Educate a newbie on Moto GP classes, please

[Spidey]

FYI, with Ducs, if you look at the names of the bike, it'll give you a hint:

The MotoGP bike referenced above is called the d16GP6.  The name is the D16, followed by GP (for MotoGP) and the 6 for the year '06.

Similarly, Bayliss' WSBK bike is called a 1098F08.  That's a 1098R factory bike from '08.  Privateers or satellite teams in WSBK don't have factory bikes.  They run a 1098RS, which is a 1098R with a special race kit that makes it into an RS.  You generally don't have to be anyone special to buy a race kit (for example, a few people around bought a race kit to change their 749R into a 749RS), but the factory bikes tend to have some parts that aren't made available to anyone other than the factory riders. 

[gm2]

Stopintime said 2 cyclinder (in other words, a V-twin), NOT 2 stroke.

The D16RR is a 990cc V4 "detuned" to 200 hp.

The premier class (Stoner, Rossi, et al.) now ride 800cc V4's.

The 250's and 125's (both were 2 stroke)are gone, replaced by 600cc 4 strokes.

Hope that helps.

before 2007 the premiere class max was 990cc; now it's capped at 800.

not all the GP bikes are V4s.  some are inline; yamaha's M1 most notably.  they may have a max of 5 cylinders; honda's 990 GP bike was a V5.  at one point last year kawasaki was considering an inline 5 800.

250 is still here; the 600cc class was just announced but doesn't start 'til 2011, i think.  maybe '10, definitely not '09.  125 is not affected.

[dbran1949]

Speaking of '09. Anyone know where to find the schedule and more importantly which network might carry the races?

[gm2]

Motogp.com

Speed airs them; in the last 2 years 3 or 4 of them have also been on a major network.  But I would recommend getting a motogp.com subscription and watching them there.

[Spidey]

Speed TV carries them (and sometimes the big networks), but don't bother with them.  Subscribe to motogp.com.  It's sooooo worth it.


Dates           Grand Prix Circuit

April 12 *     Qatar, Doha/Losail
April 26        Japan, Motegi
May 3          Spain, Jerez de la Frontera
May 17         France, Le Mans
May 31         Italy, Mugello
June 14        Catalunya, Catalunya
June 27 **   Netherlands, Assen
July 5 ***    United States, Laguna Seca
July 19         Germany, Sachsenring
July 26         Great Britain, Donington Park
August 16     Czech Rep., Brno
August 30     Indianapolis USA, Indianapolis
Sept 6          San Marino & Riviera di Rimini, Misano
Sept 20        Hungary, Lake Balaton
Oct 4           Portugal, Estoril
Oct 18         Australia, Phillip Island
Oct 25         Malaysia, Sepang
Nov 8          Valencia, Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

*     Evening race/course nocturne
**   Saturday
*** Only MotoGP class

[gm2]

Motegi in April, that's weird.  Making room for Hungary.

...the damn season can't start soon enough

[Spidey]

Motegi in April, that's weird.  Making room for Hungary.

...the damn season can't start soon enough

Where is it usually?  Don't remember.

[gm2]

About 4 before the end of the season.  The '07 and '08 titles were both clinched at motegi.

[Spidey]

About 4 before the end of the season.  The '07 and '08 titles were both clinched at motegi.

Ah, right.   [moto]  I never pay attention to which circuits come when 'cept for Qatar, Mugello, Valencia, Indy and Laguna.  And Assen, of course.  Cuz that logo makes me giggle like a f'n retard.    

[gm2]

yes....

[derby]

not all the GP bikes are V4s.  some are inline; yamaha's M1 most notably.  they may have a max of 5 cylinders; honda's 990 GP bike was a V5.  at one point last year kawasaki was considering an inline 5 800.

unless they changed the rules, you can run a 6 cylinder, but you'd have to carry the same weight penalty as a 5-cyl so there wasn't really an advantage.

[swampduc]

Ah, right.   [moto]  I never pay attention to which circuits come when 'cept for Qatar, Mugello, Valencia, Indy and Laguna.  And Assen, of course.  Cuz that logo makes me giggle like a f'n retard.    

The best is always the post-race interviews, when the riders are sitting in front of a whole wall of those logos.
 

[gm2]

unless they changed the rules, you can run a 6 cylinder, but you'd have to carry the same weight penalty as a 5-cyl so there wasn't really an advantage.

hmm, thought it was 5.

[derby]

hmm, thought it was 5.

no limit, just different weight requirements:

http://www.fim.ch/EN/rules/Sportifs/ccrGP/2008/GP_tech_en.pdf


2.2 Classes

The following classes will be accommodated, which will be designated
by engine capacity:

125 Over 80cc up to 125cc – Maximum one cylinder

250 Over 175cc up to 250cc – Maximum two cylinders

MotoGP Up to 800cc – Unlimited cylinders

Four stroke motorcycles participating in the MotoGP class must be
prototypes. Those that are not entered by a member of MSMA must
be approved for participation by the Grand Prix Commission.

2.5.1 The following are the minimum weights permitted:

– 125cc motorcycle + rider 136 kg

– 250cc
1 cylinder motorcycle 100 kg
2 cylinders motorcycle 100 kg

– MotoGP
2 cylinders or less motorcycle 133 kg
3 cylinders motorcycle 140,5 kg
4 cylinders motorcycle 148 kg
5 cylinders motorcycle 155,5 kg
6 cylinders or more motorcycle 163 kg

[Cider]

Thanks so much.  All good info.  I will definetely check out the film.

If you like Faster (and you will), check out Troy's Story.  Same look-and-feel as Faster (even the same narrator), but it's all about Troy Bayliss, so it includes World SBK and MotoGP.