4 stroke GP bikes

[elephino]

FIM Press Release - 09 APR 00

The Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA) have proposed, yesterday 8th
April 2000, that the FIM makes a proposition to the Grand Prix Commission with
the following exceptions to the technical regulations for the 500cc class of the
FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, that will be effective from 1st
January 2002, and the FIM has accepted to do so.

The said exceptions are the following:

For two-stroke engines only, the fuel tank capacity will be limited to 32
litres maximum. Four-stroke prototype motorcycles will be experimentally
allowed in the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, with the
following characteristics:
Engine displacement
maximum:
990cc, regardless of the number of cylinders
(minimum 3 cylinders).
Minimum weight:
three-cylinders: 135 kg.
three-cylinders (oval pistons): 145 kg.
four- and five-cylinders: 145 kg.
four or more cylinders (oval pistons): 155 kg.
six or more cylinders: 155 kg.
Fuel tank capacity:
maximum 24 litres for years 2002 and 2003.
maximum 22 litres from year 2004.
Noise limit:
pre-race limit: 115 dB/A.
post-race limit: 120 dB/A.
All the rest as per current
regulations.


However, if the following revisions are proposed by GPMA within one month of
the signing of this agreement, providing enough arguments to guarantee that
only prototype motorcycles will be used for Grand Prix racing, FIM will accept
and approve them:

Engine displacement:
maximum 990cc regardless of the number of
cylinders.
Minimum weight:
3 or less cylinders: 135 kg.
3 or less cylinders (oval pistons): 145 kg.


"It is a very important day for our sport," President Francesco Zerbi said. "The
philosophy of this new agreement is to clearly state that production motorcycles
cannot be transformed to participate in the Grand Prix, which are restricted to
prototype bikes. I think that this means a very important step forward in the
progress of motorcycling and for our sport to be adapted to modern
technologies."