The 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 48th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Honda's Mick Doohan continued his domination of the 500 class with 8 victories. [1] His Repsol Honda teammate, Àlex Crivillé beat him to the line twice in Austria and the Czech Republic. [1] Luca Cadalora, now with the Kanemoto Honda team took two wins for the fourth consecutive year. [1] Suzuki's hopes were dashed when Daryl Beattie suffered head injuries in a pre-season crash. [1] He returned only to crash in Spain then two races later in France which effectively ended his career. [1] Loris Capirossi won his first 500 Grand Prix when Crivillé collided with his teammate, Doohan on the last lap of the Australian round. [1] A new European team made its debut with the Elf team using a Swissauto V4 sidecar engine in an ROC chassis. [1] It proved to be fast but unreliable. Honda introduced the NSR500V, a V twin as a cost-effective alternative for privateer teams. [1]
Max Biaggi claimed his third consecutive 250 championship for Aprilia. [1] Haruchika Aoki repeated as the 125 champion for Honda. [1] Newcomers winning their first Grands Prix were Norifumi Abe in the 500 class, Olivier Jacque in the 250 class and Valentino Rossi in the 125 class. [1]
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1996: [2] [3]
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 31 March | ![]() | Shah Alam Circuit |
2 | 7 April | ![]() | Sentul International Circuit |
3 | 21 April | ![]() | Suzuka Circuit |
4 | 12 May | ![]() | Circuito Permanente de Jerez |
5 | 26 May | ![]() | Mugello Circuit |
6 | 9 June | ![]() | Circuit Paul Ricard |
7 | 29 June †† | ![]() | TT Circuit Assen |
8 | 7 July | ![]() | Nürburgring |
9 | 21 July | ![]() | Donington Park |
10 | 4 August | ![]() | A1-Ring |
11 | 18 August | ![]() | Brno Circuit |
12 | 1 September | ![]() | Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari |
13 | 15 September | ![]() | Circuit de Catalunya |
14 | 6 October | ![]() | Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet |
15 | 20 October | ![]() | Eastern Creek |
†† = Saturday race
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit | 125cc winner | 250cc winner | 500cc winner | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 31 March | ![]() | Shah Alam | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
2 | 7 April | ![]() | Sentul | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
3 | 21 April | ![]() | Suzuka | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
4 | 12 May | ![]() | Jerez | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
5 | 26 May | ![]() | Mugello | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
6 | 9 June | ![]() | Paul Ricard | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
7 | 29 June †† | ![]() | Assen | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
8 | 7 July | ![]() | Nürburgring | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
9 | 21 July | ![]() | Donington | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
10 | 4 August | ![]() | A1-Ring | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
11 | 18 August | ![]() | Brno | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
12 | 1 September | ![]() | Imola | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
13 | 15 September | ![]() | Catalunya | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
14 | 6 October | ![]() | Rio de Janeiro | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
15 | 20 October | ![]() | Eastern Creek | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Report |
†† = Saturday race
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Points | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|
Bold – Pole |
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Points | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|
Bold – Pole |
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Points | 25 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
|
Bold – Pole |