In the past 12 months Rotax have announced and released a variety of fundamental changes to the FR125 motor in Max, Junior Max and Mini Max form. Among the more influential include the clutch, the barrel and the crank. Rotax have given their reasons for doing this.
There is however one VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM with this. Senior Max, Junior Max and Mini Max are spec. motor classes meaning that competitors within the classes must run identical motors. Where you have motors of different specification, particularly at the fundamental levels I've mentioned earlier, you will have significantly different performance characteristics and it will no longer be a spec. formula. This is a very obvious statement, but one that appears to be overlooked by those who are administering the classes.
There are a number of solutions :
o Rotax issue all upgrades free of charge, or at a nominal charge, and it is mandatory for all competitors to fit them.
o Rotax motors have a finite homologation period, say 5 years, within which they do not make any changes to the motor. Only currently homologated motors would be permitted to run in the class.
o Rotax do not make any changes to the motor. Period.
The ad-hoc approach that's happening right now is completely unacceptable because it is in violation of the basic principles of a spec. formula.
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