The 2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 52nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Kenny Roberts Jr. fulfilled the promise of his 2nd place in 1999 by winning the championship for 2000 with 2 races to spare. The season also saw the premier class-debut of Valentino Rossi, who began the year with crashes in the first two rounds and also had a third at Valencia; nonetheless, he came in second as a rookie in the class with 2 wins and 8 podiums. Garry McCoy achieved 3 wins with his spectacular 2-wheel sliding style, and his use of 16.5-inch (420 mm) tires began a general transition to that size, [1] though it had been used previously in 500 cc by Kevin Schwantz. [2] It was the last time a Suzuki rider clinched the title until Joan Mir secured his maiden title in 2020 edition.
Defending champion Àlex Crivillé had a disappointing season, bothered by an undetermined illness and a new NSR engine with a power curve that was difficult to manage. Said Jeremy Burgess: "In the middle of the corner, in the transition of getting back onto the power, the engine was weak, because all the power had gone to the top. You couldn't transfer the weight with the throttle from the front to the rear without feeling this weakness. That led to a tendency to over-open the throttle... and things would happen." By the third round, Honda started going back to much of the 1999 parts, though Rossi and Burgess decided to use the 2000 chassis with the 1999 engine. [3]
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 2000: [4]
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 March | Gauloises Africa's Grand Prix | Phakisa Freeway |
2 | 2 April | Malaysian Grand Prix | Sepang International Circuit |
3 | 9 April | Marlboro Grand Prix of Japan | Suzuka Circuit |
4 | 30 April | Gran Premio Marlboro de España | Circuito Permanente de Jerez |
5 | 14 May | Grand Prix Polini de France | Bugatti Circuit |
6 | 28 May | Gran Premio Cinzano d'Italia | Mugello Circuit |
7 | 11 June | Gran Premi Marlboro de Catalunya | Circuit de Catalunya |
8 | 24 June †† | Rizla Dutch TT | TT Circuit Assen |
9 | 9 July | Cinzano British Grand Prix | Donington Park |
10 | 23 July | Cinzano Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland | Sachsenring |
11 | 20 August | Gauloises Grand Prix České Republiky | Brno Circuit |
12 | 3 September | Grande Prémio Marlboro de Portugal | Autódromo do Estoril |
13 | 17 September | Grand Prix Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana | Circuit de Valencia |
14 | 7 October †† | Cinzano Rio Grand Prix | Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet |
15 | 15 October | Pacific Grand Prix of Motegi | Twin Ring Motegi |
16 | 29 October | Qantas Australian Grand Prix | Phillip Island |
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Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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 |
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Bold – Pole |
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yamaha | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 318 |
2 | Honda | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 311 |
3 | Suzuki | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 264 |
4 | Aprilia | Ret | 10 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 3 | Ret | 9 | 11 | Ret | 13 | 13 | 8 | 94 |
5 | TSR-Honda | 10 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 5 | Ret | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 12 | 85 |
6 | Modenas KR3 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | Ret | 8 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 14 | DNS | Ret | 30 |
7 | Paton | Ret | 15 | 17 | Ret | Ret | 1 | |||||||||||
BSL | DNQ | DNQ | 0 | |||||||||||||||
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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 |
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Bold – Pole |
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yamaha | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 342 |
2 | Honda | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 324 |
3 | Aprilia | 6 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 232 |
4 | TSR-Honda | 15 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 59 |
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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 |
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 318 |
2 | Aprilia | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 313 |
3 | Derbi | 15 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 251 |
4 | Italjet | 22 | 19 | Ret | 14 | Ret | 14 | 10 | 18 | 8 | Ret | 9 | 10 | 21 | Ret | 22 | 17 | 31 |
5 | Yamaha | 15 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
6 | NER Honda | 15 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Pos | Manufacturer | RSA | MAL | JPN | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | RIO | PAC | AUS | Pts |
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 and large national events were often given the title Grand Prix. 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.
The 2005 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 57th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 17 races for the MotoGP class and 16 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix on 10 April and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 6 November.
The 2006 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 58th Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 17 races for the MotoGP class and 16 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix on 26 March 2006 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 29 October.
The 2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 59th F.I.M Road Racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 18 races for the MotoGP class and 17 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix on 10 March 2007 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 4 November.
The 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1990 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 42nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1992 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 44th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Honda secured the constructor's title in all three categories.
The 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 46th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1995 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 47th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1996 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 48th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 49th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 51st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 2001 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 53rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 54th Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Road Racing World Championship season. The season consist of 16 races, which started with the Japanese Grand Prix on 7 April and ended with the Valencian Community Grand Prix on 3 November.
The 2003 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 55th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted of 16 races, beginning with the Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix on 6 April 2003 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 2 November.
The 2004 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 56th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted of 16 races, beginning with the South African motorcycle Grand Prix on 18 April 2004 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 31 October.
The 2008 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 60th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 18 races for the MotoGP class and 17 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix on 9 March 2008 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 26 October.
The 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 61st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 17 races for the MotoGP class and 16 for the 125cc and 250cc classes, beginning with the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix on 12 April 2009 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 8 November.
The 2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 62nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The season consisted out of 18 races for the MotoGP class and 17 for the 125cc and Moto2 classes, beginning with the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix on 11 April 2010 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 7 November. It was the first season for the new Moto2 class.
The 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 63rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The 2011 season was also the final season for 800cc engines in MotoGP, and also for 125cc machinery, as both MotoGP switched back to 1000cc engines and a new four-stroke Moto3 class was also introduced in 2012. Casey Stoner was crowned as MotoGP World Champion for the second time, following his ninth victory of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. Stoner, who was champion previously in 2007, finished 16 of the 17 races to be held in the top three placings – equalling a premier class record held by both Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo – including ten wins to become the final 800cc champion before the premier class reverted to 1000cc engines in 2012. As of 2022, this was the last time the premier class was won by a non-European rider, and also the only season in the 2010s decade that the premier class was won by a rider other than Marc Márquez or Jorge Lorenzo. The Moto2 title was decided before the final race of the season at the Valencian Grand Prix. Stefan Bradl became Germany's first motorcycle World Champion since Dirk Raudies won the 1993 125cc World Championship title after Marc Márquez, the only rider that could deny Bradl of the championship, was ruled out of the race due to injuries suffered during free practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The final 125cc world championship title went to Spain's Nicolás Terol, after he finished second in the final race of the season in Valencia, and his only title rival Johann Zarco crashed out during the early stages of the race. Terol, who finished third in the class in 2009 and second to Márquez in 2010, ended the season 40 points clear of Zarco, with Maverick Viñales 14 points further behind, after winning the final two races of the season. The season was marred by the death of Marco Simoncelli at the Malaysian Grand Prix.