Well, not really a bid any more. Overnight it was announced that the “Circuit of the Americas” (how pretentious can you get?) has secured the 10 year deal they were hoping for to host MotoGp events from 2013 onwards. This slick promotional video was also released last night but, if you strip away the hype, it doesn’t really tell you much, unfortunately. I would have thought that, if they could do that much cgi, they could have generated a vitrual lap. Maybe they’re going to release it a bit at a time??
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DImp-oJmsfQ&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
In other news, injured Alvaro Bautista is hinting that he might be racing at Estoril in 17 days’ time. I know these guys are machines and all, but back on the bike that soon after breaking his femur?? I’m sorry, I just can’t see it.
MotoGp’s Director of Technology has spoken in detail for the first time about the upcoming Moto3 class, due to start next year. It makes interesting reading.
“The main reason for this concept is having something more in line with the present times, because for the majority in the real world, nobody is interested in two-stroke engines. They are rarely used now.
“The second thing is that we believe with the number of limits in the regulations, it will be a very cheap bike and engine to make, buy and maintain for the race, therefore this should open the doors to more riders and ensure fairer racing,” The new regulations state that the four-stroke engine will have a bore limited to 81mm, bringing them in line with the new era of four-stroke MotoGP racing and in esscence making them a quarter of their 1,000cc counterparts with 14,000 rpm rev limiter, “I think it will bring a better and more modern image to the sport, but more than that, it will become in line with the following categories. It will be more suitable to become the first step for a rider/team from the base level to MotoGP racing.”
A variety of manufacturers are expected to form the grid with Honda and KTM already touting bikes under testing, with various others displaying an interest in joining. Cecchinelli continued: ”The engine will be a prototype engine and it will be 250cc. It will be a single engine, fuel injected and it will contribute to saving costs and improving reliability. The machine will be considered together with the rider, as in the present 125cc series. It will weigh 148 kilos, the difference to what we have with the current 125cc, will be more than we expected from the engine itself.”
“This is in line with what I had said earlier about making it more of a championship where they can progress onto MotoGP, this is because the advantage for very light riders will be reduced, as well as the disadvantage for heavier riders will also be reduced. It will be a more interesting challenge technically, because it will be the type of engine that is better known today by everyone and closer to what everybody is actually using.
“There will be many more engines in the race compared to the present 125cc category, as we’ll have many different brands which will be interesting for the fans.”