Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Mat Oxley

Three-time 500cc World Champion King Kenny Roberts has confirmed that he is building a V5 four-stroke for next year’s MotoGP series. He is the first rival manufacturer to follow the winning lead of Honda’s all-conquering RCV.

Like many MotoGP insiders, Roberts has predicted that all the big teams will gravitate to the same engine configuration, and right now the V5 seems the favorite option.

MotoGP regs offer a sliding minimum weight limit according to the number of cylinders in a machine, and since Fours and Fives run the same 145-kilogram limit, five pistons make all kinds of sense.

Roberts’ team, backed by Malaysian interests, currently races with the Proton-badged KR3 two-stroke V3.