The Honda CBR250R, the Missing Link for Moto3
The Honda CBR250R, while some people are somewhat disappointed in the specifications of the new Honda CBR250R, a Honda spoke person has told us that the choice for the single-cylinder for the Honda CBR250R was not only a financial decision, the specifications of the new 2011 Honda CBR250R are within the specs set out for the new Moto3 motorcycle race class which will replace the 125GP by 2012.The CS250RE, the new Honda CBR250R engine, is a liquid-cooled 4-stroke DOHC single cylinder with a bore of 76mm and stroke of 55mm, 249cc engine. The maximum bore for the Moto3 race class cannot excite 81mm. The fueling for is managed by a PGM-FI (fuel-injection system), which is programmable with some tools currently already available in Thailand.
With the creation of the Honda CBR250R, Honda have the groundwork completed should they choose to go for the CBR250R as the basis for the NRS250 racebike. NRS250 stands for Next Racing Standard, and the NRS250 will be created by HRC (Honda Racing).
Regulations set for the Moto3 race class specify that each engine must last a required minimum of three races and costs of a Moto3 motorcycle should not exceed more than 12,000 Euro. It's reasonable to assume that Honda could also develop a high performance road-going version of the 250cc race bike (Honda CBR250RR), to replace the venerable CBR250 and develop racing ties with its entry-level road motorcycles.
As one of the Japan's biggest motorcycle manufacturers, Honda is keen to be a major player in all three racing categories, MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, and will leverage its racing involvement in order to promote its road-going products.
