Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held since the start of the twentieth century[1] and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix,[2] The foundation of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme as the international governing body for motorcycle sport in 1949 provided the opportunity to coordinate rules and regulations in order that selected events could count towards official World Championships. It is the oldest established motorsport world championship.[3]
Grand Prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are generally unavailable for purchase by the general public or able to be ridden legally on public roads. This contrasts with the various production-based categories of racing, such as the Superbike World Championship and the Isle of Man TT Races that feature modified versions of road-going motorcycles available to the public.
The championship is currently divided into four classes: Moto Grand Prix, Moto2, Moto3 and MotoE. The first three classes use four-stroke engines, while the MotoE class (new in 2019) uses electric motors. The 2019 MotoGP season comprises 19 Grands Prix, with 12 held in Europe, three in Asia, two in the Americas, and one each in Australia and the Middle East.
Contents
History
An FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix was first organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in 1949. The commercial rights are now owned by Dorna Sports, with the FIM remaining as the sport sanctioning body. Teams are represented by the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) and manufacturers by the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association (MSMA). Rules and changes to regulations are decided between the four entities, with Dorna casting a tie-breaking vote. In cases of technical modifications, the MSMA can unilaterally enact or veto changes by unanimous vote among its members.[4] These four entities compose the Grand Prix Commission.
There have traditionally been several races at each event for various classes of motorcycles, based on engine size, and one class for sidecars. Classes for 50 cc, 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc solo machines have existed at some time, and 350 cc and 500 cc sidecars. Up through the 1950s and most of the 1960s, four-stroke engines dominated all classes. In part this was due to rules, which allowed a multiplicity of cylinders (meaning smaller pistons, producing higher revs) and a multiplicity of gears (giving narrower power bands, affording higher states of tune). In the 1960s, two-stroke engines began to take root in the smaller classes.
In 1969, the FIM —citing high development costs for non-works teams— brought in new rules restricting all classes to six gears and most to two cylinders (four cylinders in the case of the 350 cc and 500 cc classes). This led to a mass walk-out of the sport by the previously highly successful Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha manufacturer teams, skewing the results tables for the next several years, with MV Agusta effectively the only works team left in the sport until Yamaha (1973) and Suzuki (1974) returned with new two-stroke designs. By this time, two-strokes completely eclipsed the four-strokes in all classes. In 1979, Honda, on its return to GP racing, made an attempt to return the four-stroke to the top class with the NR500, but this project failed, and, in 1983, even Honda was winning with a two-stroke 500.
Previously, the championship featured a 50cc class from 1962 to 1983, later changed to an 80cc class from 1984 to 1989. The class was dropped for the 1990 season, after being dominated primarily by Spanish and Italian makes. It also featured a 350cc class from 1949 to 1982, and a 750 cc class from 1977 to 1979. Sidecars were dropped from world championship events in the 1990s (see Superside).
Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike (2006)
From the mid-1970s through to 2001, the top class of GP racing allowed 500 cc displacement with a maximum of four cylinders, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. This is unlike TT Formula or motocross, where two and four strokes had different engine size limits in the same class to provide similar performance. Consequently, all machines were two-strokes, since they produce power with every rotation of the crank, whereas four-stroke engines produce power only every second rotation. Some two- and three-cylinder two-stroke 500s were seen, but though they had a minimum-weight advantage under the rules, typically attained higher corner speed and could qualify well, they lacked the power of the four-cylinder machines.
In 2002, rule changes were introduced to facilitate the phasing out of the 500 cc two-strokes. The premier class was rebranded MotoGP, as manufacturers were to choose between running two-stroke engines up to 500 cc or four-strokes up to 990 cc or less. Manufacturers were also permitted to employ their choice of engine configuration. Despite the increased costs of the new four-stroke engines, they were soon able to dominate their two-stroke rivals. As a result, by 2003 no two-stroke machines remained in the MotoGP field. The 125 cc and 250 cc classes still consisted exclusively of two-stroke machines.
In 2007, the MotoGP class had its maximum engine displacement capacity reduced to 800 cc for a minimum of five years. As a result of the 2008–2009 financial crisis, MotoGP underwent changes in an effort to cut costs. Among them are reducing Friday practice sessions and testing sessions, extending the lifespan of engines, switching to a single tyre manufacturer, and banning qualifying tyres, active suspension, launch control and ceramic composite brakes.[5] For the 2010 season, carbon brake discs were banned.
For the 2012 season, the MotoGP engine capacity was increased again to 1,000 cc.[6] It also saw the introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT), which were given more engines per season and larger fuel tanks than factory teams, but were subject to a factory team buying ("claiming") their rival's powertrain for a fixed price.[7] The sport's governing body received applications from sixteen new teams looking to join the MotoGP class.[8] For the 2014 season, the CRT subclass was rebranded Open, as the claiming rule was removed. Also, all entries adopted a standard engine control unit, with factory teams being allowed to run any software, and Open entries using a standard software. For the 2016 season, the Open subclass was dropped, and factory entries switched to a standard engine control unit software.
In 2010, the 250cc two-stroke class was replaced by the new Moto2 600 cc four-stroke class. In 2012, the 125cc two-stroke class was replaced by the Moto3 250cc four-stroke class with a weight limit of 65 kg with fuel.[citation needed]
Chronology
1949: Start of the world championship in Grand Prix motorcycle racing for five separate categories, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and sidecars.[1] Harold Daniell wins the first ever 500 cc Grand Prix race held at the Isle of Man TT.[9]
1951: Sidecars reduced in engine capacity from 600 cc to 500 cc
1957: Gilera, Mondial and Moto Guzzi withdraw at the end of the season citing increasing costs. Bob McIntyre wins the longest ever Grand Prix race of 301.84 miles, held over 8 laps of the Isle of Man.[9]
1958: MV Agusta win the constructors' and riders' championships in all four solo classes, a feat the team repeat in 1959 and 1960.[1]
1959: Honda enters the Isle of Man TT for the first time.
1961: The 1961 Argentine Grand Prix is the first world championship race held outside of Europe.
1963: The 1963 Japanese Grand Prix is the first world championship race held in Asia.
1964: The 1964 United States Grand Prix is the first world championship race held in North America.
1966: Honda wins the constructors' championship in all five solo classes. Jim Redman wins Honda's first ever 500 cc Grand Prix at Hockenheim, also the first win for a Japanese factory in the premier class.[9]
1967: Final year of unrestricted numbers of cylinders and gears. Honda withdraws in protest.
1968: Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta) wins both the 350 cc and 500 cc titles.
1969: Godfrey Nash riding a Norton Manx becomes the last rider to win a 500 cc Grand Prix riding a single-cylinder machine.[9]
1971: Jack Findlay rides a Suzuki TR500 to the first ever win in the 500 cc class for a two-stroke machine.[9]
1972: as 1968. The death of Gilberto Parlotti at the Isle of Man TT causes multiple world champion Giacomo Agostini and other riders to boycott the next four events on grounds of safety.
1972: Last year of 500 cc sidecars.
1972: Giacomo Agostini wins his seventh consecutive 500cc championship, all with MV Agusta.
1973: Deaths of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini at the Italian round at Monza.
1974: The Suzuki RG500 is the first square-four in the 500 cc class. The constructors' title is won by a Japanese brand and a two-stroke for the first time (Yamaha).
1975: Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha) wins the 500 cc class, making Yamaha the first non European brand to the riders' championship in the premier class with two stroke engine.
1976: Barry Sheene wins the first 500 cc championship for Suzuki. After the 1976 Isle of Man TT, the FIM gives in to the riders' boycott and removes the event from the Grand Prix calendar.
