Moto2 to keep Honda engine until end of 2015

The Moto2 world championship will continue to use a Honda engine based on its CBR600RR motor until the end of the 2015 season at least.

MCN understands that an additional one-year extension has been agreed to keep the current format after an initial agreement was reached for 2013 and ’14 at the end of last season.

Honda’s initial three-year contract to supply the single make 600cc four-stroke motor expired at the end of 2012 and in a bid to keep costs down a new two-year deal was agreed to keep the same format.

That led to speculation that there could be open engine competition in the intermediate class from 2015 onwards, allowing engines like Yamaha’s R6, Suzuki’s GSX-R600 and Kawasaki’s ZX-6R to compete.

But MCN sources during the weekend’s final MotoGP test session at the Jerez track in Spain have confirmed that the current engine will remain for at least another three years.

There is concern inside the paddock that a change to the existing rules would increase costs on teams already facing financial difficulty because of the on-going impact of the global economic crisis.

Chassis costs would certainly increase with teams having to make modifications for different engine casings.

MCN’s source said: “Everybody agrees keeping the Honda engine until the end of 2015 is the best plan. The Moto2 championship has been a huge success with some great racing and several teams have the opportunity to win a race.”

Moto2 has been part of the world championship schedule since 2010 when it replaced the two-stroke 250cc category.