Dorna-MSMA open the can of worms

This stuff changes from day to day. But as of today the rules for MotoGP
2012 look like being

1) 800 Prototypes as now
- 800cc
- 21 litres of fuel
- 150Kg
- 6 engines per season

2) 1000cc Prototypes
- 1000cc
- Max 81mm bore
- 21 litres of fuel
- 150Kg
- 6 engines per season

3) 1000cc Production based
- 1000cc
- Max 81mm bore
- 24 litres of fuel
- 153Kg
- >6 engines per season. Perhaps unlimited.

Now 1) and 2) may be the same if all the current and 2011 800cc
prototypes have a bore less than 81mm. Anyone know if this is true now?

And the can of worms:- What is a production engine? What is a modified
production engine? Is it perhaps just the cases that have to be from a
WSBK homologated Superbike?

And how many is greater than 6 for the engines limit on production based
engines?

The next iteration of all this is due Feb 17 with a draft rule book.

 

Shouldn't the production based at least get a weight break or
something? Is it just to fill the field at much lower cost to make
satellite teams even less competitive?

....pablo

 

+3 Kg and 24 litres instead of 21 litres

Seems to suggest that Production based are expected to be inherently
more powerful but less efficient. Which is a bit bizarre. Put GP
Magnetti Marelli electronics on an Aprilia RSV and it will still be less
efficient? I wonder who they are targeting for a production based
engine. Aprilia-BMW? And Honda since they were the one that had a
spokesperson mentioning tuning a Blade engine as an alternative to
building a 1000 prototype.

 

Does this make any sense?

------------------
It was confirmed last December that the maximum engine capacity would
increase to 1000cc for the start of the 2012 season with a maximum
number of four cylinders and a maximum bore width of 81mm, and on
Wednesday the GP Commission announced further specifications.

These will include a minimum weight of 153kg for bikes over 800cc and
150kg for machines up to 800cc, a maximum number of six engines
available for use by each rider, and a fuel tank capacity of 21 litres.

There was also an announcement about the exception for private teams,
who will have different limitations. These will be that each rider will
be able to use 12 engines per season, and with a fuel tank capacity of
24 litres. This new regulations will be further defined by the end of
May, with these teams to be referred to as Claiming Rule Teams (CRT).

 

Yup. On reflection nothing really happened today, just that we'll have
1000cc prototypes with 3kg extra weight. Defining CRT has been put off
till the end of May.