1977: 750 FIM prize becomes a world championship for 750cc machines.[10] Barry Sheene wins the 500 cc class. The British Grand Prix moves from the Isle of Man to the Silverstone Circuit on the British mainland.
1978: Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) wins the 500 cc class, the first American to do so.
1979: Last year of the 750 cc class.
1980: Patrick Pons (Yamaha 500 cc) and Malcolm White (sidecar) are both killed at the Silverstone British GP.
1981: Marco Lucchinelli wins the 500GP world title with his Suzuki RG500 Gamma.
1982: Franco Uncini wins 500cc class world title riding a Suzuki RG500 Gamma.
1982: Last year of 350 cc class.
1983: Freddie Spencer (Honda) wins the 500 cc class. Spencer and Kenny Roberts win all 500cc races for the season between them.
1984: Michelin introduces radial tyres in GPs.
1984: 50 cc class replaced by 80 cc.
1985: Freddie Spencer (Honda) wins both the 250cc and 500cc titles.
1987: Push starts are eliminated.
1987: Wayne Gardner (Honda) wins the 500 cc class, the first Australian to do so.
1988: Wayne Rainey wins the first 500 cc race using carbon brakes, at the British GP.
1988: Alfred Heck (passenger Andreas Räcke) is killed during free practice in the French Sidecar GP.
1989: Iván Palazzese (Aprilia) is killed in 250 cc West German GP at Hockenheim.
1989: Last year of 80 cc class.
1990: 500 cc grid switches from five to four bikes per row.
1992: Honda introduces the NSR500 with a big bang engine.
1993: Shinichi Itoh and his fuel-injected NSR500 break the 200 mph (320 km/h) barrier at the German GP at Hockenheim.
1993: Nobuyuki Wakai (Suzuki) is killed during the practice session of the 250 cc GP in Spain.
1993: Three-time 500cc champion and then title holder Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) is paralyzed following a crash at Misano.
1994: Simon Prior, passenger of Yoshisada Kumagaya, on an LCR-ADM, is killed in a crash involving seven outfits in the Sidecar GP at Hockenheim.
1998: the 500 cc class switches to unleaded fuel.
1998: Mick Doohan wins his fifth consecutive 500cc title, all with Honda.
1999: Àlex Crivillé (Honda) wins the 500cc class, the first Spaniard to do so.
2000: Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suzuki) wins the 500cc class, he joins his father Kenny Roberts to claim the championship and thus making them the only father & son to have won the 500cc championship.
2001: Valentino Rossi wins his first premier class title and becomes the final two-stroke champion in the premium series.
2002: MotoGP replaces the 500 cc class; Four-Strokes are re-introduced and get an increase to 990cc but two-strokes stay at 500cc.
2003: Ducati makes its Grand Prix debut in the new four-stroke MotoGP class.
2003: Daijiro Kato is killed during the Japanese GP in the MotoGP class at Suzuka when he hits the barrier at 340R (Formula One car driver Allan McNish had a serious crash during the Formula One Grand Prix the previous October there, resulting in a reprofiled 130R for 2003, known as 85R and 340R).
2004: MotoGP grid switches from four to three bikes per row while the 250cc and 125cc classes retain four bikes per row.
2004: Makoto Tamada earns Bridgestone their first MotoGP victory at the Brazilian GP.
2005: MotoGP adopts flag-to-flag rule, allowing riders to pit and switch to bikes fitted with wet-weather tyres and continue if rain begins to fall mid-race.
2005: Valentino Rossi wins his fifth consecutive MotoGP title.
2007: MotoGP engine capacity is restricted to 800 cc four-strokes. Ducati wins the riders' championship with Casey Stoner and also the constructors' title, becoming the first European brand to have done so in the premier class in 30 years.
2008: MotoGP runs its first night race in Qatar.
2008: Dunlop drops out of MotoGP.
2009: Michelin drops out of MotoGP and Bridgestone becomes the sole tyre provider.[11][12]
2009: Kawasaki ran a single bike as Hayate Racing Team after the factory team announced their withdrawal from the series.
2010: Moto2 replaces the 250cc GP class. All engines are built for Moto2 by Honda and are four-stroke 600cc (36.6 cu in) in-line four-cylinder based on the CBR600RR road bike, producing 125 bhp at 16000 rpm.
2010: Moto2 rider Shoya Tomizawa is killed at Misano.
2010: For the first time, Spain hosts four Grands Prix in a single year.
2010: 'Rookie rule' introduced, preventing any newcomer to the MotoGP championship from riding for a factory team[13]
2010: Kawasaki announces its retirement due to negotiations with DORNA, stated that it will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race oriented consumers.
2011: MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli is killed at Sepang.[14]
2011: Suzuki suspend their MotoGP participation at the end of the season.
2012: The new Moto3 250 cc (15.2 cu in) four-stroke single-cylinder class replaces the 125cc class.
2012: MotoGP raises the maximum engine capacity to 1,000 cc[15] (61 cu in) and introduces claiming rule teams.
2012: Aprilia rejoin MotoGP class as a claiming rule team (CRT).
2013: Knockout qualifying format is introduced.[16]
2013: The 'rookie rule' introduced for the 2010 season is withdrawn.
2013: Marc Márquez becomes the first rookie to win the championship in MotoGP's current guise, and the youngest ever premier class world champion.
2014: Removal of the claiming rule teams and introduction of the Open Class category. Marc Márquez dominates the season by winning the first 10 races of the season.
2015: Suzuki returned to MotoGP as a constructor after a four-year hiatus.
2015: Aprilia return to a full factory team.
2016: Michelin returns as tyre supplier after Bridgestone's withdrawal.
2016: Luis Salom dies during Moto2 practice at the Catalan Grand Prix after a high-speed impact with his own stricken bike.
2017: KTM joined the series with a factory-supported team for the first time.
2019: Triumph Motorcycles replace Honda as Moto2 engine supplier and the new engines will be 765cc (46.7 cu in) triples based on the Street Triple RS 765.
2019: Both Moto2 and Moto3 adopt the qualifying format used by MotoGP.
2019: The MotoE class is introduced using electric motorcycles.
2019: A new penalty named the "Long Lap" penalty is introduced for riders exceeding track limits during races.
Event format
The starting grid is composed of three columns (four for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes) and contains approximately 20 riders. Grid positions are decided in descending order of qualifying speed, with the fastest on the pole or first position. Races last approximately 45 minutes, each race is a sprint from start to finish without pitting for fuel or tires.
In 2005, a flag-to-flag rule for MotoGP was introduced. Previously, if a race started dry and rain fell, officials could red-flag (stop) the race and either restart or resume on 'wet' tyres. Now, when rain falls, a white flag is shown, indicating that riders can pit to swap the motorcycle on which they started the race for an identical one, as long as the tyres are different (that is, intermediates or wets instead of slicks).[17] Besides different tyres, the wet-weather bikes have steel brake rotors and different brake pads instead of the carbon discs and pads used on the 'dry' bikes. This is because the carbon brakes need to be very hot to function properly, and the water cools them too much. The suspension is also 'softened' up somewhat for the wet weather.
When a rider crashes, track marshals up the track from the incident wave yellow flags, prohibiting passing in that area; one corner farther up the track, a stationary yellow flag is shown. If a fallen rider cannot be evacuated safely from the track, the race is red-flagged. Motorcycle crashes are usually one of two types: lowside, when the bike loses either front or rear tire grip and slides out on the "low" side, and the more dangerous highside, when the tires do not completely slide out, but instead grip the track surface, flipping the bike over to the "high side", usually catapulting the rider over the top. Increased use of traction control has made highsides much less frequent.
