Honda won’t use full fuel allowance for new production racer

Honda has revealed its new production RCV1000R MotoGP bike that Scott Redding will ride in 2014 will not use the maximum amount of fuel permitted for non-factory machinery.

Non-factory bikes in 2014 can run a 24-litre fuel tank, which is four more than the limit the factory prototypes can run.

Prototype machinery like Jorge Lorenzo’s Yamaha YZR-M1 and Cal Crutchlow’s Ducati Desmosedici will have to run 20 litres, which is one less than the existing limit of 21.

Honda boss Shuhei Nakamoto though said the performance potential of the RCV1000R, which will use conventional spring valve technology and a standard gearbox, will not be compromised if HRC doesn’t run the full fuel tank capacity allowed.

He told MCN that the RCV1000R is likely to run a 23 litre fuel tank and he said: “Our calculations say that for all races there will be no problem with 23 litres and they will not need to use a leaner mixture even with 23 litres. At 22 litres the production machine would have to use a leaner mixture, so 23 is enough.

“To run the production bike with 20 or 21 litres is impossible. But with 23 litres of fuel on the production machine the rider will be able to use full power, so at fuel critical circuits such as Motegi and Silverstone, the factory prototypes will have to use a leaner mixture, so the gap between them will be closer. In qualifying it is different because the factory bikes can use full power.”