The 125cc class of the motorcycling World Championship will reportedly be replaced by a 250cc four-stroke Moto3 series in 2012. The current 125cc two-stroke bikes will make way for four-stroke single-cylinder entries to back up the 600cc Moto2 class.

"Some 125 teams want to be in Moto2 and some Moto2 teams are struggling with the budget to remain in the class," a source was saying. "With Moto3 it will help create a healthy entry in both classes."

Honda are already said to be working on a 250cc four-stroke bike within a 125 chassis. The new class will be multi-engine with a prototype chassis.

Moto2 replaced the 250cc class at the beginning of this season.

People were bemoaning the end of the 250cc Grand Prix class, being replaced by the 4-stroke Moto2 bikes, but what I have seen of the Moto2 races so far in 2010, the racing has been excellent, with the best riders coming to the fore. The 250 singles should provide good racing, too, with the added spice of the different manufacturers building their own engines, with Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha etc. being in the mix.