Highside

Cubic centimeter (cc)
A cc, or cubic centimeter, is the unit of measurement for the Engine Displacement. An accurate way to measure the effective power of an engine, cc’s allow for variations in different engine variables, like the bore and stroke, while still measuring the same effective power.

125cc
The 125cc class uses the smallest engines of all the current MotoGP classes, and consequently has the smallest bikes of the three. 125cc engines in MotoGP are regulated to have two cylinders. The 125s are seen as more of a novice class, where young riders can gain experience on the world stage before progressing to the larger bikes. The 125cc class is currently the only class in MotoGP that has a maximum age limit (25 years old). Riders must be at least 16 years old in order to compete in the race. 125cc motorcycles have been raced in MotoGP since it’s inaugural season in 1949.

250cc
The 250cc class was the intermediary class between the 125s and the premier MotoGP class before it was replaced with the Moto2 class in 2010. Two cylinder 250cc bikes served as a training catalyst for riders hoping to move into the premier class, but the increased age and skill of the riders, along with the higher speeds and more advanced technology that went into designing the bikes, meant that many people considered it less of a stepping stone and more of a full-fledged, independent class. However, the trend of 250cc World Champions “graduating” to MotoGP hindered this reputation.

Moto2
Moto2 is the spiritual successor to the intermediary 250cc class, in which teams develop their own bike around a spec four cylinder 600cc engine. The Moto2 class began in 2010, in a change brought about by both a desire to cut costs for teams, and increase the number of riders on the track. The series has seen great success thus far, providing two drama-filled races in which over 40 riders have competed. The decision to use a spec engine was an attempt to even the playing field for smaller teams with less funding, while the ability to design a custom chassis has rekindled an old spark in the MotoGP world: privateer teams running “garage” bikes designed by one or two people, and not a factory. Initial reaction to the change has been mixed, with some people complaining about the loss of the traditional 250cc class, and others expressing concern over the use of a spec engine. However, the changes have been greeted positively by riders and team managers, as evidenced by the increased focus on the intermediary class.

MotoGP
The MotoGP Premier class uses four cylinder 800cc prototype bikes currently designed by one of four factories: Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda, or Ducati. The premier class is the main attraction to the world of MotoGP, containing the fastest bikes, best riders, largest salaries, biggest sponsors, and the most glamour. Multi-MotoGP World Championship winners often go on to join the pantheon of racing legends, with the likes of Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts, Michael Doohan, and Valentino Rossi.

If you’ve been reading this blog and are new to the sport, chances are you’ve chanced across terms like 125cc and 250cc.  Today, we’re going to break down the differences between each class so you can understand the differences between the different bikes and races that take place.

125cc

The lowest level in the MotoGP championships, 125cc single-stroke bikes are small, lightweight bikes with significantly less engine power than their 250cc and MotoGP counterparts.  Riders in this class must be under 25 years of age.

The 125cc class serves as a springboard for the racers, with the best quickly rising into the 250cc class and those who aren’t as good struggling to battle it out year after year.

250cc

The middle child of the Grand Prix classes is the 250cc class, which features two cylinder bikes with slightly more mass than their younger siblings, but still far from the mass of the MotoGP class.  The 250cc league is a bit more intense than the 125cc class, with riders occasionally dropping out mid-season to take a promotion up to the premier class.

250cc races can be just as intense as MotoGP races, but the fact that the names are less prominent often leads to these races going unnoticed by many fans.  Regardless, the 250cc class is where the stars of next year are born, with current superstars like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Dani Pedrosa all dominating in the intermediate class in their turns.

MotoGP

The premier class, known as MotoGP, has undergone many changes in the last 10 years.  In 2002, the class changed from being made of 500cc two-cylinder bikes to 990cc four-cylinder bikes.  The change dramatically increased the speed and fervor with which the races were held.  In 2007, the bikes were lowered from 990cc engines to 800cc engines, lowering the speed slightly while still increasing the speed at which laps were completed.

The MotoGP races are the flagship events, with some race weekends only featuring races in this class.  This is the class where the best riders in the world ride, and the class where there’s the most money and excitement to be had.  Most of the posts here on Highside will pertain to the MotoGP class, but occasionally we will talk about racers from the smaller classes.

(Editors note: Starting in 2010, the 250cc class will be replaced by the new 500cc Moto2 class.  We’ll talk more about the Moto2 class in future posts.)