Moto2 replaced the 250cc Grand Prix category in 2010. The change modernized the intermediate class and marked the end of the long-running 250cc two-stroke era.
The 250cc class had been part of the World Championship since its beginning in 1949 and became an important stepping stone for riders progressing toward the premier category. For 2010, the new Moto2 rules switched to four-stroke engines with a 600cc displacement. Honda supplied the standardized engines, based on the CBR600RR, while teams competed with different chassis designs.
The first Moto2 season featured a broad range of chassis builders and was won by Toni Elías, who became the category’s inaugural world champion. In 2019, Triumph replaced Honda as the sole engine supplier, and Moto2 engines changed to 765cc three-cylinder units. Moto3 later replaced the separate 125cc class in 2012, which is why Moto3 is not the answer to this question.