New SS600 GP class... thoughts?

Ive added a vote to see what us as the general race watching public think to this Idea.

Basically what they are wanting is Slightly tuned 600SS engines in Custom frames. This is to get more factories included and to keep cost down... Which is Fine.

The problem I think most people have with this idea is the fact that we want to see bikes we cant buy. We can make out own 600 with custom frames... (though it may cost a bit). We also already have many Super sport race series which are VERY good.

Apparently Honda are the only factory that has any plans to join in... only thing is they arnt interested if they have no one to race against. So there will be no one racing it seems.

So please discuss... and add more info if you have some to add!

It seems like a decent idea, I'd imagine manufacturers being more inclined to get into that than a 250 class running sadly almost redundant 2 stroke engines. Except Aprilia, guess they wouldn't be well pleased.

I would miss the 2 strokers, and I'm not sure how much quicker these bikes would be than "normal" supersport 600 class bikes. Would they be sufficiently quicker for it to be worth the trouble and expense?

It's got potential, I wouldn't mind if they did it, but on the other hand the 250 class is great, popular, and I'm a firm believer in leaving well alone.

[fizzwheel]

It is IMHO Honda behind this. they dont like two strokes they never have done.

I'm a bit sad I like the stinkwheels. I just hope that the racing remains close.

I'm not sure...on the one hand it would be nice if a 600 class pushed the boundaries of technology and filtered through to road going SS600s...however how much of that is already done by the 800cc class and thus makes the 600s irrelevant? I guess the main thing not shard is the engine, would the technologies and designs used in this class improve the SS600 engines on the road? I dunno...

Originally Posted by muffles

I'm not sure...on the one hand it would be nice if a 600 class pushed the boundaries of technology and filtered through to road going SS600s...however how much of that is already done by the 800cc class and thus makes the 600s irrelevant? I guess the main thing not shard is the engine, would the technologies and designs used in this class improve the SS600 engines on the road? I dunno...

Well from what I understand they will be Stock engines with maybe some tuning... probably just the ignition and thats about it. So no you wont really gain anything on the road.

Its kinda silly...

They should use engines which arnt on the road... 500cc 4-stroke V3's would be interesting. Once they have the engines then itll be cheap as the rules wont change.

Yes....in that case it doesn't seem to have much of a point...

No opinion really - I'd watch it, but then I like bike racing whatever the flavour! I guess it really depends on what people see as the purpose of racing really?

Competition?
Manufacturer image?
Technology development?
Entertainment?
Money making business in itself i.e the motoGP brand?
Feeder for the premier class?

I enjoy the 250s, but if they switched to a 600GP class, then I would watch that too. The smaller classes always strike me as being less about development ( as pretty much all the bikes are made by 1 or 2 manufacturers ) and more about the competition + feeder for the main event. I'd argue that most GP racers are relatively unknown to the majority of motoGP viewers until they hit the premier class. So, what would be the point in changing?

I suppose you are right in a lot of ways Luke... The only thing I think the sport will lose is some individuality. If they go to 600IL4's then it going to be the same dull (imo) sounding 600 screamers you can listen to in most racing and down the local bike meet.

Id want it to be individual like the GP bikes where the sound is alien and you look at them and thing "ill never be able to ride a bike like that". Same goes for the current 250 bikes, there arnt any you can ride on the road. Yes the RS250 is close but it isnt the same.

Even if they made them all big bangs just to add a little exotica to it id be happy... Infact just dont use production engines.

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

Id want it to be individual like the GP bikes where the sound is alien and you look at them and thing "ill never be able to ride a bike like that". Same goes for the current 250 bikes, there arnt any you can ride on the road. Yes the RS250 is close but it isnt the same.

You can buy one of these....

http://world.honda.com/HRC/products/rs250r/index.html

and daylight MOT it

I would love one of these as a track bike, but the cost is nuts - especially if you bin it - doesn't really make financial sense. What an awesome bike though....

Hmmm. OK then. Interesting!

Wonder what the cost is...

Thats still not the same level of performance the modern ones kick out I dont think