De Diana Tamantini / Corsedimoto.com
2019 was the tenth year of Moto2, which replaced the 250cc. From technical innovations to category champions, here are the highlights.
Ten seasons have passed since the 250cc gave way to Moto2, which consequently became the new intermediate category of the World Championship. This is a way of bringing the level closer to that of MotoGP, by better preparing all the riders who wanted to access the premier category of this championship. A lot of changes have been observed during this decade: let's see the highlights from the period from 2010 to 2019.
The new name brought with it many new features. The first aspect to highlight is the change of engine, unique for all and supplied by Honda, a 4T 4-cylinder 600 cm³ (derived from the CBR600RR). A nice leap forward with regard to the maximum displacement of 250 cm³ previously used. In 2019 there is the transition to the 3cc 765-cylinder Triumph engine (based on the Triple Speed). Since the same season we have also seen the introduction of the Magneti Marelli control unit, which has brought this category even closer to MotoGP. The braking system with carbon discs was banned, then we remember the beginnings with Suter limited slip clutches, then FCC from 2o13. A change also on the minimum weight: it started at 135 kg, and is currently increased to 154 kg.
Many manufacturers first embarked on this new adventure. These were Suter, Moriwaki, Speed Up, BQR, RSV, FTR, PromoHarris, KALEX, Tech3, TSR, ICP, ADV. But we can see that most of these names have gradually abandoned this category. KTM's experience was quite brief: its debut dates back to 2017, but there will be no more from 2020. In 2018 the debut of the Japanese manufacturer NTS took place: a hitherto difficult world entry, but however confirmed for next season. In 2019, the historic Italian brand MV Agusta also made a comeback. These are the two manufacturers who will join the dominant KALEX and Speed Up in 2020.
As for the drivers, we observed five Spanish champions, two Italians, a German and a Frenchman. This last one is Johann zarco, the only one to have won two Moto2 titles, thus bringing two of the seven titles obtained by KALEX during this decade. The first title was Toni Elias, 2010 World Champion, followed by Stefan Bradl, Marc Márquez, Pol Espargaró, Tito Rabat, twice Zarco, Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Márquez. With the exception of Elías, who has been in MotoAmerica for years, and Stefan Bradl, HRC tester, these are all names that we will find in MotoGP in 2020. It is curious, however, that so far , alone Marc Márquez managed to win the title in the top category.
The Spanish champion is still the most successful rider in Moto2. During the two-year period 2011-2012, the man from Cervera recorded 16 successes, a record that is still unbeaten today. Behind him, Johann Zarco, two-time world champion, stopped at 15 points, followed by Tito Rabat with 13 victories and Thomas Lüthi with 12. Pol Espargaró obtained 10 victories in three years in Moto2, and Franco Morbidelli 8 , all obtained in its glory year. Same score for his compatriot Francesco Bagnaia, while the last champion, Álex Márquez, won “only” five victories in his season, to which were added three others in 2017.
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