Top Speed

1. Carlos Checa, Ducati, 211.027 mph

You know what? Maybe these things *are* getting a little too fast. An
800cc limit might not be such a bad thing in a couple of years.

11. Shane Byrne, KTM Proton KR, 201.520 mph

Woah! KTM and KR might actually have something here, if they can just
find the money to develop it.

 

I'd like to see 750cc... But they'll up the ante by producing 200hp
750s. ;-)

 

Hmm.

The problem is that 800cc is sufficiently different from 990 that
it'll require a complete redesign of all the current engines. Honda
will throw the most money at it, and be as dominant as they were when
the first 990 four strokes came out. Yamaha might be able to
challenge. It'll be goodbye to KTM, Blata, perhaps Ducati and
probably one of Suzuki and Kawasaki.

Stability is what we need, for more than a couple of years.

 

Somebody mentioned to me the other day that 800cc was exactly what Honda
was pitching for.

Did I also hear/see that the 125 & 250 classes are going 4-stroke in the
very near future, as well? - What capacity limits?
Whatever they are I would imagine it will make the "minor" classes even
more expensive, to be competitive. Unless they are based on "production
racers" like the TZ Yamahas of 30 years ago.

Bummers

 

Well of course. Honda know they can outspend everyone else, so a
significant change to the formula means they can gain an immediate
advantage while everyone else plays catch up.