The 2001 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 53rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
2001 was the end of the 500 cc era in Grand Prix motorcycle racing; in 2002 the premier class would be renamed MotoGP and dominated by 4-stroke 990 cc machines. However, 2001 was the beginning of another era, that of Valentino Rossi's run of championships in the top class. His learning year past him, he won 11 races in 2001, far outdistancing his nearest competitor, Max Biaggi. Rossi and Biaggi began the season with a controversial incident at Suzuka, where Biaggi seemed to have tried to push Rossi into the dirt at 150 mph and Rossi responded two laps later with an aggressive pass and an extended middle finger. Rossi would win that race and sew-up the championship with two rounds to go. As of 2022, it was the last season where an independent team rider won the rider championship title in the premier class.
The 500 cc Rookie of the Year award went to Shinya Nakano. [1] At the 2001 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix, Katja Poensgen became the first female competitor to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix race. [2]
As of 2023, it was the last year where a single constructor (Honda) won the championship in all three categories.
In the weekend of 20 to 22 October 2000, the FIM confirmed the 2001 calendar. [3] The following sixteen Grands Prix were scheduled to take place: [4] [5]
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 April | Grand Prix of Japan | Suzuka Circuit |
2 | 22 April | Gauloises Africa's Grand Prix | Phakisa Freeway |
3 | 6 May | Gran Premio Marlboro de España | Circuito de Jerez |
4 | 20 May | Grand Prix Polini de France | Bugatti Circuit |
5 | 3 June | Gran Premio Cinzano d'Italia | Mugello Circuit |
6 | 17 June | Gran Premi Marlboro de Catalunya | Circuit de Catalunya |
7 | 30 June †† | Gauloises Dutch TT | Assen |
8 | 8 July | Cinzano British Grand Prix | Donington Park |
9 | 22 July | Cinzano Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland | Sachsenring |
10 | 26 August | Gauloises Grand Prix České republiky | Brno Circuit |
11 | 9 September | Grande Premio Marlboro de Portugal | Autódromo do Estoril |
12 | 23 September | Gran Premio Marlboro Comunitat Valenciana | Circuit Ricardo Tormo |
13 | 7 October | Pacific Grand Prix of Motegi | Twin Ring Motegi |
14 | 14 October | Qantas Australian Grand Prix | Phillip Island Circuit |
15 | 21 October | Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix | Sepang International Circuit |
16 | 3 November †† | Cinzano Rio Grand Prix | Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet |
†† = Saturday race
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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 position |
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 position |
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 position |
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 367 |
2 | Yamaha | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 295 |
3 | Suzuki | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 153 |
4 | Proton KR | 11 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 14 | Ret | 7 | 9 | Ret | 10 | Ret | Ret | 65 |
5 | Sabre V4 | Ret | 18 | 17 | Ret | Ret | 17 | 18 | 18 | Ret | 15 | 13 | 14 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 6 | |
6 | Pulse | Ret | 20 | 18 | Ret | 13 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 3 | |||||||
Paton | DNQ | DNQ | WD | Ret | 0 | |||||||||||||
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 361 |
2 | Aprilia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 345 |
3 | Yamaha | 4 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 142 |
TSR-Honda | 20 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 301 |
2 | Aprilia | 3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 263 |
3 | Gilera | 5 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 3 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 241 |
4 | Derbi | 2 | 1 | Ret | 11 | 18 | 5 | Ret | 1 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 232 |
5 | TSR-Honda | Ret | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | Ret | 4 | 23 | DNS | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 11 | 13 | 94 |
6 | Italjet | 13 | 11 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 12 | Ret | 16 | Ret | 18 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 42 |
ERP Honda | 22 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Rieju | Ret | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
E-NER | Ret | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
Pos | Manufacturer | JPN | RSA | ESP | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | GBR | GER | CZE | POR | VAL | PAC | AUS | MAL | RIO | Pts |
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest 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.
Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi is an Italian former professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer who achieved six World Championships. With four 250 cc road race titles and two in World Superbikes, he is one of only two riders to score championships across both disciplines.
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 1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 19th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of thirteen Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 30 April, with the Spanish Grand Prix, and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 15 October.
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 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 40th 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 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 43rd 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 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 45th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
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 2000 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 52nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 2002 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 54th F.I.M. Road racing World Championship season. The season consisted of 16 races, beginning with the Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix on 7 April 2002 and ending with the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix on 3 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.
Katja Poensgen, is a German former professional motorcycle racer. She was the first female competitor to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix race. In 2011, Poensgen was inducted into the FIM Hall of Fame for her pioneering Grand Prix racing career.