MotoGP: Side-on special

Some say he's a machine - but Stoner's the bloke to beat in 2008

WITH JUST a few weeks until the start of the MotoGP season we thought it'd be a good idea to get some decent side-on shots of all the major teams so you know what to look out for come the first race in Losail, Qatar on March 9th.

Many of the teams are claiming well over 220bhp from their 800cc engines, and with tyre and traction control technology moving forward faster than you can say 'wind it wide-open out of every corner and hang on for dear life' we're sure to see circuit records tumble in 2008.

So here they are in all their glory. Enjoy.

Desmosedici GP8 - over 200bhp from 800cc

Ducati Desmosedici GP8 Specs

Frame - Tubular steel trellis-style chassis, pressed aluminium swing-arm

Front Suspension - Öhlins upside-down 42 mm front forks

Rear Suspension - Öhlins rear shock absorber, adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping

Front Brakes - Brembo, two 320 mm carbon front discs with four-piston calipers

Rear Brake Single stainless steel rear disc with two-piston calipers

Tyres - Bridgestone 16.5" front and rear

Dry weight - 148 kg / 326 lbs

Exhaust - Termignoni

Engine - Liquid-cooled, 90 degree V4 four-stroke

Timing system - Desmodromic DOHC

Valves - Four valves per cylinder

Capacity - 799 cc

Maximum power - more than 200 HP

Maximum torque - n/a

Top speed - In excess of 310 kph / 192 mph

Transmission - Six-speed cassette-type gearbox

Final Drive - Chain

Clutch - Dry multiplate slipper clutch

Carburation - Indirect Magneti Marelli electronic injection, four throttle bodies with injectors above butterfly valves

Ignition - Magneti Marelli

Hayden's RCV212 - a strong contender for 2008

Honda RC212V Specs

Engine - liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC 4 valve V-4

Displacement - 800cc

Frame - Twin-tube

Front suspension - Telescopic fork

Rear suspension - New Unit Pro Link

Front tyre - 16”

Rear tyre - 16.5”

Overall length - 2050mm

Overall width - 645mm

Overall height - 1125mm

Wheelbase - 1440mm

Road clearance - 125mm

Weight - 148kgs

Fuel tank capacity - 21 litres

Estimated power output - 220bhp+

Estimated top speed - 310k/ph

Is this the bike to take Rossi to the title?

Yamaha M1 Specs

Liquid-cooled, in-line, 4-cylinder, 4-stroke with 20-valve DOHC

Displacement: 800cc

Ignition: Yamaha CDI with adjustable mapping - NGK spark plugs

Carburation: Fuel injection

Lubrication system: Wet sump - Motul Oils

Data recording: 2D

Maximum power: More than 200ps

Maximum speed: Over 320 km/h

Transmission Type: 6-speed cassette-type gearbox, with alternative gear ratios available

Primary drive: Gear

Clutch: Dry multi-plate slipper clutch

Final drive: Chain - DID

Frame type: Twin-spar aluminium frame, multi-adjustable steering geometry, wheelbase, ride height, with aluminium swingarm

Front suspension: Fully-adjustable Öhlins inverted telescopic forks

Rear suspension: Braced aluminium swingarm with single Öhlins shock and rising-rate linkage

Front/rear wheels: Marchesini 17.0 inch front, 16.5 inch rear, available in a variety of rim widths

Front/rear tyres: Bridgestone, 17.0 inch front, 16.5 inch rear

Front brake: Twin 320mm carbon discs with radial mounted four-piston Brembo calipers

Rear Brake: Single 220mm ventilated stainless steel disc with twin-piston Brembo caliper

Weight: 145kg

Can Capirossi smoke 'em on his Rizla Suzuki?

Suzuki GSV-R Specs

Engine - 4 stroke water cooled V4

Displacement - 800cc

Max Power - 225+ ps / 18,000rpm

Valve Control and Type - Pneumatic (air control), DOHC four-valve

Carburation Type - Fuel injection

Lubrication System - Wet sump (Motul Lubricants)

Clutch - Dry multi plates (back torque reduction type)

Transmission - Six speed low friction constant mesh

Final Drive - Chain

Frame Type - Twin spar aluminum alloy frame

Suspension - Front: Inverted type telescopic (Ohlins)

Rear - Link type (Ohlins)

Tyres - Bridgestone

Wheels - Front and rear: 429mm (16.5 inches)

Brake System - Front: Double carbon disc (Brembo)

Rear: Single steel disc (Brembo)

Weight - 148+kg

Fuel - 21L

Estimated top speed - 330+km/h

Kawasaki's ZX-RR - still green and very mean

Kawasaki ZX-RR Specs

Engine - Inline four-stroke four cylinder

Induction System - DOHC Pneumatic system, four valves per cylinder

Displacement - 798cc

Lubrication - Wet sump

Fuel System - Electronic Fuel Injection

Exhaust System - Titanium, four-into-two-into-one system

Maximum Power - In excess of 200 BHP

Maximum Speed - In excess of 300 km/h

Gearbox - Six speed, cassette type

Primary Drive - Gear

Clutch - Dry multi-plate slipper clutch

Final Drive - Chain

Lubrication - Wet sump

Frame - Aluminium twin-spar

Front Suspension - Inverted telescopic forks

Rear Suspension - Unit-trak Monoshock

Steering Damper - Hydraulic Adjustable

Bodywork - Carbon Fibre

Wheel Front - 16.5"

Wheel Rear - 16.5"

Tyres -Bridgestone

Brakes - Front: 2 x 314mm carbon discs

2 x radial mount, monoblock, four piston calipers

Rear: 1 x 200mm ventilated steel disc 1 x two piston caliper

Wheelbase - 1460mm

Overall Length - 2080mm

Castor (Rake/Trail) - Variable

Seat Height - 850mm

Dry Weight - Over 148kg

Fuel Capacity - 21 litres

The Rest

Toseland's Yamaha M1 reminds us of a 90's Norton QXR

Dovizioso's Honda looks a treat in silver

Gresini's RCV212 Honda

Team Pramac's Desmosedici GP8