    |
 |
|
|
|
World Motorcycle governing body the FIM, recently announced that 4-stroke prototypes will be eligible in the 500cc class from 2002.
It\'s not a first as 4-strokes were almost exclusively used in the early days & relatively recently.
Quiz - who can tell me when two-strokes started dominating GP racing?
Anyway the whole text of the FIM statement is attached. There could be a balancing act within these proposals, not to let GP bikes interfere with World Superbikes!
Suzuka, April 9
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Four-stroke prototypes in the 500cc class as from 2002
On 8 April last, the Grand Prix Manufacturers\' Association (GPMA) suggested that the FIM make a proposal to the Grand Prix Commission that exceptions be made to the Technical Regulations for the 500cc class of the FIM Road Racing
World Championship Grand Prix. The FIM agreed to make this proposal and the said exceptions, which would be effective from 1st January 2002, are the following:
For 2-stroke engines only, the fuel tank capacity will be limited to 32 litres maximum.
4-stroke prototype motorcycles will be experimentally allowed in the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, with the following characteristics:
1. Engine displacement: maximum 990cc, regardless of the number of cylinders (minimum 3 cylinders)
2. Minimum weight: 3 cylinders 135 kg
3 cylinders (oval pistons) 145 kg
4 and 5 cylinders 145 kg
4 or more cylinders (oval pistons) 155 kg
6 or more cylinders 155 kg
3. Fuel Tank capacity: maximum 24 litres for 2002 and 2003 maximum 22 litres from the year 2004
4. Noise limit: pre-race limit: 115 dB/A post-race limit: 120 dB/A
5. All the rest as per the current regulations.
However, if the following revisions are proposed by GPMA within one month of the signing of this agreement, providing there are enough arguments to guarantee that only PROTOTYPE motorcycles will be used for Grand Prix racing, the FIM will accept and approve them:
1. Engine displacement: maximum 990cc regardless of the number of cylinders
2. Minimum weight: 3 or less cylinders 135 kg
3 or less cylinders (oval pistons) 145 kg
President Francesco Zerbi said: \"It is a very important day for our sport. The philosophy of this new agreement is to clearly state that production motorcycles cannot be transformed in order for them to take part in the Grand Prix events that are restricted to prototype bikes. I think that adaptation to modern technology is a very important step forward in the progress of motorcycling and for our sport.\"
