 The Melbourne-based
Drysdale Motorcycle Co. has designed an all-new 988cc V8 engine for the
MotoGP class which is now at the mock-up stage.
With the experience gained from the design and fabrication of the Drysdale 750-V8 road bikes, Drysdale is confident that the MotoGP 988-V8 will be a very competitive package. Drysdale plans to draw on the wealth of motor sport knowledge and experience in Australia from companies such as engine management specialists Motec to specialist magnesium foundries and world-class metallurgical facilities. With the 2002 Grand Prix season seeing the return of four-strokes as the premier world motorcycle racing class for the first time in over 25 years, the MotoGP class is promising to become the cutting-edge class of racing, on two wheels or four. The starting grid will be made up of a core of the major manufacturers with five "satellite" teams. It is to one of these teams that Drysdale plans to supply engines to be fitted to the team's own chassis (in a similar manner to Formula One car racing teams). Drysdale says one thing has not changed in the 45 years since Ing. Carcano designed the amazing Moto Guzzi 500-V8 Grand Prix race bike. A V8 configuration still offers the best combination of power, weight, balance and frontal area. The Drysdale 988-V8 customer spec. motor will actually be smaller in physical size than the Guzzi 500-V8, and more compact than most configurations being considered by the other MotoGP teams. Specifications 988cc - 8 cylinder,
80 degree vee configuration. (Front cylinder at 30 deg. from
horizontal) |
