1. Don't hold your breath for UT2 engines. Production has only just started again in Thailand after the floods and very few engines if any are expected before June and those may be only UT1 anyway. At least that’s what Honda are saying this week.
2. Kelvin is correct about tolerances, as production methods continue to improve they are bound to be even better again and standard engines will be closer than they are now. Close enough I believe to be raced almost directly from the box.
3. To help prevent SP engines in the future, why not mark the main components of new engines with the same code so that parts cannot be mix and matched i.e selected.
4. As for preparation of the new engine. Its seems to me that a better way to go would be to race ready the UT2 engine in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible (noise and emissions). Then bring a modification in for the UT1 that will equalise it, either adding or removing a little power. This could easily be done with only a timing key or change of head gasket. That way as the new engine is phased in the least amount of work possible needs to be done on it, keeping costs down.
5. Buy back schemes are not only a deterrent to people spending big money but should also help deter cheating. At the end off a days racing (in parc ferme and within a time limit) any interested party can elect to buy another competitors engines at a fixed price. If more than one person wants the same engines it's a simple matter of a draw to decide.
The engines are then given to an engine builder and or scrutineer who will check that they conform, before servicing them and passing them on to the buyer. Unless they don’t conform in which case the buyers money is returned, the non conforming parts seized and the rest returned to the original owner along with the relevant sanctions and a bill for the work done.
Thus the cost of the buyback is effectively also an appeal fee, which makes a higher price easier to justify. As obviously this price needs to cover not only new replacement engines and some for inconvenience, but also the fee for checking the engines.
If the above is done properly with equal enough engines everyone wins.
A new or existing competitor can buy proven engines for a little more than the cost of new ones, to give them the piece of mind that they don’t need to worry about engines.
A seasoned front runner should be happy to get a change to brand new engines for free every now and again.
Engine builders get the extra work of checking engines conform.
Scrutineers and all others concerned parties will see that any iffy engines are properly and thoroughly controlled.
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