McKinley Kyle Paz’s Moto2 racebike facts

McKinley Kyle Paz is the first Filipino to race a genuine Moto2 GP bike. Moto2 bikes are used in the intermediate FIM Moto2 World Championships, the class just below MotoGP.

Just a level below the World Championships is the FIM CEV Moto2 European Championships where top riders hone their skills just before moving up to the World Championships. The series uses similar Moto2 bikes previously used in the World Championships for almost 10 years before the World Championships moved to bigger, 765cc 3-cylinder engines.

The 600cc Moto2 CEV Kalex bike that Paz is racing is  very similar to the Moto2  bikes used by Franco Morbidelli, Marc Marquez, Johan Zarco, Pol Espargaro and Francesco Bagnaia when they won their Moto2 World  Championships.

Let’s briefly discuss the bike details.

Engine
A mandatory spec in-line 600cc 4 cylinder sportbike engine is used by all teams. They are built by the same company and sealed by the FIM to prevent tampering. They put out around 120 horsepower and are usually mapped to have a hard-hitting midrange with less over-rev. 

Chassis
The chassis must be a prototype not production based, the design and construction of which is free within the constraints of the FIM Grand Prix Technical Regulations. The main frame, swingarm, fuel tank, seat and fairing/bodywork from a non-prototype (ie. series production road-homologated) motorcycle may not be used.
Paz chassis is made by Kalex, the dominant Moto2 chassis for more than 10 years now. Also, carbon-ceramic brakes are forbidden.

Electronics
Moto2 bikes are not equipped with any electronic rider aids, such as traction and wheelie control. Engine mapping is not on-board adjustable. This means that engine tuning and riding technique are critical. The bike is designed to bring out the best in the riders and teams. 

Weight
The minimum weight permitted (motorcycle + rider) is 215 Kg

Tires
Only tires from the official tire supplier , in this case Dunlop, may be used in a Moto2 CEV and each team must  sign a contract with the supplier.

How does it compare to a regular 600cc Supersport bike?

According to a rider journalist and an ex- roadracer who have ridden both the CEV Moto2 bike and a Supersport 600 the biggest difference is the weight (approximately 20 kilos lighter than a Yamaha R6) and where that weight is located. For instance, the fuel tank for the Moto2 bike is low, in between the frame rails, behind the airbox and above the shock. The seat is also located farther back, toward the rear wheel.

No doubt, Paz has the right bike under him to hone his skills in his quest to become the first Filipino MotoGP rider. He has 2021 to learn and prove that he can do good enough to earn a 2022 seat in the team again.

Photos from YMPH, VR46 and Marc- VDS

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