Current points system
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Points 25 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
See also: List of FIM World Championship points scoring systems
Riders
Current
See also: List of Grand Prix motorcycle racers
Name Country Team Bike Number
Andrea Dovizioso Italy Ducati Corse Team 04
Marc Márquez Spain Repsol Honda Team 93
Valentino Rossi Italy Monster Energy Yamaha 46
Johann Zarco France Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 5
Maverick Viñales Spain Monster Energy Yamaha 12
Danilo Petrucci Italy Ducati Corse Team 9
Jorge Lorenzo Spain Repsol Honda Team 99
Cal Crutchlow United Kingdom LCR Honda Castrol 35
Dani Pedrosa(1) Spain Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 26
Andrea Iannone Italy Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 29
Jack Miller Australia Pramac Racing 43
Tito Rabat Spain Reale Avintia Racing 53
Franco Morbidelli Italy Petronas Yamaha SRT 21
Hafizh Syahrin Malaysia Red Bull KTM Tech 3 55
Karel Abraham Czech Republic Reale Avintia Racing 17
Takaaki Nakagami Japan LCR Honda IDEMITSU 30
Bradley Smith(2) United Kingdom Aprilia Factory Racing 38
Aleix Espargaro Spain Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 41
Pol Espargaro Spain Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 44
Alex Rins Spain Team Suzuki ECSTAR 42
Francesco Bagnaia Italy Pramac Racing 63
Miguel Oliveira Portugal Red Bull KTM Tech 3 88
Joan Mir Spain Team Suzuki ECSTAR 36
Fabio Quartararo France Petronas Yamaha SRT 20
Stefan Bradl(3) Germany HCR Honda Racing 6
Michele Pirro(2) Italy Ducati Team 51
(1) Test Rider, no Wildcard events scheduled.
(2) Test Rider with Wildcard entries.
(3) Replaces injured driver
Top riders travel the world to compete in the annual FIM World Championship series. The championship is perhaps most closely followed in Italy and Spain, home of many of the more successful riders early in the 21st century. As for the 2011 season, 25 riders of eight nations participated in the premier class of the championship.
Champions
See also: List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champions and List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions by year
The Riders' World Championship is awarded to the most successful rider over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results.
Giacomo Agostini is the most successful champion in Grand Prix history, with 15 titles to his name (8 in the 500 cc class and 7 in the 350 cc class). The most dominant rider of all time was Mike Hailwood, winning 10 out of 12 (83%) races, in the 250 cc class, in the 1966 season. Mick Doohan, who won 12 out of 15 (80%) of the 500 cc races in the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season also deserves an honourable mention. Valentino Rossi is the most successful contemporary rider, having won nine titles including six MotoGP titles, and one each at 500 cc, 250 cc and 125 cc levels.[18] The current (2018) champion is Spanish Marc Márquez (5x MotoGP 1x Moto2; 1x 125 cc): 7 titles.
Circuits
Main article: List of Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
Countries marked in green have recently hosted grands prix - those in red have hosted GP races in the past
The 2019 MotoGP season consists of 19 Grand Prix held in 15 different countries, the same as in the previous season.
Qatar, Lusail, Losail International Circuit
Argentina, Termas de Río Hondo, Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
United States, Elroy, Circuit of the Americas
Spain, Jerez de la Frontera, Circuito de Jerez
France, Le Mans, Circuit Bugatti
Italy, Scarperia e San Piero, Mugello Circuit
Spain, Montmeló, Circuit de Barcelona
Netherlands, Assen, TT Circuit Assen
Germany, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Sachsenring
Czech Republic, Brno, Masaryk Circuit
Austria, Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom, Silverstone, Silverstone Circuit
Italy, Misano Adriatico, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Spain, Alcañiz, Motorland Aragón
Thailand, Buriram, Buriram International Circuit
Japan, Motegi, Twin Ring Motegi
Australia, Phillip Island, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Malaysia, Sepang, Sepang Circuit
Spain, Cheste, Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Technical regulations
The following shows the key technical regulations for each class. It was also introduced for the 2005 year, that under rule 2.10.5: 'No fuel on the motorcycle may be more than 15 °C below ambient temperature. The use of any device on the motorcycle to artificially decrease the temperature of the fuel below ambient temperature is forbidden. No motorcycle may include such a device.' This stops an artificial "boost" gained from increasing fuel density by cooling it.
MotoGP class
Casey Stoner in MotoGP at Brno
Valentino Rossi in MotoGP at Laguna Seca
At the beginning of the new MotoGP era in 2002, 500 cc two-stroke or 990 cc four-stroke bikes were specified to race. The enormous power advantage of the twice as large displacement four-stroke engine over the half the size two-stroke meant that by the following season, no two-stroke bikes were racing. In 2007, the maximum engine capacity was reduced to 800 cc without reducing the existing weight restriction.
MotoGP-class motorcycles are not restricted to any specific engine configuration. However, the number of cylinders employed in the engine determines the motorcycle's permitted minimum weight; the weight of the extra cylinders acts as a form of handicap. This is necessary because, for a given capacity, an engine with more cylinders is capable of producing more power. If comparable bore to stroke ratios are employed, an engine with more cylinders will have a greater piston area and a shorter stroke. The increased piston area permits an increase in the total valve area, allowing more air and fuel to be drawn into the engine, and the shorter stroke permits higher revs at the same piston speed, allowing the engine to pump still more air and fuel with the potential to produce more power, but with more fuel consumption too. In 2004 motorcycles were entered with three-, four-and five-cylinder configurations. A six-cylinder engine was proposed by Blata, but it did not reach the MotoGP grids. Presently four-cylinder engines appear to offer the best compromise between weight, power, and fuel consumption as all competitors in the 2009 series use this solution in either 'V' or in-line configuration.
In 2002, the FIM became concerned at the advances in design and engineering that resulted in higher speeds around the race track; regulation changes related to weight, amount of available fuel and engine capacity were introduced. The amended rules reduced engine capacity to 800 cc from 990 cc and restricted the amount of available fuel for race distance from 26 litres (5.7 imp gal; 6.9 US gal) in year 2004 to 21 litres (4.6 imp gal; 5.5 US gal) in year 2007 and onwards. In addition, the minimum weight of four-cylinder bikes used by all participating teams was increased by 3 kg (6.6 lb).
The highest speed for a MotoGP motorcycle in 125 cc category is 249.76 km/h (155.19 mph) by Valentino Rossi in 1996 for Aprilia and the top speed in the history of MotoGP is 356.4 km/h (221.5 mph), set by Andrea Dovizioso, during the race at the 2018 Italian Grand Prix.[19]
On December 11, 2009, the Grand Prix Commission announced that the MotoGP class would switch to the 1,000 cc motor limit starting in the 2012 season. Maximum displacement was limited to 1,000 cc, maximum cylinders were limited to four, and maximum bore was capped at 81 mm (3.2 inches).[20] Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna Sports, indicated that the projected changes were received by the teams favorably.[21]
From 2012, teams not entered by one of the major manufacturers could seek "claiming rule team" (CRT) status. Claiming rule team were intended to allow independent teams to be competitive at a lower cost and increase the number of entries in MotoGP. Claiming rule teams benefitted from less restrictive rules on the number of engines that could be used in a season, and with larger fuel allowances during the races. Under the claiming rule, CRTs agree to allow up to four of their engines per season to be claimed, after a race, by one of the major manufacturer teams at a cost of €20,000 each including transmission, or €15,000 each for the engine alone.[22] From the 2014 season, the CRT class was dropped in favour of an "Open Class" specification - allowing teams using the control ECU hardware and software certain benefits to increase their competitiveness.[23]
Moto2 class
Moto2 was initially a 600 cc four-stroke class introduced in 2010 to replace the traditional 250 cc two-stroke class. Engines were supplied exclusively by Honda, tyres by Dunlop and electronics are limited and supplied only by FIM-sanctioned producers. Carbon brake discs are banned, only steel brake discs are allowed. However, there are no chassis limitations. Until 2019, only 600 cc four-stroke Moto2 machines were allowed.[24]
In 2019 Triumph replaced Honda as the sole supplier of Moto2 engines.[25] The Triumph's engine configuration is 765 cc displacement with three cylinders, contrasting with the previous Honda's 600 cc in-line four.
