KTM’S ALL-NEW 250cc RACE ENGINE: IT SHARES NOTHING WITH THE CURRENT 250SXF MOTOCROSS DESIGN

KTM used to be a big player in the FIM’s 125cc GP Championship. But, the FIM has switched all of the two-stroke classes over to four-strokes for 2012. The 125 GP class will now become a 250cc four-stroke class?called Moto3.

This is not the KTM 250SXF engine by any stretch of the imagination. The M32 has a bore and stroke of 81mm x 48.5mm, while the motocross engine is 76mm x 54.8mm.

Under Moto3 rules manufacturers are not allowed to use their 250cc motocross engines as a starting point for their Moto3 race bikes. So, KTM went back to the drawing boards to build a road race ready 250cc engine. Additionally, engine manufacturers must make their Moto3 engine available to other teams. KTM plans to charge $16,200 for each 55-pound engine. KTM’s new Moto3 motor is light and there will be two engine development programs for the engine, code named “M32”?one by the KTM fatory and one by Kalex.

Each exhaust titanium valve gets its own exhaust pipe.

KTM’s return to the new MotoGP Moto3 class and the development of the new engine by KTM engineer Wolfgang Felber and his team is also characterized by an intense partnership with Kalex Engineering of Southern Germany, the company that will be the exclusive chassis manufacturer for the KTM engine. The constructor of the newly unveiled M32 racing engine is Kurt Trieb, a very experienced engineer, who among other important tasks was responsible for the construction of the KTM MotoGP V4 motor.

KTM’s exclusive partnership with Kalex Engineering represents a joint combination of skills and passion to develop two different, but parallel, concepts for the 250cc single cylinder four-stroke KTM racing machines. There will be a bike that is  100% developed at the company’s headquarters in Mattighofen, Upper Austria, and a second Kalex-KTM bike concept. The Mattighofen-developed KTM machine will have innovative KTM frame concept that will be in the hands of Ajo Motorsport headed by experienced Finn Aki Ajo . The Kalex machine will be offered to various customer teams.

KTM is no strangers to the MotoGP paddock. KTM competed in the 125cc and 250cc GP classes until these categories were phased out in favour of Moto2 – and subsequently from 2012 – the Moto3 classes. In fact KTM has continued a presence at MotoGP through the Red Bull Rookies MotoGP Cup Competition. KTM supplies the 125RR bikes for the youngest competitors in international level road racing to help launch their careers.

KTM M32 FACT & FIGURES

M32 development team: Wolfgang Felber, Heinz Payreder and Kurt Trieb

KTM’s Moto3 engine has been designed strictly in accordance with the Moto3 regulations, which include the following:
Rev limiter: Engines may rev to a maximum of 14,000 rpm
Electronic Control Unit: All motorcycles in Moto3, regardless of engine, must have the same engine electronics (ECU)
Durability: one engine should last at least 2000 km before it needs to be rebuilt.
Gearbox: The six-speed gearbox was designed to last the entire season
Engine type: liquid-cooled, four-stroke, DOHC, single cylinder
Bore: 81mm
Stroke: 48.5mm
Displacement: 249.5cc
Fuel injection: Dual injector throttle body
Clutch: Anti hopping slipper clutch
Valves: Titanium valves in radial configuration

WHAT THE FIM DOESN’T ALLOW IN MOTO3
Engines cannot use oval pistons, pneumatic/hydraulic valves, vraible valve timing, varibale length intake tracks or exhaust systems.
Fuel injector must be upstream from intake valves.
Maximum of two injectors.
Sound limited to 115 dB at 5500 rpm.
Six-speed maximum.
Minimum weight is 325.6 pounds (bike and rider).
Wheels must be 17-inch.
Riders are limited to 8 engines per season (and a rebuilt engine is considered a new engine.
There will be an engine claiming rule (any engine can be bought by a comopetitor from a competitor for $16,200.

ON A MORE SENSITIVE NOTE

You can’t trust the dealers to keep a secret.

KTM showed its dealers some of its future plans at a recent meeting…and one them shot a cell phone photo of the presentation that revealed that KTM was working on plans for a 350 Moto3 street bike for 2014.