Can Anybody Confirm this

[rfoan27]

 ???I heard that possibly next year MOTO GP may be changing their CC's from 1000cc's to 800cc's.  Is there any truth to this?  I'm very curious why they would consider this and what this would cause the Manufacturers to do.  Could this mean a whole new Generation of Superbikes??? :P I think that would put alot of pressure on the manufactureres, but then again it could open a whole new world as well.   ;D  I'm rying to research more on the topic, but I've been pretty busy. Hopefully I can check it out this weekend and find out some more info.

[Protein Filled]

Yes, it is true. It was announced last year. Here are a couple of articles about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MotoGP

http://www.gizmag.com/go/4120/

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

MotoGP bikes engine size really dont affect production based machines. Some tech does trickle down, but its usually stuff that is not engine size dependant. Rumours are that WSBK is gonna allow up to 1200cc twins in WSBK to compete with 1000 I-4's

[h2o_motorsports]

They are saying that by going to the 800cc motor the bikes are going to act more like the 500gp bikes of old.  Where they are ornery and will high side you to the moon.  Also they are predicting red lines in upwards of 20,000 rpm

[Super Dave]

Stupid.  Honda must already have one made.  The grids are deteriorating again.  Expenses will go up with more maintenance on smaller engines that make the same or similar power to the current MotoGP bikes.  So, the grids will get reduced again. 

That with the potential for Rossi leaving...well, this year might be the end of an era again.

[JBraun]

Could this mean a whole new Generation of Superbikes??? :P I think that would put alot of pressure on the manufactureres, but then again it could open a whole new world as well.   ;

Superbikes will still have to be based on production machinery, whereas GP rules state that you can only race prototype equipment. WCM got disqualified a couple years ago for running modified R1 cases. There's no relationship between the GP bikes and superbikes at all.
I agree that this is stupid. They're trying to slow the bikes down, but you know they'll figure out a way to build a 250hp 800cc engine.
I think fuel capacity regulations would be a lot more effective.

[Zac]

I like the idea I read from one of the WCM guys (Clifford?).  If you want to slow the bikes down, keep the same displacement and only allow 4 speed trannies.  This would force the bikes to have wider, more usable power bands.

-z.

[h2o_motorsports]

I like the idea I read from one of the WCM guys (Clifford?).  If you want to slow the bikes down, keep the same displacement and only allow 4 speed trannies.  This would force the bikes to have wider, more usable power bands.

-z.

Hell thats all they use at Laguna now.  That would make sence at the bigger tracks.  They definatly need to find a way to reduce costs so that you can have more privateer teams like in 250 and 125.

[stk0308]

Stupid.  Honda must already have one made.  The grids are deteriorating again.  Expenses will go up with more maintenance on smaller engines that make the same or similar power to the current MotoGP bikes.  So, the grids will get reduced again. 

It's my understanding it's not maint costs that will be the killer, but development.  They got, what, 3 years on the current rules?  Now they almost have to throw it all away and start over at a smaller displacement?  While it might be a good idea for Suzuki  :D some might not like the cost of it.  Especially since the going rumor is Honda had almost a years development on an 800cc 3cyl WHEN the rules were announced.  Mere coincidence I'm sure ::)

[Gixxerblade]

Purely

[Super Dave]

It's my understanding it's not maint costs that will be the killer, but development.

It's both.  But recognize that less displacement means that to make similar power, you're gonna spin it faster and stress it more to accomplish what you need.  More broken parts.

In the late 80's to every early 90's, it was common that if you had problems with your AMA Superbike, you'd work on the engine during the weekend.  Then it became more common to just have spare engines.  Don't F1 car teams have around 25 engines available at each event?  Each has a cost. 

[Nate R]

F1 has rules in place that you must use 1 engine for 2 whole events. No qualifying only engines. If you change out the engine between races, there's a grid penalty.

So, no, not like that anymore for F1.