s will stay intact. It was not stated in that article, what the displacement is going to be. Manufacturers have no interest in bringing 2-stroke technology to the street production bikes, so its no sense in continuing down that path.

.OrgOwner · 06-01-2008, 4:00 AM

Well it was only a matter of time, years from now we will be telling our grandchildren about these old fashioned things they called "two stroke" engines.

spiral · 06-01-2008, 10:18 AM

This should have happened a couple of seasons after the 990's first came into play. 2 stroke is great but there is no future in it, there hasn't been for years now. This change has been far too long coming to motogp racing.

gitganben · 06-03-2008, 10:37 AM

I for one will miss the two-strokes once they have all faded away. In their heyday, it was awesome to watch those crude little gnarly machines twitchin all over the place. I understand four stroke is the best way to move the technology ahead, but two strokes have a great history in top level racing and it will be sad to see them go.

03swanman954 · 06-03-2008, 6:38 PM

Doesnt surprise me,,,first with motocross and now with motogp,,,I am surprised it hasnt happened sooner to be honest!

djer73 · 06-11-2008, 7:16 AM

the replacement class dorna put forward was 625 or 650 inline fours, this was thrown out by the m.c.r.a and it has been agreed that the class will be 600 inline fours mainly to please honda. ktm and aprillia have both said they are no longer interested in the class if the change takes place. ktm put forward a plan of 500 twins, this was dismissed. aprillia suggested a single make class of twins, not sure which c.c. but this was dismissed aswell. aprillia intead on returning to moto gp with a v4 800 in the next few years anyway. these proposals still need to be approved by the f.i.a. and fg sport, who run world superbikes believe they own the rights to the 600 motorcycle racing class, i.e world supersport. so it sounds like it's going to be messy and no one really knows what will happen. i think the 600 class is a stupid idea myself, it is to close to the 800 capacity and we as bike fans can already watch 600's in world supersport. after a year or so of development they could be quicker than the 800's, due to higher corner speed. just look at this years speed of he 800's compared the 990's. where will that leave the premier class? my personal view is a 400 class would be the way to go. check out mcn.com, it's a uk weekly motorcycle newspaper and it's pretty good for sports news.