Moto2 Archives - Page 48 of 49

News

60 Entries Made for Moto2 Bids

By Jensen Beeler 05/30/2009 1 Comment

UPDATE: the FIM is reporting that 47 teams submitted entries for the 2010 Moto2 series, for a total of 91 riders.

Applications for the Moto2 series closed today, with nearly 60 teams making bids to join in on the fun of 600cc prototype racing. Likely, this number will be reduced to somewhere around 36 teams, the typical number of slots on GP circuits.

Of the applicants, all of the satellite teams from MotoGP submitted entries, with the exception of Sete Gibernau’s Grupo Francisco Hernando squad, as well as most of the 250 teams as well, with the Aspar team asking for three places on the grid.

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News

Tech 3 to Abandon MotoGP For Moto2?

By Jensen Beeler 05/28/2009 2 Comments

With 34 teams signed up for the inaugrial Moto2 season, the series is over-subscribed for its launch in 2010. Adding itself to the fray allegedly is the French MotoGP team, Tech3. With Moto2 being such an enticing series for lower budget satellite teams, does MotoGP risk losing teams to Moto2 more than WSBK?

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Bikes

Moriwaki Moto2 Bike Caught Track Testing

By Jensen Beeler 05/20/2009 No Comments

Japanese tuner Moriwaki track tested its at Suzuka, Japan for the first time last week as it prepares to sell kits to racing teams. The tests come just a week before teams have to submit their intent to join the Moto2 series at MotoGP’s stop at Mugello. The MD600 completed 40 shake down laps at the Japanese circuit with rider Shogo Moriwaki at the helm, with initial reports looking good.

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News

Moto2 and Supersport Have No Conflict According to Paolo Flammini

By Jensen Beeler 05/12/2009 1 Comment

Ever since the concept of the Moto2 class was announced, there has been some tension between the Flammini brothers and the Dorna for stating the Moto2 racing class. The Flammini brothers run the World Supersport class, which is sanctioned to be the only Production 600cc World Championship Series by the FIM. Moto2 has been accused by some for , and it would appear that Paolo and his brother Maurizio agree with us.

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Bikes

Moriwaki Unveils Third Version of its MD600 Moto2 Racer

By Jensen Beeler 05/06/2009 1 Comment

The new Moriwaki MD600 bike was presented to the media while gathered at the Polini Grand Prix of Japan, with the Japanese firm announcing plans to participate in the first running of the Moto2 class in 2010. The 600cc 4-stroke bike that was presented is the third evolution of the prototype machine developed by Moriwaki Racing and built by Moriwaki Engineering, and is a part of a larger initiative by Moriwaki to make purpose-built road racing machines.

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News

Moto2 Spec Motor to be Heavily Modified CBR 600

By Jensen Beeler 05/05/2009 3 Comments

At Jerez this weekend, the Permanent Bureau (FIM & Dorna) was light on the details when it . However after the announcement, Shuhei Nakamoto, VP of HRC, revealed more information about the engine that will be used in Moto2.

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News

Honda to Power Moto2 – Sole Motor Supplier

By Jensen Beeler 05/03/2009 2 Comments

A lot of talk has gone on about who will be providing the single spec motor to the new Moto2 series. First, it was rumored that (read, not Kawasaki). And now, all this talk can finally be put to rest as the GP Commission has announced that Honda will provide the motors for the Moto2 season, which is slated to start in 2010, and replace the 250cc GP class.

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Racing

Kawasaki Secretly Signed on as Sole Motor Provider for Moto2?

By Jensen Beeler 04/17/2009 3 Comments

Visordown is reporting that they have a source who has uncovered an unofficial report that Kawasaki has been chosen as the sole motor supplier for the new Moto2 race series. The source goes on to allege that a deal has already been signed for Kawasaki to supply the one-make motors for the class, despite . Apparently, the deal has been done on down-low in order to keep Kawasaki involved in the MotoGP racing series.

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Racing

Moto2 to Debut in 2010, Single Engine Rule Confirmed

By Jensen Beeler 04/13/2009 1 Comment

It has been confirmed, 2010 will see the debut of the Moto2 racing class, which will replace the 250cc GP. Moto2 comes about in an effort to make racing more affordable by having a second racing class that is more analogous to the bikes being built for the road, namely the middleweight 600cc segment. The Grand Prix Commission in its announcement has also revealed that Moto2 will have a single engine design, meaning all competitors will be running the same spec motor, the manufacturer of which has yet to be appointed.

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Racing

Yamaha Building A Moto2 Contender?

By Jensen Beeler 02/24/2009 No Comments

While we have lamented about how Oberdan Bezzi is a motorcycle artist and not a motorcycle journalist, despite the fact he is often cited as if he were one, the Italian artist has posted information on his blog (alongside a render of course) that Yamaha is rumored to be building a Moto2 bike which will be ready to compete when the series replaces the 250 class, either in 2010 or 201.

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Bikes

BQR-Honda Releases First Moto2 Bike

By Jensen Beeler 02/04/2009 No Comments

The Spanish based BQR-Honda is the first team to unveil their Moto2 series bike. The CBR-esque bikewill make its debut this season in the Spanish Roadracing Championship (CEV), before going on to race in the Moto2 series in 2011 when it premieres. The 599cc, 140hp, Honda motor is framed into a prototype aluminum chassis, and tips the scales at 302lbs (137kg).

Controversy surrounds the sourcing of the motor from Honda. The BQR team has used a modified Honda CBR 600 engine, which is entirely within the rules of the new category, but also goes against the spirit of the new series. Having a road bike take key parts and development from production road bikes is the exact opposite of what prototype racing is about. The purpose of the Moto2 series is to setup an exotic testing ground for the 600cc class of streetbikes. With these bikes based so closely on the production models, one can only think that World Superbike and Supersport are feeling a little infringed on.

SBK has a contract with the FIM that grants them the exclusive rights to organize a world championship for production motorcycles, and Paolo Flammini (owner of IMS, which operates the SBK) has made several public statements saying that they intend to defend those rights aggressively. While the BQR bike will race first in the Spanish national championship, IMS will have no grounds for recourse, but that could all change in 2011 when Moto2 goes live.

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