Honda to exclusively power Moto2 class

Honda will be the sole engine supplier for the new Moto2 four-stroke grand prix class in 2010, winning the bid over great rival Yamaha.

Based on the CBR600RR engine, the souped-up donk is expected to produce at least 150hp at the crank, and will be visually similar to the production unit. The engine will be housed in full race chassis.

Yamaha has been magnanimous in 'defeat', with its racing boss Lin Jarvis conceding that Honda submitted a more enticing pitch.

"It's fine for us. Both Honda and Yamaha were prepared to support the new class by being willing to supply engines to Moto2," Jarvis was quoted ass saying in British weekly MCN. "We made our proposal based on the capacity of what we could do to provide engines at this late stage to be ready for 2010 and I think Honda made a stronger proposal.

"Maybe Honda had been preparing for it so they are in a position to provide a more performance engine with a complete maintenance package with everything else. So for us that's fair enough."

The Spanish Honda-BQR team has unveiled the very first Moto2 bike, which will make its debut this season in the 2009 Spanish road racing title. The bike makes 140hp, it has aluminium beam chassis, a 43mm USD fork and 17-inch forged magnesium wheels. Ready to race, the bike weighs 137kg.

Moto2 will compete against the thoroughbred 250cc two-stroke machines in 2010, before the 250s are eventually phased out altogether - leaving only the 125cc class as the last remaining category from the dawn of grand prix world championship racing in 1949.