Official Moto2 engines to produce 140bhp

THE Technical Director of the Moto2 World Championship has revealed the official engines used in the inaugural Moto2 championship will produce "approximately 140 horsepower."

Following the first day of testing with the new Moto2 engines at Valencia on Monday, Mike Webb, told MotoGP's official website about the new CBR600-based engines:

“It’s an engine based on the Honda CBR600, with three main objectives: reliability above all, the same level of performance for everyone, and competitiveness,” said Webb.

“The engines have approximately 140 horsepower, and from what we’ve seen today we can say it will be a great Championship.

“I have spoken with some of the chief mechanics of the teams after the first day and everyone is satisfied,” continued Webb. “The comments are mainly that these engines are very similar to the ones prepared by the teams specifically for their riders. These engines are new, and their performance will improve after some action.

“I’m very happy with how things have gone today. We have had very few problems, and the times are very good. In the first day of the test we are now less than a second off the fastest 250cc race lap and the conditions are still slightly cold.”

We reckon Moto2 might just turn out to be quite a scrapping ground for MotoGP wannabes.

Here's hoping.