06/10/2026
๐ก๐๐ช ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ | AN UPDATE FROM IKD
BRP-Rotax is introducing a new Plasma-coated cylinder for the Rotax MAX engine family, replacing the Nikasil-lined cylinder technology used since the beginning of Rotax MAX.
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At IKD, we understand that this cylinder change - particularly following a recent update - is frustrating. However, the circumstances behind this change are important.
The manufacturer of the existing Rotax cylinder and piston has entered insolvency, leading to a restructuring of the company and the discontinuation of cylinder production.
๐ฆ๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑโ๐ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ด๐ด๐ฒ๐๐-๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
As a result, BRP-Rotax has moved cylinder production in-house in Austria and is taking the opportunity to introduce its proven Plasma coating technology to karting for the first time - a technology already successfully used by BRP-Rotax in other engine applications.
๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐
๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐น๐ ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ผ๐น๐ผ๐ด๐ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐๐น๐ฎ ๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ผ๐๐ฃ.
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The new Plasma cylinder brings a more stable and reliable supply of cylinders, giving Rotax direct control over the manufacturing and ongoing quality.
Importantly, BRP-Rotaxโs stated target is for the new Plasma cylinder to match the current level of performance straight out of the box.
The manufacturing of the piston is planned to be moved to another European manufacturer with the same technical specification as the current piston.
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๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ
We currently expect the first Plasma cylinders to become available late 2026. Karting Australia has been informed of the change and, subject to final approval processes, we expect the new cylinder to be eligible for competition from 2027 onwards.
๐ฐ๐ฑ% ๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐๐จ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐ง
To support customers who choose to update their engine, BRP-Rotax will be offering a 45% discount off the retail price of the Rotax Plasma cylinder for a limited time. Exact timing and further details of this offer will be announced once confirmed.
Weโre sharing all the information available to us at this stage and will continue to keep the Australian Rotax community updated as further timelines and technical details are confirmed.
Thank you!
Find more information, Tech Tips, and Q&A on:
๐https://www.internationalkarting.com.au/files//ROTAX/Rotax-K-TechTip7_Rotax-Plasama-Cylinder.pdf
๐ https://www.internationalkarting.com.au/article/new-rotax-pl
๐ https://www.rotax-racing.com/news/rotax-plasma-coated-cylinder
