<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Jul 14 2006, 01:31 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Next year the bikes will be heavier, how's that supposed to help Dani???
not realy a question of wieght issues for Fagi Pedrosa....
more about HONDA having an advantage with the new 800..
(remember 2002 when the 990 came out?)
here ya go...
MotoGP Class
New specifications for each racing class are formed as FIM sees fit. At the beginning of the new MotoGP era in 2002, 500cc two-stroke or 990cc four-stroke bikes were specified to race. The enormous power advantage of the four-stroke engine over the two-stroke eliminated all two-strokes from competition, and the following season there were no two-stroke bikes racing.
MotoGP bikes are permitted to have engines with 3 to 6 cylinders, and have variable weight limits depending on the number of cylinders. This is because an engine with more cylinders for a given capacity means the engine can produce more power, and the weight limit is increased as a form of handicap. In 2004 motorcycles were entered with three-, four- and five-cylinder configurations.
From 2005 onwards, rule 1.20.2 stated that: 'A race will not be interrupted for climatic reasons and riders who wish to change tyres or make adjustments must enter the pits and do so during the actual race.' Previously races were stopped in the case of rain, unless the race was declared "wet" from the start.
The FIM has become concerned, much as the FIA in formula one, at the advances in design and engineering that result in higher speeds all around the race track since 2002. The current MotoGP speed record of 347.4 km/h (215.864mph) was set by Loris Capirossi on Ducati Desmosedici GP4 at IRTA Tests in Catalunya in 2004. By way of comparison, the current Formula One speed record of 369.9 km/h (229.8 mph) was set by Antonio Pizzonia of the BMW Williams F1 team, at Monza in 2004. To ensure safety, they have agreed a set of regulation changes to reduce motorcycle speeds. These include changes in weight, fuel capacity and eventually from 2007 a reduction in engine capacity:
Minimum Weight - MotoGP Class Cylinders 2004 Min 2007 Min Change
2Cylinder 135Kg 137Kg +2Kg
3Cylinder 135Kg 140.5Kg +5.5Kg
4Cylinder 145Kg 148Kg +3Kg
5Cylinder 145Kg 155.5Kg +10.5Kg
6Cylinder 155Kg 163Kg +8Kg
In 2005, fuel tank capacity was reduced by 2litres to 24litres
In 2006, fuel tank capacity was reduced by a further 2litres to 22litres
From 2007 onwards and for a minimum period of five years, FIM has regulated in MotoGP class that 2stroke bikes will no longer be allowed, and engines will be limited to 800cc four-strokes. The maximum fuel capacity will be 21litres
The specific choice of a reduction to 800cc (as opposed to other power reduction methods, such as decreasing the number of transmission gears permitted) is very favourable to Honda, who currently run a five cylinder machine, and need only remove a cylinder to modify their engine. Other manufacturers will need to entirely redesign their engines.[2]
