Torhu Ukawa has been testing the 3 cylinder POSSIBLE replacement for the V5... with new weight and fuel cell requirements Honda is already busy getting things going or do they just have a new platform to counter Rossi's talent.....?

they will all have to change bikes somewhat for 2006. Honda apparently will change it completely (if the rumors are true). I also read today that Ukawa was already testing the prototype V3. I am curious to see how long it takes before some sort of photography and tech info are going to be leaking.

I read that he has been riding the Honda test track with this motor almost a year ago... Funny because alot of people shit on the RS3 cube motor and the Petronas setup.... I find this setup pretty remarkable if they go through with it.... time will tell

Are there any benefits to running a V3 instead of a V5? Would there be weight savings as a result of less fuel needs? If I remember correctly, last season haga and edwards were riding the three cylinder aprillia and were getting their asses thouroughly kicked by just about everyone. So what's honda's motivation for going this route?

the motivation is behind the new rules taking effect in 2006. The 3 cylinder bikes will have a weight advantage over the 4 cylinder and 5 cylinder bikes. I don't remember exactly the diff in weight allowed by the FIM but it is significant (significant by racing standards). Also the gas tank will "grow" smaller beginning next year and even further more in 2006 along with the displacement decrease, the 3 cylinder might have a gas milage advantage that could be considered important. Also I will not compare Honda to either Aprilia or Petronas (running 3 cylinder bikes without success), as they actually have a very strong (strongest in motorcycle racing) financial backing as opposed to the bankrupt Aprilia or the unexperienced Petronas Foggy team. Speaking of Petronas can somebody explain to me why their 3 cylinder wsbk engine is only a 900cc engine instead of a 1000cc as the rules allow it now? Always been curious about this....

This is a good question, here is what I believe... The new rules regarding MotoGP and the number of cylinders will place a weight advantage to 3 cylinders and if I recall correctly it is substantial in terms of one vs. a 5 cylinder perse. As well something that benefitted the V-4s is that they were less wide in the engine case. They are more flickable as it is said. It should be noted that the reason Rossi's bike was so good in the corners was due to higher center of gravity, which is a different approach but same goal; being flickability, which it was better at the the RC...Another thing, as I recall the cams were shorter in the V twins ( and V5 ) to which means they could endure higher loads. The V5 Honda has is actually similiar to the V4 they ran along time except as I recall it was three cylinders 'stacked' on top of 2. As well, there will be less moving parts, rotational mass, piston etc, in the 'tre'...
I really believe if Honda will develop a 'tre' they have considered the pros and cons and felt the pros outweighed the cons, especially when the new rules go to 990cc engines, and less fuel ballast requirements. This in lieu of the old rules, I have to believe has alot to do with Honda and the 'tre' platform.... as I said before it will be very interesting. I also think tractability is another consideration, being that maybe the will have a new twin pulse, big bang, style delivery but with the three. Maybe they won't because it works different?....who knows but very cool stuff.

I thought the rules in 2006 go to 900cc. And I thought right now they are at 990cc. You are quite right about the rest though. Curious to see if Yamaha will remain with the same inline 4 configuration.

Your right my goof, it is 900

Remember the 2 stroke V twin 500?

It's many advantages in testing were rundant (lower weight, higher corner speed) in the heat of racing. It will be interesting to see if a 4 stroke triple will have better success.

Everything I've read points to the Aprillia having the best engine config out there - it's incredibly powerful but an underfunded team and design and development by a car engine company (Cosworth) not knowing the requirements of motorcycles has meant it's yet to succeed.

:)

It is funny but the highest tech out there is on the two most hurting teams (financially and results wise) Aprilia, and KR/Proton. I think the cosworth deal is done, I am not sure but with all the weird Ford-Jaguar stuff going on in F1, cosworth was affected. Not sure but I recall reading something that not all is in order. I would love to see Aprilia step up