little OT.. a Porsche GP moto bike?

[Erik Mckenna]

Porsche MotoGP bike in 2007?





Friday, 10 March 2006

There are some strong rumours currently of a Porsche MotoGP bike which could be lining up on the grid as early as 2007. Little is known yet about Porsche's venture into motorbike racing but a working prototype has apparently been built and already undergone some preliminary testing.

The Italian bike racing site RacerGP have posted an artists impression of the bike as it could look with a racing livery (as seen above).

The talk is that the bike would be based on a V3 800cc engine, to meet the 2007 regulation changes which will see the current 990cc bikes become a thing of the past. The bike could be backed by long-term Porsche sponsors Gulf, and German rider Alex Hofmann has been rumoured to be the rider for what would begin as a fairly small one-rider project.

After the first year, things would then move up a level with Porsche rumoured to be hoping to make a more serious attempt at the title. Riders Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi have already popped up as possibilities for the 2008 season and the Pons and WCM teams, neither of whom are racing this year, have been suggested as partners for the project.

Unlike the recent rumours surrounding a BMW MotoGP project, it seems that Porsche built their prototype with no intentions of racing but are now considering it after some R&D work. BMW, on the other hand, built their prototype with racing in mind but now seem more interested in using the bike to progress their technology.

Many in the paddock doubt the likelihood of a 2007 campaign, but it does seem that 2008 is a lot more plausible. Whether these rumours will come to fruition remains to be seen, but the thought of a new team coming to MotoGP with the ability to compete at a high level is certainly an interesting one and we will be sure to keep you updated when anything else is known.

[Erik Mckenna]

I guess if this happens. you Duc owners will be selling to buy one of these rockets?? ahahah

[12own911]

Very cool bike

[RLJ]

Great looking bike!

I still like the boxter motor in my Beemer. Duh..........

Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris"
1999 BMW R-1100R w/ABS

[cali74]

Rossi needs a new challenge...this could be it!


(Velentino is a German name, right??)

[Jgordon]

well they designed the heads for the V-rod, no reason why they couldn't build the rest of it.

it'd be very cool. much more in keeping with the lineage than the cayenne.