Honda has supplied engines to the Moto2 championship since its inception, but its contract with Dorna expires at the end of the 2018 season. Although technically still a rumor, several press reports indicate Triumph has already signed to replace Honda as the Moto2 engine supplier beginning in 2019.
Perhaps even more interesting, it is also reported that the three-cylinder engine will displace approximately 800cc (the expected displacement of the new Street Triple coming next year). This would create a very significant increase in both horsepower and torque for the Moto2 class. Triumph has traditionally been fiscally conservative when it comes to sponsored racing activities, so this would be a huge step for the British manufacturer. Some speculate the formal deal will be announced when the 2017 series opens at Qatar in March.
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There’s no class I am aware of that will allow a 765cc triple to run in super sport or super stock so that oddball displacement has to be either in a brand specific class or some spec racing like Moto2.
Wise marketing move for the brand.
I’ll just keep riding my Kawasaki KDX220 and enjoy the 2-stroke fumes… 🙂
My Street Triple R on the track… gives a man balance in his life! Am I clear?
easily one of the top 5 (if not top 3) motorcycle related news stories in the past decade. such a sweet score for Triumph however make no mistake, Hinckley is going to scatter MORE than a few engines in this pursuit, but as long as they set themselves up to rapidly capture the data and feed it back into R&D…? this is going to be an engineers WET DREAM, and i’m already wet (hint typing from me Jacuzzi).
2020 D675 anyone…? Bueller…? anyone…?
I remember reading that the stretch goal was to arrive at a fixed-parameter 250cc cylinder, resulting in Moto3 (250cc single), Moto2 (500cc twin) and MotoGP. By having simple rules governing the engine, it was supposed to defray development costs across all 3 classes. I guess they’re not ready to do that for another several years.
I think making the limit 700 cc and two cylinders of whatever manufacturer you chose would have made this waaaaay more interesting.
That would be cool, but expensive.
Yep, it would be more interesting, but Moto2’s mission is to be inexpensive.
with $100,000 frames?
I read it costs between three to four times more to field a Moto3 bike vs a Moto2 bike. So apparently, yes, even with$100K frames.
This is good news for Triumph, I personally look forward to the new Street Triple.
From 250 two strokes to 800 cc now.
Triumph seems to be just about the only manufacturer that builds EPA-compliant factory exhausts that don’t look like a dog’s breakfast.
Have you seen MV Agusta? They look and sound great, IMO.
Agreed.
Another sign of how dead and buried the good old days are. Remember 250GP? Remember the small, light weight bikes that they had in that class?
800cc one supplier triple eh? That’s what the future holds for small, light weight? All hail the four stroke and the mentality brought therefrom.
Maybe if they went electric with Moto3 I would start to seek out ways to care about my poor long dead 500, 250 and 125GP. Until then I will seek out magnesium four stroke parts to start on fire to melt even more four stroke parts. All while burning four stroke MotoAnything in effigy.
Am I clear on this?
Right. How big of a leap is it from 800cc Moto2 to Moto GP? Small engines – and electric motors – are the future, and the small displacement racing classes should be the spring boards.
Q: Am I clear on this? (Jessep voice)
A: crystal. (Kaffee voice)