From a press release issued by Repsol Media Service: Repsol Team in the World Motorcycling Championship 2008. Honda RC212V THE REPSOL HONDA RC212V 2008, THE PATH TO RETAKING THE THRONE The Honda 800cc has undergone important changes during the 2008 pre-season The 2008 World Runner-up bike has been developing during the 2008 pre-season, regarding both elements of the engine and the chassis, though some improvements have also been introduced in the design of the bodywork in order to optimise the aerodynamics of the setup. Honda has been working on the pneumatic valve engine, but for the time being the two Repsol Honda Team riders, Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden, will compete with the “traditional” spring engine. The 800cc engine that Dani and Nicky use is based on the one Pedrosa used in Valencia, which gave him the victory in the last Gran Prix of the 2007 season. The chassis and the swingarm have been modified on the 2008 version of the RC212V, as is the fuel tank, located under the seat but redesigned to allow passage of the downpipe from one of the exhausts, which retakes the location it had on the 990cc RC212V integrated in the tailpiece. This last element has also been modified; the tiny tailpiece of the RC212V 2007 has been dropped to make way for a more prominent one, in order to hold one of the two exhausts. The other exhaust, with a longer downpipe in this version, leaves on the right of the bike, passes under the footrest and ends parallel to the back wheel. The new location of the exhausts responds to much extent to the annoying noise the previous ones generated for the riders. Continuing with the rear of the bike, the rear mudguard has been reduced considerably, while in the front, the two forced air inlets have disappeared from the sides of the body to take a place half-hidden under the lower stem of the steering. Honda RC212V Total length (mm): 2,060 Total width (mm): 645 Total height (mm): 1,125 Distance between axles: (mm): 1.450 Approximate weight (kg): 148 Type of engine: V-4, liquid refridgeration, four-stroke, DOHC 4 valves Displacement (cc): 800 Maximum power (PS): 210 approx. Type of chassis: Double aluminium shaft Tyres Front (inches): 16.0 Rear (inches): 16.5