[roger albert]

Hi,

Yeah, it would be nice to see. They've certainly pushed it with their BMW-Power program in Formel-Eins and the touring cars stuff (even moving agressively against the Porsche Carerras with the 5-series V-8-motor in the 3-series chassis)

It is also interesting that the two twin specialists went to 3 cyls for Aprilia and 4 for Ducati. Given the firing order/timing, Ducati's approach is essentially an interleved pair of their 90deg twins, so probably a smart compromise that boosts their cylinder count for power, and yet retains a lot of their existing body of knowledge. Basically, all the rumours about the duc motor were wrong.

I'll predict that if BMW enters, like their european brethern, they'll go for more than 2 cylinders (I know, it's an obvious prediction, but it will disappoint some of we rabid boxer fans)

The V-3 layout is still open if you discount the old 2-stroke KR, so there could be an interesting opening (never mind that the german engineering mind would be tortured by something so lacking in symmetry)



later
roger