MotoGP used an 800cc engine capacity from 2007 through 2011.
The 800cc era began after the premier class reduced its maximum engine capacity from 990cc. The change was intended to reduce speeds and improve safety, although the lighter motorcycles could still carry substantial corner speed and remained extremely fast.
The first 800cc MotoGP season was 2007. Ducati’s Casey Stoner won the championship that year, taking six victories for the factory’s first premier-class riders’ title. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki also competed with 800cc machines during the period.
The regulation lasted five seasons. For 2012, MotoGP returned to a 1000cc maximum, which remains the standard capacity for the premier class. The 990cc option belongs to the earlier 2002–2006 period, so it is a frequent confusion when comparing MotoGP’s engine eras.