Moto3 class
The 125 cc class was replaced in 2012 by the Moto3 class. This class is restricted to single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke engines with a maximum bore of 81 mm (3.2 inches). The minimum total weight for motorcycle and rider is 148 kg (326 lb). The minimum age for the Moto3 class normally is 16, and cannot be older than 28 years, or 25 years for new contracted riders participating for the first time and wild-cards. A change of rules was introduced in 2014, allowing under-age FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 (junior) champions to participate in a subsequent Moto3 series at World Championship level.[26] The first beneficiary of this rule-change was double (2013 and 2014) CEV champion Fabio Quartararo.
MotoE class
Main article: MotoE World Cup
The MotoE World Cup is introduced in 2019 and features all-electric motorcycles. The series will be using a spec Energica Ego Corsa motorcycle, manufactured by Energica Motor Company.[27][28] The first season is contested over 6 rounds (at 5 different Grand Prix weekends).
Engine specifications
Specification MotoGP Moto2 Moto3
Manufacturer Various Honda (2010–2018)
Triumph (from 2019) Various
Configuration 75.5°-90° V4/Inline-four Inline-four (2010–2018)
Inline-three (from 2019) single-cylinder
Displacement 1,000 cc (61 cu in) 600 cc (37 cu in) (2010–2018)
765 cc (47 cu in) (from 2019) 250 cc (15 cu in)
Combustion Four-stroke (from 2012)
Valve-train DOHC, four-valves per cylinder
Fuel Unleaded 100 octane (no control fuel) Total unleaded 98 octane (since 2016)
Fuel delivery Fuel injection
Aspiration Natural aspiration
Power 260 bhp (190 kW) < 140 bhp (100 kW) < 55 bhp (41 kW)
Power-to-weight ratio 1.51 bhp/kg ~1 bhp/kg[29] ~0.6 bhp/kg[29]
Lubrication Wet sump
Rev limit 17,500 - 18,000 rpm 14,000 rpm
Maximum speed 361 km/h (224 mph) 300.6 km/h (187 mph) 248 km/h (154 mph)
Cooling Single water pump
Spark plugs NGK
Weights
Minimum weight - MotoGP Class
Number of
cylinders 2002 minimum 2007 minimum 2010 minimum
2 135 kg (298 lb) 137 kg (302 lb) 135 kg (298 lb)
3 135 kg (298 lb) 140.5 kg (310 lb) 142.5 kg (314 lb)
4 145 kg (320 lb) 148 kg (326 lb) 150 kg (330 lb)
5 145 kg (320 lb) 155.5 kg (343 lb) 157.5 kg (347 lb)
6 155 kg (342 lb) 163 kg (359 lb) 165 kg (364 lb)
In 2005, fuel tank capacity was increased from 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) to 24 litres (5.3 imp gal; 6.3 US gal)
In 2006, fuel tank capacity was reduced slightly from 24 litres to 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal)
From 2007 onwards, and for a minimum period of five years, FIM has regulated in MotoGP class that two-stroke bikes will no longer be allowed. The maximum fuel capacity is to be 21 litres (4.6 imp gal; 5.5 US gal).
From 2007 to 2011, engines were limited to 800 cc four-strokes
In 2012 engine displacement was increased to 1000cc[30]
For the 2013 season minimum weight was increased to 160 kg (350 lb)
For the 2015 season minimum weight was decreased to 158 kg (348 lb)[31]
Tyres
Tyre selection is critical, usually done by the individual rider based on bike 'feel' during practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up laps on the morning of the race, as well as the predicted weather. The typical compromise is between grip and longevity—softer compound tyres have more traction, but wear out more quickly; harder compound tyres have less traction, but are more likely to last the entire race. Conserving rubber throughout a race is a specific skill winning riders acquire. Special 'Q' or qualifying tyres of extreme softness and grip were typically used during grid-qualifying sessions until their use was discontinued at the end of the 2008 season, but they lasted typically no longer than one or two laps, though they could deliver higher qualifying speeds. In wet conditions, special tires ('wets') with full treads are used, but they suffer extreme wear if the track dries out.
In 2007 new MotoGP regulations limited the number of tyres any rider could use over the practice and qualifying period, and the race itself, to a maximum of 31 tyres (14 fronts and 17 rears) per rider. This introduced a problem of tyre choice versus weather (among other factors) that challenges riders and teams to optimize their performance on race day. This factor was greeted with varying degrees of enthusiasm by participants. Bridgestone had dominated in 2007 and Michelin riders Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, and Colin Edwards all acknowledged shortcomings in Michelin's race tyres relative to Bridgestone. Rossi, disappointed with and critical of the performance of his Michelin tyres, switched to Bridgestones for 2008 and won the world championship in dominant fashion. Pedrosa switched to Bridgestones during the 2008 season.
In 2008, the rules were amended to allow more tyres per race weekend—18 fronts and 22 rears for a total of 40 tyres. The lower number of tyres per weekend was considered a handicap to Michelin riders. The only MotoGP team using Dunlop tyres in 2007, Yamaha Tech 3, did not use them in 2008 but switched to Michelin.
For 2009, 2010 and 2011, a 'spec' tyre supplier, Bridgestone, was appointed by the FIM (with Michelin no longer supplying any tyres to MotoGP). For the whole season Bridgestone provided four different specifications of front tyre, six of rear, and a single wet specification—with no qualifying specification. For each round Bridgestone provided only two specifications for front and rear. Tyres are assigned to riders randomly to assure impartiality.[32] Jorge Lorenzo has publicly supported the mono tyre rule.[33]
At the end of the 2015 season, Bridgestone withdrew as tyre supplier of MotoGP.[34] Following a formal tender, French tyre manufacturer Michelin became the official supplier for the 2016 season, and testing began in Aragon immediately after the end of the 2015 season.[35]
MotoGP motorcycles are estimated to be worth approximately US$2 million, although executives within MotoGP have deemed them priceless due in part that they are prototypes and cannot easily be replicated.
In media
Unbalanced scales
This article may lend undue weight to certain ideas, incidents, or controversies. Please help improve it by rewriting it in a balanced fashion that contextualizes different points of view. (November 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Hitting the Apex, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2015 and is now available on DVD.
Faster, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2003 and is now available on DVD.
Fastest, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2011 and is now available on DVD.
Early Grand Prix videogames include Grand Prix 500 cc (1987), Cycles: International GP Racing (1989), Grand Prix 500 2 (1991) and GP-1 (1993). The first simulator was GP 500, launched in 1999. In the early 2000s, THQ published five videogames for Windows and Xbox platforms, whereas Namco published five videogames for PlayStation platforms. In 2007, Capcom became the new PlayStation publisher. In 2008, THQ lost the MotoGP licence and Capcom became the exclusive publisher.
MotoGP 2010, an iOS game made in 2010 by I-Play, released on September 3, 2010 and was not received well by critics after having a 43% rating on Metacritic. MotoGP 10/11 was released by Capcom on March 15, 2011, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Metacritic gave the game a rating of 72%.[36] MotoGP 13 was released on June 21, 2013 on PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game received mixed reviews and scored 73%.[37]
Milestone got the MotoGP licence in 2012. The current MotoGP game is MotoGP 19. It received positive reviews and was released on June 6, 2019. The company's first title was MotoGP 13. That game came out on June 21, 2013.
