MotoGP and production bikes

Iconoclast · Mar 26, 2008

Hi, I'm hoping someone can explain MotoGP regulations regarding production machines to me. They must be prototypes, but can the manufacturer market street bikes from their current prototypes? Case in point would be the Ducati D16RR, but it is the older 990 cc engine.

TIA!

skidmark · Mar 26, 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Iconoclast @ Mar 26 2008, 05:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hi, I'm hoping someone can explain MotoGP regulations regarding production machines to me. They must be prototypes, but can the manufacturer market street bikes from their current prototypes? Case in point would be the Ducati D16RR, but it is the older 990 cc engine.

TIA!hi iconoclast, regulations govern only what a manufacturer shows up and races with, not what it sells.

phleg · Mar 26, 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skid @ Mar 26 2008, 06:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hi iconoclast, regulations govern only what a manufacturer shows up and races with, not what it sells.

Hmmm, wasn't the WCM banned in 03 for having production parts? I'll have to read into this.

Aha! Apparently from another forum:

"Ok, first off is that the engine block can not be based from a stock production machine. It must be sole purposed for MotoGP. WCM already was penalizied this year for using a stock R1 block. Here is the rules on engines.."

That's that cleared up for me!

drumfu · Mar 26, 2008

all the rules are available on the FIM website in pdf.

they aren't that long.

there are rules for the machines, tracks, etc.

go download and have a look for yourself.

skidmark · Mar 26, 2008

phleg i think you misunderstand me man, that's exactly what i said. what wcm raced wasn't legal. the wcm block and casings were from an r1 but it's a prototype class. if wcm decided to use what they learnt in motogp to build and sell streetbikes, nobody can stop them, except possibly yamaha in their case.

BullGoose · Mar 26, 2008

I think the question here is to what degree a bike can be considered a prototype if it is also being sold to the public. Clearly you can't take a street bike and race it in GPs, but what about the other way around? Does the fact that a "prototype" is sold to the public strip it of its status as a prototype? I would think so. Its kind of a chicken and egg thing.

skidmark · Mar 26, 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bull Goose @ Mar 26 2008, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Its kind of a chicken and egg thing.that's just it bg, once you're selling something to the public it ceases to become a prototype by definition. that's why ducati held release of the first desmocedici rr's until 2007. we knew about it but you still couldn't buy it. if it had been available to the public in 2006, the 990 racebike would've been illegal.

Iconoclast · Mar 26, 2008

Thanks for all the responses. Drumfu, I actually started with the official FIM website but nothing addressed this situation directly.

I suspect any vagueness of the regulations would be cleared up quickly if, for instance, Ducati started selling an 800 cc. D16RR. It would still be a replica of a prototype but one that could be vetted in other classes of competition.

teomolca · Mar 28, 2008

I don't think the road D16 uses the engine block from the racing bike, they might have somethings in common but I don't think they are the same.

phleg · Mar 28, 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skid @ Mar 26 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>phleg i think you misunderstand me man, that's exactly what i said. what wcm raced wasn't legal. the wcm block and casings were from an r1 but it's a prototype class. if wcm decided to use what they learnt in motogp to build and sell streetbikes, nobody can stop them, except possibly yamaha in their case.

D'oh!

Trust me to read it the wrong way.

Iconoclast · Mar 28, 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Mar 28 2008, 07:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't think the road D16 uses the engine block from the racing bike, they might have somethings in common but I don't think they are the same.

You are correct, Teomolca. Here is a good link setting out the differences:

Ducati Desmosedici RR - analysis

Tom · Mar 28, 2008

I would imagine they can even use the same dimensions but cannot race with parts that were manufactured identical to production machines. I'm not sure though.

MotoGP and production bikes

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