800s like two strokes

Former world 250 champion Marco Melandri says that the new generation 800cc MotoGP machines have the same aggressive power characteristics of a two-stroke.

Though he never raced a two-stroke 500 in his career, Melandri reckons the aggressive power delivery on his Gresini Honda RC212V is akin to a peaky two-stroke.

Melandri, who won three races in 2006, said: “For sure power delivery is more difficult than the 990. Now the power delivery feels like a two-stroke. When you open the throttle at low revs there is no power and then suddenly a lot of power rushes in. You open the throttle very hard because there is no power and then when the power comes you have to close again, and then open.”

Melandri said smoothing out the power delivery wasn’t the only engine improvement HRC engineers needed to focus on, adding to his demands for more horsepower. “I think we miss power mainly. I can be quite fast in the corners so we need more power at the top and at bottom end.”

Last week Loris Capirossi echoed Melandri’s comments, telling MCN the power delivery on the 800 Ducati was as bad or worse than the old 500s.