Grand Prix motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are generally unavailable for purchase by the general public or able to be ridden legally on public roads. This contrasts with the various production-based categories of racing, such as the Superbike World Championship and the Isle of Man TT Races that feature modified versions of road-going motorcycles available to the public.
The championship is currently divided into four classes: Moto Grand Prix, Moto2, Moto3 and MotoE. The first three classes use four-stroke engines, while the MotoE class (new in 2019) uses electric motors. The 2019 MotoGP season comprises 19 Grands Prix, with 12 held in Europe, three in Asia, two in the Americas, and one each in Australia and the Middle East.
Contents
History
An FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix was first organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in 1949. The commercial rights are now owned by Dorna Sports, with the FIM remaining as the sport sanctioning body. Teams are represented by the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) and manufacturers by the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association (MSMA). Rules and changes to regulations are decided between the four entities, with Dorna casting a tie-breaking vote. In cases of technical modifications, the MSMA can unilaterally enact or veto changes by unanimous vote among its members.[4] These four entities compose the Grand Prix Commission.
There have traditionally been several races at each event for various classes of motorcycles, based on engine size, and one class for sidecars. Classes for 50 cc, 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc solo machines have existed at some time, and 350 cc and 500 cc sidecars. Up through the 1950s and most of the 1960s, four-stroke engines dominated all classes. In part this was due to rules, which allowed a multiplicity of cylinders (meaning smaller pistons, producing higher revs) and a multiplicity of gears (giving narrower power bands, affording higher states of tune). In the 1960s, two-stroke engines began to take root in the smaller classes.
In 1969, the FIM —citing high development costs for non-works teams— brought in new rules restricting all classes to six gears and most to two cylinders (four cylinders in the case of the 350 cc and 500 cc classes). This led to a mass walk-out of the sport by the previously highly successful Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha manufacturer teams, skewing the results tables for the next several years, with MV Agusta effectively the only works team left in the sport until Yamaha (1973) and Suzuki (1974) returned with new two-stroke designs. By this time, two-strokes completely eclipsed the four-strokes in all classes. In 1979, Honda, on its return to GP racing, made an attempt to return the four-stroke to the top class with the NR500, but this project failed, and, in 1983, even Honda was winning with a two-stroke 500.
Previously, the championship featured a 50cc class from 1962 to 1983, later changed to an 80cc class from 1984 to 1989. The class was dropped for the 1990 season, after being dominated primarily by Spanish and Italian makes. It also featured a 350cc class from 1949 to 1982, and a 750 cc class from 1977 to 1979. Sidecars were dropped from world championship events in the 1990s (see Superside).
Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike (2006)
From the mid-1970s through to 2001, the top class of GP racing allowed 500 cc displacement with a maximum of four cylinders, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. This is unlike TT Formula or motocross, where two and four strokes had different engine size limits in the same class to provide similar performance. Consequently, all machines were two-strokes, since they produce power with every rotation of the crank, whereas four-stroke engines produce power only every second rotation. Some two- and three-cylinder two-stroke 500s were seen, but though they had a minimum-weight advantage under the rules, typically attained higher corner speed and could qualify well, they lacked the power of the four-cylinder machines.
In 2002, rule changes were introduced to facilitate the phasing out of the 500 cc two-strokes. The premier class was rebranded MotoGP, as manufacturers were to choose between running two-stroke engines up to 500 cc or four-strokes up to 990 cc or less. Manufacturers were also permitted to employ their choice of engine configuration. Despite the increased costs of the new four-stroke engines, they were soon able to dominate their two-stroke rivals. As a result, by 2003 no two-stroke machines remained in the MotoGP field. The 125 cc and 250 cc classes still consisted exclusively of two-stroke machines.
In 2007, the MotoGP class had its maximum engine displacement capacity reduced to 800 cc for a minimum of five years. As a result of the 2008–2009 financial crisis, MotoGP underwent changes in an effort to cut costs. Among them are reducing Friday practice sessions and testing sessions, extending the lifespan of engines, switching to a single tyre manufacturer, and banning qualifying tyres, active suspension, launch control and ceramic composite brakes.[5] For the 2010 season, carbon brake discs were banned.
For the 2012 season, the MotoGP engine capacity was increased again to 1,000 cc.[6] It also saw the introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT), which were given more engines per season and larger fuel tanks than factory teams, but were subject to a factory team buying ("claiming") their rival's powertrain for a fixed price.[7] The sport's governing body received applications from sixteen new teams looking to join the MotoGP class.[8] For the 2014 season, the CRT subclass was rebranded Open, as the claiming rule was removed. Also, all entries adopted a standard engine control unit, with factory teams being allowed to run any software, and Open entries using a standard software. For the 2016 season, the Open subclass was dropped, and factory entries switched to a standard engine control unit software.
In 2010, the 250cc two-stroke class was replaced by the new Moto2 600 cc four-stroke class. In 2012, the 125cc two-stroke class was replaced by the Moto3 250cc four-stroke class with a weight limit of 65 kg with fuel.[citation needed]
Chronology
1949: Start of the world championship in Grand Prix motorcycle racing for five separate categories, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc and sidecars.[1] Harold Daniell wins the first ever 500 cc Grand Prix race held at the Isle of Man TT.[9]
1951: Sidecars reduced in engine capacity from 600 cc to 500 cc
1957: Gilera, Mondial and Moto Guzzi withdraw at the end of the season citing increasing costs. Bob McIntyre wins the longest ever Grand Prix race of 301.84 miles, held over 8 laps of the Isle of Man.[9]
1958: MV Agusta win the constructors' and riders' championships in all four solo classes, a feat the team repeat in 1959 and 1960.[1]
1959: Honda enters the Isle of Man TT for the first time.
1961: The 1961 Argentine Grand Prix is the first world championship race held outside of Europe.
1963: The 1963 Japanese Grand Prix is the first world championship race held in Asia.
1964: The 1964 United States Grand Prix is the first world championship race held in North America.
1966: Honda wins the constructors' championship in all five solo classes. Jim Redman wins Honda's first ever 500 cc Grand Prix at Hockenheim, also the first win for a Japanese factory in the premier class.[9]
1967: Final year of unrestricted numbers of cylinders and gears. Honda withdraws in protest.
1968: Giacomo Agostini (MV Agusta) wins both the 350 cc and 500 cc titles.
1969: Godfrey Nash riding a Norton Manx becomes the last rider to win a 500 cc Grand Prix riding a single-cylinder machine.[9]
1971: Jack Findlay rides a Suzuki TR500 to the first ever win in the 500 cc class for a two-stroke machine.[9]
1972: as 1968. The death of Gilberto Parlotti at the Isle of Man TT causes multiple world champion Giacomo Agostini and other riders to boycott the next four events on grounds of safety.
1972: Last year of 500 cc sidecars.
1972: Giacomo Agostini wins his seventh consecutive 500cc championship, all with MV Agusta.
1973: Deaths of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini at the Italian round at Monza.
1974: The Suzuki RG500 is the first square-four in the 500 cc class. The constructors' title is won by a Japanese brand and a two-stroke for the first time (Yamaha).
1975: Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha) wins the 500 cc class, making Yamaha the first non European brand to the riders' championship in the premier class with two stroke engine.
1976: Barry Sheene wins the first 500 cc championship for Suzuki. After the 1976 Isle of Man TT, the FIM gives in to the riders' boycott and removes the event from the Grand Prix calendar.
1977: 750 FIM prize becomes a world championship for 750cc machines.[10] Barry Sheene wins the 500 cc class. The British Grand Prix moves from the Isle of Man to the Silverstone Circuit on the British mainland.
