250cc

KTM is focusing its efforts on the 125 cc Grand Prix class for the future of the road racing world championship. The Red Bull KTM Team, under the technical leadership of constructor Harald Bartol, will be a newly formed factory squad. Next to the Spanish youngster Marc Marquez, American Cameron Beaubier, the successful protégé of the KTM MotoGP Academy, will be officially appointed to compete for the Mattighofen (Austria) factory. A further developed version of the 125 FRR will be deployed as a replacement motorcycle.

“We have decided for the GP 125 cc class because contrary to the 250 cc class, its existence is secured in the medium to long term”, said Winfried Kerschhaggl, head of KTM Racing.

The company, which has for years encouraged the next generation with intensive activities in offroad and road racing activities, thus re-affirms this strong and long-term commitment to the smallest cubic capacity within the world championship competition.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis
(FIM), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of M. Paul Butler
(Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held today at the circuit of Assen, unanimously decided to introduce
the following change to the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations.
 

Technical Regulations
2.11 Fuel, Oil and Collants
2.11.2 Unleaded petrol will comply with the FIM Grand Prix specifications (in conformity with the new
EU Standards) if:
a) it has the following characteristics:
…
Sulphur (mg/kg) 10 (instead of 50) – application as from 1.1.2009
 

Replacement of the 250cc class
For application from 1.1.2011, the Grand Prix Commission accepted the following proposal, taken by the
majority of members of MSMA: 4-stroke engines of 600cc maximum and 4 cylinders maximum. A request will
be sent to all manufacturers. The candidatures of the manufacturers interested in taking part in the new class
must be sent to the FIM and Dorna by July 31, 2008 at the latest. More precise technical specifications will
then be discussed and established.