[Bonefish]

"FOLLOWING the news MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta would like to see motorcycle racing's premier class return to 990cc engines, Vito Ippolito, the president of motorcycling's governing body the FIM, has backed Ezpeleta's opinion, saying "the 800cc formula hasn't worked."

Speaking to Motosprint, Ippolito said: "MotoGP manufacturers want 1000cc engines, so that's the way now.

"The 800cc formula hasn't worked because power is more or less the same but cornering speed has increased. And costs have increased too."

Ippolito was keen to make clear this would not lead to conflict with the World Superbike Championship, despite World Superbike promoter Infront Motor Sports' reaction to the return to 990 engines. Read Visordown's take on the WSB angle here.

"We are satisfied with both series, because they meet the requests of the fans," said Ippolito. "SBK offers the opportunity of racing and showing off to people who have less resources, while MotoGP is the global image of motorcycle racing.

"So we need both, but it's important to keep a difference between the two: someone who watches Superbikes watches his own bike racing. MotoGP is different, and someone who watches it wants to see something else."

Bring it on!

 

[denzee]

That is great news! :thumb:

 

[Bonefish]

yeah I think so too. lus1:

 

[jazzy]

That is great news! :thumb:

lus1:Bout time:thumb:

 

[sswaffenk98]

lus1:Bout time:thumb:

I like the 990 days, but the way it all reads we won't know for sure or see it until 2012.... the whole GP prototype class could be pointless (more so anyway) by then... or even by the middle of 2010

 

[orien87]

That's crazy, is it true? I did not see it on MotoGP website. If so, that's cool.

 

[dicknose]

In what way has the 800cc formula not worked?
Its not that the bikes are slower, most places the lap times have dropped.
Its not like the series is less popular.

And WSBK is not an issue.

Just not sure why there is feeling a move to 1000cc is needed.
If it said "to have a bigger difference to the new 600cc Moto2 class" then I could see that as a reason.
But this supposed "failure" of 800cc is baffling.

 

[929ADAM]

damn! i was waiting for new track technology to trickle down to us and bring out a new class of bikes from every manufacturer. . . not that that would be a good move in the economy, but still.

 

[orien87]

MotoGP changes for 2012 | The Official MotoGP Website

It looks like its official, will have to wait for 2012 season. Cool, it makes sense to bring the machines back to 1,000cc because its the premier class of motorcycle racing in the entire world. These machines are not budget racers by no means, and it shouldn't be treated like so. International racing with the fastest 2 wheel machines in the world, that's what MotoGP is all about.

 

[dicknose]

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/FIM+announcement+for+2012+MotoGPInternational racing with the fastest 2 wheel machines in the world, that's what MotoGP is all about.

And the 800cc werent the fastest bikes?

And its nice to say budget shouldnt be an issue, but it is. Well it is if you want more than say 2 teams in the series!

 

[929ADAM]

the factories should be pissed about having to waste SOOOO much money in R&D to develop bikes/motors/technology to run in the 800 class for a couple of years then just throw it all away as a failure?! thats bs!

 

[overholt13]

v-5 honda again???? anyone?? hopefully:woohoo:

 

[denzee]

v-5 honda again???? anyone?? hopefully:woohoo:

Good question. Depends if they pull out the 990 from mothballs to keep the budget down. If R&D money is available, knowing Honda they will redesign the engine. Possibly a V4 and maximizing the allowable bore of 81mm and a big bang engine like Ducati.

 

[orien87]

And the 800cc werent the fastest bikes?

And its nice to say budget shouldnt be an issue, but it is. Well it is if you want more than say 2 teams in the series!

I didn't knock on their budget issues. W/E, I welcome the new changes.
Traction control is truly hurting the series not budgeting, that's why the same 2 teams are always winning, the same teams with factory support. Everybody else gets sick of losing all the time and they drop out.