LAP TIMES TO TUMBLE
IN TRIUMPH-POWERED
MOTO2 ERA
By Michael Esdaile
he November 23-25 International
Racing Teams Association (IRTA) tests
at Spain’s Jerez circuit indicate we can
expect to see lap times tumble in the
Moto2 class in 2019.
After nine years the ‘intermediate’ category
in motorcycle grand prix racing has a new
engine. Honda’s virtually bullet-proof
CBR600 series production engine has been
replaced by the new 765cc Triumph three-
cylinder motor.
This is the first change of engine in the class
since the old 250cc GP class was replaced
by Moto2, with the twin cylinder two-stroke
racing engines that had dominated the class
since 1970 replaced by a modified series
production road engine.
Replacing the 125hp Honda four is a new
765cc three-cylinder Triumph engine which
produces more power (130+hp) and torque.
At the first major trial of the new Moto2
machines, no fewer than 12 riders recorded
times under the current class lap record.
96 KIWI RIDER
This was at the November 23-25 IRTA tests
at Spain’s Jerez circuit.
Italian Luca Marini, winner of the November
4 Malaysian Moto2 race, was the fastest
of the 31 riders involved in the IRTA test
session, clocking a best lap of 1m 41.524s –
almost a full second (0.956s) under the class
record.
The lap record belongs to another Italian:
Lorenzo Baldassarri clocked a best of 1m
42.480s on the Pons HP4 Kalex machine
at the May 6 Spanish Grand Prix. That was
after three days of warm, sunny weather
with 36° C of track temperature.
In contrast, wet conditions marked each
day of the November IRTA test, track
conditions were “patchy” and the tarmac
was a good deal cooler than in May. So with
completely dry conditions, and a further
three months of development, we can
expect to see the Moto2 lap record tumble
at the Grand Prix of Qatar on March 10.