Moto2, good or bad?

If anyone follows the Moto GP as much as me then they will join me in saying that the two other classes that follow the blue ribbon class around the world is a fantastic addition to the series.

In the good old days when Moto GP was screened on Eurosport, there was nothing I loved more than tuning in to watch the future of Moto GP battle it out on pukka two strokes, risking life and limb to be recognised as the next graduate to the premier class.

However this week we have learned that the 250cc class will undergo a transformation in 2010 and dwindle into non-existence by 2011. It's replacement? A GP600 class consisting of 600cc 4 stroke engines with a 16,000 rpm rev limit and a controlled ECU unit supplied by Dorna. The new era has been introduced to try and ease the cost of racing at this level and reports from the 17/12/08 edition of MCN say that teams can purchase the race winning engine for just under £18,000.

2010 however will prove to be an interesting year with a split grid expected where the new GP600's will be up against the current 250cc bikes. As unfair as it sounds something tells me we could have a fantastic championship to look forward to in two seasons time. The GP600's will be underdeveloped compared to the trick 250cc bikes and even though I am no expert it seems to have close competitive racing written all over it.

Even though a number of pundits have pinpointed many faults in the rulebook already where teams can gain advantages through loopholes I think such a transformation was inevitable. As we know two-stroke engines are very 'dirty' in terms of their emission output and four-strokes seem to be the future of motorcycling everywhere due to their more emission friendly output e.g. off road bikes turning to four-strokes.

For me seeing the two-strokes disappear will be a huge shame. Every time I attend the British GP one of the highlights without a doubt is hearing and smelling the intoxicating sound and smell of the super tuned 125's and 250's. They will be sorely missed like my Aprilia RS 50 is since I let it go four years ago. Not only that but the stroker's remind us of the legend days of the fire breathing 500cc machines tamed by the likes of Kevin Schwantz, Mick Doohan and Wayne Rainey to name just a few, and that is something that the two-stroke era will always be remembered for.

But as the saying goes, the show must go on and so it will. It will be an exciting transition hearing the GP600's scream around the Moto GP tracks of the world and for all you die hard two-stroke lovers, we still have another two seasons to relish every single one of them out there in the 250 class until they depart in 2011. I can't help but think that it may only be a matter of time before the 125cc class is replaced.