While we're dreaming, I'll take this one.
The Duc that is,
20,000rpm Blat, Blat.
For 2007, The FIM and the manufacturers will change the formula for MotoGP bikes to limit the engines to 800cc. The days of two-stroke are finally be over in the premier class, too, as they have been outlawed. The bikes now have to weigh a little more, with the exception of anyone wanting to run a single or twin in the class.
The new 800cc limit should lead to machines that are a little slower, but the Valencia tests are showing that these new machines are only a second of the race lap times from the 990cc bikes last race. Such performance must be making the FIM and track owners grimace. These rules were instituted to slow things down and make the tracks a safer place. Tracks like Suzuka have become marginal at least in respect of safety, which is a great pity. These new 800cc bikes were meant to give these older tracks a hope in staying in the homolgation fray, without having to suffer huge redesign costs.
So what will an 800 do? Well it looks at the moment that the bikes spin to somewhere in the region of 20,000 rpm. The older 990's were up to about 18,000. They seem to be making something like 200 - 220bhp peak, maybe 40bhp less than the 990's, and are clearly not a lot slower than the 990's. Even more electronics are involved here, not that the 990's suffered from an absence ofthe stuff, but the 800's will gain even more electronic engine control to tame the postulated peaky power output and make them more user friendly.
Size wise these engines should be quite a bit smaller than the "old" 990's. One presumes that the stroke on these things is pretty much at the bottom end of what it can be, say 20mm, therefore the pistons will be quite a bit smaller than the 990's, which means the bores can be closed up even more, think of taking maybe an inch out of the engine width on a straight 4 (like the M1) or half an inch with the V-4 engines.