1978: Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) wins the 500 cc class, the first American to do so.
1979: Last year of the 750 cc class.
1980: Patrick Pons (Yamaha 500 cc) and Malcolm White (sidecar) are both killed at the Silverstone British GP.
1981: Marco Lucchinelli wins the 500GP world title with his Suzuki RG500 Gamma.
1982: Franco Uncini wins 500cc class world title riding a Suzuki RG500 Gamma.
1982: Last year of 350 cc class.
1983: Freddie Spencer (Honda) wins the 500 cc class. Spencer and Kenny Roberts win all 500cc races for the season between them.
1984: Michelin introduces radial tyres in GPs.
1984: 50 cc class replaced by 80 cc.
1985: Freddie Spencer (Honda) wins both the 250cc and 500cc titles.
1987: Push starts are eliminated.
1987: Wayne Gardner (Honda) wins the 500 cc class, the first Australian to do so.
1988: Wayne Rainey wins the first 500 cc race using carbon brakes, at the British GP.
1988: Alfred Heck (passenger Andreas Räcke) is killed during free practice in the French Sidecar GP.
1989: Iván Palazzese (Aprilia) is killed in 250 cc West German GP at Hockenheim.
1989: Last year of 80 cc class.
1990: 500 cc grid switches from five to four bikes per row.
1992: Honda introduces the NSR500 with a big bang engine.
1993: Shinichi Itoh and his fuel-injected NSR500 break the 200 mph (320 km/h) barrier at the German GP at Hockenheim.
1993: Nobuyuki Wakai (Suzuki) is killed during the practice session of the 250 cc GP in Spain.
1993: Three-time 500cc champion and then title holder Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) is paralyzed following a crash at Misano.
1994: Simon Prior, passenger of Yoshisada Kumagaya, on an LCR-ADM, is killed in a crash involving seven outfits in the Sidecar GP at Hockenheim.
1998: the 500 cc class switches to unleaded fuel.
1998: Mick Doohan wins his fifth consecutive 500cc title, all with Honda.
1999: Àlex Crivillé (Honda) wins the 500cc class, the first Spaniard to do so.
2000: Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suzuki) wins the 500cc class, he joins his father Kenny Roberts to claim the championship and thus making them the only father & son to have won the 500cc championship.
2001: Valentino Rossi wins his first premier class title and becomes the final two-stroke champion in the premium series.
2002: MotoGP replaces the 500 cc class; Four-Strokes are re-introduced and get an increase to 990cc but two-strokes stay at 500cc.
2003: Ducati makes its Grand Prix debut in the new four-stroke MotoGP class.
2003: Daijiro Kato is killed during the Japanese GP in the MotoGP class at Suzuka when he hits the barrier at 340R (Formula One car driver Allan McNish had a serious crash during the Formula One Grand Prix the previous October there, resulting in a reprofiled 130R for 2003, known as 85R and 340R).
2004: MotoGP grid switches from four to three bikes per row while the 250cc and 125cc classes retain four bikes per row.
2004: Makoto Tamada earns Bridgestone their first MotoGP victory at the Brazilian GP.
2005: MotoGP adopts flag-to-flag rule, allowing riders to pit and switch to bikes fitted with wet-weather tyres and continue if rain begins to fall mid-race.
2005: Valentino Rossi wins his fifth consecutive MotoGP title.
2007: MotoGP engine capacity is restricted to 800 cc four-strokes. Ducati wins the riders' championship with Casey Stoner and also the constructors' title, becoming the first European brand to have done so in the premier class in 30 years.
2008: MotoGP runs its first night race in Qatar.
2008: Dunlop drops out of MotoGP.
2009: Michelin drops out of MotoGP and Bridgestone becomes the sole tyre provider.[11][12]
2009: Kawasaki ran a single bike as Hayate Racing Team after the factory team announced their withdrawal from the series.
2010: Moto2 replaces the 250cc GP class. All engines are built for Moto2 by Honda and are four-stroke 600cc (36.6 cu in) in-line four-cylinder based on the CBR600RR road bike, producing 125 bhp at 16000 rpm.
2010: Moto2 rider Shoya Tomizawa is killed at Misano.
2010: For the first time, Spain hosts four Grands Prix in a single year.
2010: 'Rookie rule' introduced, preventing any newcomer to the MotoGP championship from riding for a factory team[13]
2010: Kawasaki announces its retirement due to negotiations with DORNA, stated that it will continue racing activities using mass-produced motorcycles as well as supporting general race oriented consumers.
2011: MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli is killed at Sepang.[14]
2011: Suzuki suspend their MotoGP participation at the end of the season.
2012: The new Moto3 250 cc (15.2 cu in) four-stroke single-cylinder class replaces the 125cc class.
2012: MotoGP raises the maximum engine capacity to 1,000 cc[15] (61 cu in) and introduces claiming rule teams.
2012: Aprilia rejoin MotoGP class as a claiming rule team (CRT).
2013: Knockout qualifying format is introduced.[16]
2013: The 'rookie rule' introduced for the 2010 season is withdrawn.
2013: Marc Márquez becomes the first rookie to win the championship in MotoGP's current guise, and the youngest ever premier class world champion.
2014: Removal of the claiming rule teams and introduction of the Open Class category. Marc Márquez dominates the season by winning the first 10 races of the season.
2015: Suzuki returned to MotoGP as a constructor after a four-year hiatus.
2015: Aprilia return to a full factory team.
2016: Michelin returns as tyre supplier after Bridgestone's withdrawal.
2016: Luis Salom dies during Moto2 practice at the Catalan Grand Prix after a high-speed impact with his own stricken bike.
2017: KTM joined the series with a factory-supported team for the first time.
2019: Triumph Motorcycles replace Honda as Moto2 engine supplier and the new engines will be 765cc (46.7 cu in) triples based on the Street Triple RS 765.
2019: Both Moto2 and Moto3 adopt the qualifying format used by MotoGP.
2019: The MotoE class is introduced using electric motorcycles.
2019: A new penalty named the "Long Lap" penalty is introduced for riders exceeding track limits during races.
Event format
The starting grid is composed of three columns (four for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes) and contains approximately 20 riders. Grid positions are decided in descending order of qualifying speed, with the fastest on the pole or first position. Races last approximately 45 minutes, each race is a sprint from start to finish without pitting for fuel or tires.
In 2005, a flag-to-flag rule for MotoGP was introduced. Previously, if a race started dry and rain fell, officials could red-flag (stop) the race and either restart or resume on 'wet' tyres. Now, when rain falls, a white flag is shown, indicating that riders can pit to swap the motorcycle on which they started the race for an identical one, as long as the tyres are different (that is, intermediates or wets instead of slicks).[17] Besides different tyres, the wet-weather bikes have steel brake rotors and different brake pads instead of the carbon discs and pads used on the 'dry' bikes. This is because the carbon brakes need to be very hot to function properly, and the water cools them too much. The suspension is also 'softened' up somewhat for the wet weather.
When a rider crashes, track marshals up the track from the incident wave yellow flags, prohibiting passing in that area; one corner farther up the track, a stationary yellow flag is shown. If a fallen rider cannot be evacuated safely from the track, the race is red-flagged. Motorcycle crashes are usually one of two types: lowside, when the bike loses either front or rear tire grip and slides out on the "low" side, and the more dangerous highside, when the tires do not completely slide out, but instead grip the track surface, flipping the bike over to the "high side", usually catapulting the rider over the top. Increased use of traction control has made highsides much less frequent.
