MotoGP: FIM publishes Moto2 regulations

[Rory Phoulorie]

By Toby Moody Thursday, December 11th 2008, 14:17 GMT

The FIM has published the regulations for the new Moto2 category that will replace 250cc from 2011.

As expected, the new 600cc class will be a four-stroke category with a lower weight limit than the MotoGP class, coming in at 135kg compared to 148kg for the 800s.

The highlights include a claiming clause whereby any competitor can 'claim' an opponent's engine after a race.

The cost of claiming another engine is �20,000, with the rule included in order to dissuade teams spending more than that figure on their motor. This rule has already proved a success when used in American racing.

Only one bike will be permitted per rider per meeting, while two engines can be used per weekend.

Exotic materials are banned, which means the use of steel brakes and that all major moving parts inside the engine are to be steel. The piston itself is to be aluminium alloy, as are the block and the head.

Refreshingly, there are to be no other electronic devices on the bike apart from an FIM supplied data logger, ECU and fuel injection system. This comes at a cost of �650. This ECU will limit revs to 16,000, 15,500 and 15,000 for four, triples and twins respectively.

Gearboxes will be six-speed, but teams will be limited to three choices of ratio per gear per season.

Interestingly, no mention of how much fuel is to be used is mentioned, but with a rev limit, this may not be as pivotally important as a fuel limit such as in MotoGP (21 litres).

Replacement Regulation for 250cc Class from 2011 (Moto2) :

Technical Regulations:

1. Engine

4-stroke engines only. Maximum 600cc.

4 cylinders maximum.

No oval pistons.

Engines must be normally aspirated. No turbo-charging, no super-charging.

Engine speed limited to maximum: 16,000 rpm. 4-cylinder engines, 15,500 rpm. 3-cylinder engines, 15,000 rpm. 2-cylinder engines.

An electronic system supplied by the Organisers will be permanently attached to monitor and control
engine speed.

Pneumatic valve operation is not permitted.

Inlet and Exhaust valves must be of conventional type (reciprocating poppet valves).

Variable valve timing or variable valve lift systems are not permitted.

Only wet-sump type engine lubrication systems are permitted.

Minimum weight of complete engine with throttle body, dry: 53 kg 4-cylinder, 50 kg 3-cylinder, 47 kg 2 cylinder

Inlet & Fuel System

Variable-length inlet tract systems are not permitted.

Only one throttle control valve per cylinder is permitted. No other moving devices are permitted in the inlet tract before the engine intake valve.

Throttle bodies will have a maximum internal diameter (must be perfectly circle except for the area of dent or groove to allow the injector to come out) at engine side out-let of: 42 mm for 4-cylinder, 48 mm for 3-cylinder, 59 mm for 2-cylinder.

Fuel injectors will be restricted to a defined type (tba, based on cost).

Fuel pressure must not exceed 5.0 bar.

No artificial cooling of intake air or fuel.

Only air or air/fuel mixture is permitted in the induction tract and combustion chamber.

No direct fuel injection into the cylinder/head/combustion chamber.

Fuel specification will be for standard unleaded fuel (commercially available EU-compliant "pump fuel").

Exhaust system

Variable length exhaust systems are not permitted.

Noise limit will be a maximum of 120 dB/A, measured in a static test.

Transmission

A maximum of 6 gearbox speeds is permitted.

A maximum of 3 alternate gear ratios for each gearbox speed, and 2 alternate ratios for the primary drive gear is permitted. Teams will be required to declare the gearbox ratios for each gear used at the beginning of the season.

Electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic clutch actuating systems are not permitted.

Ignition, Electronics & Data-Logging

Data logger system will be supplied by the series Organizer.

Only the ECU/fuel injection control units supplied by the series Organiser are allowed to be fitted to the motorcycle. Electronic control units include the timing transponder, engine RPM control, and datalogger systems. No other electronic control or datalogging systems will be allowed on the motorcycle.

The price of ECU unit made by each engine manufacturer must be equal to or less than
JPY 75,000 (about Euro650).

Chassis

Chassis will be a prototype, the design and construction of which is free within the constraints of the FIM Grand Prix Technical Regulations. The frame, swing-arm, fuel tank, seat and cowling are forbidden to use from a non-prototype as series production road-going motorcycle.

Minimum Total Weight: 135kg for 4-cylinder, 130kg for 3-cylinder, 125kg for 2-cylinder

No carbon brake discs.

Wheels & Tyres

No carbon composite wheels.

The maximum permitted wheel rim width is: Front 4.00", Rear 6.00" or 6.25"

The only permitted wheel rim diameter is: Front 17", Rear 17".

The number of slick tyres allocated to each rider per event will be controlled.

Materials & Construction

Construction materials will be limited to exclude expensive "non-conventional" materials and manufacturing methods (a list will be issued).

The following components must be made from iron-based alloys: Valve springs, camshafts, crankshafts, connecting rods, piston pins, brake discs.

Engine crankcases and cylinder heads must be made from cast aluminium alloys.

Pistons must be made from an aluminium alloy.

General

Number of machines: the team can scrutineer only one motorcycle per rider.

Number of engines: a maximum of 2 complete engines per rider is permitted at any event. Teams will be required to register engine serial numbers at Technical Control on the day before the first practice.

Apart from the above regulations, all other construction criteria, dimensions and specifications are as per the FIM Grand Prix Regulations.

The engine (excluding exhaust, throttle bodies and ECU) used in a race is available to be purchased by another competitor in the same race for a fixed price of �20,000 (Euro). Such purchase request must be made in writing to Race Direction within the protest period, that is within 60 minutes after the official end of the race.

The transaction and delivery will be completed immediately at the end of the 60 minute protest period and will be underwritten by IRTA. Teams refusing to sell when presented with a valid request will be disqualified.

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