Sherco MR3 GP11 Moto3 race bike

Want to see a sexy race bike? Wait until the 2012 Moto3 season kicks off and you'll see tons of them before the MotoGP big hitters line-up to race.

Indeed, the appealing low capacity race bikes will be arriving at circuits all around the world next year when they replace the 125 GP two-stroke bikes with light-weight 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke race bikes -- like this one from French/Spanish dirt-bike specialist Sherco.

Dubbed the Sherco MR3 GP11, the compact race bike joins the likes of Honda's next generation NRS race bike in previewing some of the hardware that will be seen in the motorcycle GP paddock in 2012.

Beyond the sleek body work of the new race bike, the MR3 GP11 uses a modified version Sherco's 250cc single-cylinder engine used on its SE 2.5i-FR motocross bike, which has been fettled to deliver a strong top end hit.

Sherco has enlisted Franco Moro to help sort out the bike, and the former Aprilia racing department tech appears to have done a decent job with the new MR3 GP11 bike, because Sherco will be offering its new steed to interested Moto3 teams to test at the end of this month.

Moro designed the chassis and modified the engine for racing use, and the flash-looking unit will be offered with a range of different chassis setups, with various braking, suspension, and wheel packages available.

If the Sherco MR3 GP11 Moto3 race bike turns out to be competitive, expect a bevy of special edition Sherco dirt bikes to celebrate that fact in 2012 and beyond.

And who knows, maybe Sherco will even dabble in creating a high-revving 250cc road bike?

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