Current points system
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Points 25 20 16 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
See also: List of FIM World Championship points scoring systems
Riders
Current
See also: List of Grand Prix motorcycle racers
Name Country Team Bike Number
Andrea Dovizioso Italy Ducati Corse Team 04
Marc Márquez Spain Repsol Honda Team 93
Valentino Rossi Italy Monster Energy Yamaha 46
Johann Zarco France Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 5
Maverick Viñales Spain Monster Energy Yamaha 12
Danilo Petrucci Italy Ducati Corse Team 9
Jorge Lorenzo Spain Repsol Honda Team 99
Cal Crutchlow United Kingdom LCR Honda Castrol 35
Dani Pedrosa(1) Spain Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 26
Andrea Iannone Italy Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 29
Jack Miller Australia Pramac Racing 43
Tito Rabat Spain Reale Avintia Racing 53
Franco Morbidelli Italy Petronas Yamaha SRT 21
Hafizh Syahrin Malaysia Red Bull KTM Tech 3 55
Karel Abraham Czech Republic Reale Avintia Racing 17
Takaaki Nakagami Japan LCR Honda IDEMITSU 30
Bradley Smith(2) United Kingdom Aprilia Factory Racing 38
Aleix Espargaro Spain Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 41
Pol Espargaro Spain Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 44
Alex Rins Spain Team Suzuki ECSTAR 42
Francesco Bagnaia Italy Pramac Racing 63
Miguel Oliveira Portugal Red Bull KTM Tech 3 88
Joan Mir Spain Team Suzuki ECSTAR 36
Fabio Quartararo France Petronas Yamaha SRT 20
Stefan Bradl(3) Germany HCR Honda Racing 6
Michele Pirro(2) Italy Ducati Team 51
(1) Test Rider, no Wildcard events scheduled.
(2) Test Rider with Wildcard entries.
(3) Replaces injured driver
Top riders travel the world to compete in the annual FIM World Championship series. The championship is perhaps most closely followed in Italy and Spain, home of many of the more successful riders early in the 21st century. As for the 2011 season, 25 riders of eight nations participated in the premier class of the championship.
Champions
See also: List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champions and List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions by year
The Riders' World Championship is awarded to the most successful rider over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results.
Giacomo Agostini is the most successful champion in Grand Prix history, with 15 titles to his name (8 in the 500 cc class and 7 in the 350 cc class). The most dominant rider of all time was Mike Hailwood, winning 10 out of 12 (83%) races, in the 250 cc class, in the 1966 season. Mick Doohan, who won 12 out of 15 (80%) of the 500 cc races in the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season also deserves an honourable mention. Valentino Rossi is the most successful contemporary rider, having won nine titles including six MotoGP titles, and one each at 500 cc, 250 cc and 125 cc levels.[18] The current (2018) champion is Spanish Marc Márquez (5x MotoGP 1x Moto2; 1x 125 cc): 7 titles.
Circuits
Main article: List of Grand Prix motorcycle circuits
Countries marked in green have recently hosted grands prix - those in red have hosted GP races in the past
The 2019 MotoGP season consists of 19 Grand Prix held in 15 different countries, the same as in the previous season.
Qatar, Lusail, Losail International Circuit
Argentina, Termas de Río Hondo, Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
United States, Elroy, Circuit of the Americas
Spain, Jerez de la Frontera, Circuito de Jerez
France, Le Mans, Circuit Bugatti
Italy, Scarperia e San Piero, Mugello Circuit
Spain, Montmeló, Circuit de Barcelona
Netherlands, Assen, TT Circuit Assen
Germany, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Sachsenring
Czech Republic, Brno, Masaryk Circuit
Austria, Spielberg bei Knittelfeld, Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom, Silverstone, Silverstone Circuit
Italy, Misano Adriatico, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Spain, Alcañiz, Motorland Aragón
Thailand, Buriram, Buriram International Circuit
Japan, Motegi, Twin Ring Motegi
Australia, Phillip Island, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Malaysia, Sepang, Sepang Circuit
Spain, Cheste, Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Technical regulations
The following shows the key technical regulations for each class. It was also introduced for the 2005 year, that under rule 2.10.5: 'No fuel on the motorcycle may be more than 15 °C below ambient temperature. The use of any device on the motorcycle to artificially decrease the temperature of the fuel below ambient temperature is forbidden. No motorcycle may include such a device.' This stops an artificial "boost" gained from increasing fuel density by cooling it.
MotoGP class
Casey Stoner in MotoGP at Brno
Valentino Rossi in MotoGP at Laguna Seca
At the beginning of the new MotoGP era in 2002, 500 cc two-stroke or 990 cc four-stroke bikes were specified to race. The enormous power advantage of the twice as large displacement four-stroke engine over the half the size two-stroke meant that by the following season, no two-stroke bikes were racing. In 2007, the maximum engine capacity was reduced to 800 cc without reducing the existing weight restriction.
MotoGP-class motorcycles are not restricted to any specific engine configuration. However, the number of cylinders employed in the engine determines the motorcycle's permitted minimum weight; the weight of the extra cylinders acts as a form of handicap. This is necessary because, for a given capacity, an engine with more cylinders is capable of producing more power. If comparable bore to stroke ratios are employed, an engine with more cylinders will have a greater piston area and a shorter stroke. The increased piston area permits an increase in the total valve area, allowing more air and fuel to be drawn into the engine, and the shorter stroke permits higher revs at the same piston speed, allowing the engine to pump still more air and fuel with the potential to produce more power, but with more fuel consumption too. In 2004 motorcycles were entered with three-, four-and five-cylinder configurations. A six-cylinder engine was proposed by Blata, but it did not reach the MotoGP grids. Presently four-cylinder engines appear to offer the best compromise between weight, power, and fuel consumption as all competitors in the 2009 series use this solution in either 'V' or in-line configuration.
In 2002, the FIM became concerned at the advances in design and engineering that resulted in higher speeds around the race track; regulation changes related to weight, amount of available fuel and engine capacity were introduced. The amended rules reduced engine capacity to 800 cc from 990 cc and restricted the amount of available fuel for race distance from 26 litres (5.7 imp gal; 6.9 US gal) in year 2004 to 21 litres (4.6 imp gal; 5.5 US gal) in year 2007 and onwards. In addition, the minimum weight of four-cylinder bikes used by all participating teams was increased by 3 kg (6.6 lb).
The highest speed for a MotoGP motorcycle in 125 cc category is 249.76 km/h (155.19 mph) by Valentino Rossi in 1996 for Aprilia and the top speed in the history of MotoGP is 356.4 km/h (221.5 mph), set by Andrea Dovizioso, during the race at the 2018 Italian Grand Prix.[19]
On December 11, 2009, the Grand Prix Commission announced that the MotoGP class would switch to the 1,000 cc motor limit starting in the 2012 season. Maximum displacement was limited to 1,000 cc, maximum cylinders were limited to four, and maximum bore was capped at 81 mm (3.2 inches).[20] Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna Sports, indicated that the projected changes were received by the teams favorably.[21]
From 2012, teams not entered by one of the major manufacturers could seek "claiming rule team" (CRT) status. Claiming rule team were intended to allow independent teams to be competitive at a lower cost and increase the number of entries in MotoGP. Claiming rule teams benefitted from less restrictive rules on the number of engines that could be used in a season, and with larger fuel allowances during the races. Under the claiming rule, CRTs agree to allow up to four of their engines per season to be claimed, after a race, by one of the major manufacturer teams at a cost of €20,000 each including transmission, or €15,000 each for the engine alone.[22] From the 2014 season, the CRT class was dropped in favour of an "Open Class" specification - allowing teams using the control ECU hardware and software certain benefits to increase their competitiveness.[23]
Moto2 class
Moto2 was initially a 600 cc four-stroke class introduced in 2010 to replace the traditional 250 cc two-stroke class. Engines were supplied exclusively by Honda, tyres by Dunlop and electronics are limited and supplied only by FIM-sanctioned producers. Carbon brake discs are banned, only steel brake discs are allowed. However, there are no chassis limitations. Until 2019, only 600 cc four-stroke Moto2 machines were allowed.[24]
In 2019 Triumph replaced Honda as the sole supplier of Moto2 engines.[25] The Triumph's engine configuration is 765 cc displacement with three cylinders, contrasting with the previous Honda's 600 cc in-line four.
Moto3 class
The 125 cc class was replaced in 2012 by the Moto3 class. This class is restricted to single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke engines with a maximum bore of 81 mm (3.2 inches). The minimum total weight for motorcycle and rider is 148 kg (326 lb). The minimum age for the Moto3 class normally is 16, and cannot be older than 28 years, or 25 years for new contracted riders participating for the first time and wild-cards. A change of rules was introduced in 2014, allowing under-age FIM CEV Repsol Moto3 (junior) champions to participate in a subsequent Moto3 series at World Championship level.[26] The first beneficiary of this rule-change was double (2013 and 2014) CEV champion Fabio Quartararo.
MotoE class
Main article: MotoE World Cup
The MotoE World Cup is introduced in 2019 and features all-electric motorcycles. The series will be using a spec Energica Ego Corsa motorcycle, manufactured by Energica Motor Company.[27][28] The first season is contested over 6 rounds (at 5 different Grand Prix weekends).
Engine specifications
Specification MotoGP Moto2 Moto3
Manufacturer Various Honda (2010–2018)
Triumph (from 2019) Various
Configuration 75.5°-90° V4/Inline-four Inline-four (2010–2018)
Inline-three (from 2019) single-cylinder
Displacement 1,000 cc (61 cu in) 600 cc (37 cu in) (2010–2018)
765 cc (47 cu in) (from 2019) 250 cc (15 cu in)
Combustion Four-stroke (from 2012)
Valve-train DOHC, four-valves per cylinder
Fuel Unleaded 100 octane (no control fuel) Total unleaded 98 octane (since 2016)
Fuel delivery Fuel injection
Aspiration Natural aspiration
Power 260 bhp (190 kW) < 140 bhp (100 kW) < 55 bhp (41 kW)
Power-to-weight ratio 1.51 bhp/kg ~1 bhp/kg[29] ~0.6 bhp/kg[29]
Lubrication Wet sump
Rev limit 17,500 - 18,000 rpm 14,000 rpm
Maximum speed 361 km/h (224 mph) 300.6 km/h (187 mph) 248 km/h (154 mph)
Cooling Single water pump
Spark plugs NGK
Weights
Minimum weight - MotoGP Class
Number of
cylinders 2002 minimum 2007 minimum 2010 minimum
2 135 kg (298 lb) 137 kg (302 lb) 135 kg (298 lb)
3 135 kg (298 lb) 140.5 kg (310 lb) 142.5 kg (314 lb)
4 145 kg (320 lb) 148 kg (326 lb) 150 kg (330 lb)
5 145 kg (320 lb) 155.5 kg (343 lb) 157.5 kg (347 lb)
6 155 kg (342 lb) 163 kg (359 lb) 165 kg (364 lb)
In 2005, fuel tank capacity was increased from 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) to 24 litres (5.3 imp gal; 6.3 US gal)
In 2006, fuel tank capacity was reduced slightly from 24 litres to 22 litres (4.8 imp gal; 5.8 US gal)
From 2007 onwards, and for a minimum period of five years, FIM has regulated in MotoGP class that two-stroke bikes will no longer be allowed. The maximum fuel capacity is to be 21 litres (4.6 imp gal; 5.5 US gal).
From 2007 to 2011, engines were limited to 800 cc four-strokes
In 2012 engine displacement was increased to 1000cc[30]
For the 2013 season minimum weight was increased to 160 kg (350 lb)
For the 2015 season minimum weight was decreased to 158 kg (348 lb)[31]
Tyres
Tyre selection is critical, usually done by the individual rider based on bike 'feel' during practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up laps on the morning of the race, as well as the predicted weather. The typical compromise is between grip and longevity—softer compound tyres have more traction, but wear out more quickly; harder compound tyres have less traction, but are more likely to last the entire race. Conserving rubber throughout a race is a specific skill winning riders acquire. Special 'Q' or qualifying tyres of extreme softness and grip were typically used during grid-qualifying sessions until their use was discontinued at the end of the 2008 season, but they lasted typically no longer than one or two laps, though they could deliver higher qualifying speeds. In wet conditions, special tires ('wets') with full treads are used, but they suffer extreme wear if the track dries out.
In 2007 new MotoGP regulations limited the number of tyres any rider could use over the practice and qualifying period, and the race itself, to a maximum of 31 tyres (14 fronts and 17 rears) per rider. This introduced a problem of tyre choice versus weather (among other factors) that challenges riders and teams to optimize their performance on race day. This factor was greeted with varying degrees of enthusiasm by participants. Bridgestone had dominated in 2007 and Michelin riders Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, and Colin Edwards all acknowledged shortcomings in Michelin's race tyres relative to Bridgestone. Rossi, disappointed with and critical of the performance of his Michelin tyres, switched to Bridgestones for 2008 and won the world championship in dominant fashion. Pedrosa switched to Bridgestones during the 2008 season.
In 2008, the rules were amended to allow more tyres per race weekend—18 fronts and 22 rears for a total of 40 tyres. The lower number of tyres per weekend was considered a handicap to Michelin riders. The only MotoGP team using Dunlop tyres in 2007, Yamaha Tech 3, did not use them in 2008 but switched to Michelin.
For 2009, 2010 and 2011, a 'spec' tyre supplier, Bridgestone, was appointed by the FIM (with Michelin no longer supplying any tyres to MotoGP). For the whole season Bridgestone provided four different specifications of front tyre, six of rear, and a single wet specification—with no qualifying specification. For each round Bridgestone provided only two specifications for front and rear. Tyres are assigned to riders randomly to assure impartiality.[32] Jorge Lorenzo has publicly supported the mono tyre rule.[33]
At the end of the 2015 season, Bridgestone withdrew as tyre supplier of MotoGP.[34] Following a formal tender, French tyre manufacturer Michelin became the official supplier for the 2016 season, and testing began in Aragon immediately after the end of the 2015 season.[35]
MotoGP motorcycles are estimated to be worth approximately US$2 million, although executives within MotoGP have deemed them priceless due in part that they are prototypes and cannot easily be replicated.
In media
Unbalanced scales
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Hitting the Apex, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2015 and is now available on DVD.
Faster, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2003 and is now available on DVD.
Fastest, a documentary film about MotoGP, was released in 2011 and is now available on DVD.
Early Grand Prix videogames include Grand Prix 500 cc (1987), Cycles: International GP Racing (1989), Grand Prix 500 2 (1991) and GP-1 (1993). The first simulator was GP 500, launched in 1999. In the early 2000s, THQ published five videogames for Windows and Xbox platforms, whereas Namco published five videogames for PlayStation platforms. In 2007, Capcom became the new PlayStation publisher. In 2008, THQ lost the MotoGP licence and Capcom became the exclusive publisher.
MotoGP 2010, an iOS game made in 2010 by I-Play, released on September 3, 2010 and was not received well by critics after having a 43% rating on Metacritic. MotoGP 10/11 was released by Capcom on March 15, 2011, for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Metacritic gave the game a rating of 72%.[36] MotoGP 13 was released on June 21, 2013 on PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. The game received mixed reviews and scored 73%.[37]
Milestone got the MotoGP licence in 2012. The current MotoGP game is MotoGP 19. It received positive reviews and was released on June 6, 2019. The company's first title was MotoGP 13. That game came out on June 21, 2013.
