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.
At the end of 2003, HRC and Valentino Rossi had parted ways, and HRC held Rossi to the letter of their contract which stipulated he could not ride another manufacturer's machine until 31 December 2003. [1] Rossi's move to Yamaha, therefore, was a gamble on a manufacturer that hadn't had won a world championship in 12 years. Rossi won the first round of the season and lay to rest doubts about whether the rider or the motorcycle was more important when he achieved what no rider since Eddie Lawson had done in the history of the premier-class: he won back-to-back championships on different machines, Honda in 2003 and Yamaha in 2004.
Runner-up Sete Gibernau gave Rossi a strong challenge initially, but faded towards the end of the season. The friendship between him and Rossi frayed over the season, and snapped completely at the Qatar round.
Another change in 2004 was also d'Antin Team, who switched their alliance from Yamaha to Ducati motorcycles after five-year alliance with Yamaha, marked the first time Ducati MotoGP manufacturer introduced a satellite customer team.
At the Italian round, the race ran for 17 laps before rain started, and according to the rules at the time, the race was decided on a second, 6-lap race and the previous 17 laps only counted for grid positions. Conditions dried enough that the riders started the new race in slicks instead of wet-weather tires. In 2005 the rules were changed so that rain would no longer stop a race in MotoGP.
The Rookie of the Year was Rubén Xaus.
The 250cc title was won by Daniel Pedrosa on a Honda.
The 125cc title was won by Andrea Dovizioso on a Honda.
On 19 August 2003, the FIM released the initial 2004 calendar. [2] In it, both the Japanese and the Pacific GPs were originally scheduled to take place. On 24 October 2003, the FIM confirmed the 2004 calendar. [3] In it, the Japanese GP at Suzuka had been scrapped and was moved to Motegi and the all-new Qatar GP were to be held on a Saturday. [4] On 16 December 2003, changes were made to the calendar. [5] The date of the British GP was moved from 11 to 25 July and the date and day of the Rio GP were moved from Saturday 31 July to Sunday 4 July.
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 2004: [6] [7]
The following changes are made to the regulation for the 2004 season: [9] [10] [11]
This rule was additionally added on 27 March 2004:
These rules were additionally added on 27 March 2004:
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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 |
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 355 |
2 | Yamaha | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 328 |
3 | Ducati | 5 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 169 |
4 | Kawasaki | 12 | 9 | Ret | 14 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 95 |
5 | Suzuki | 13 | 8 | 12 | Ret | 17 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 | Ret | 8 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 73 |
6 | Aprilia | 15 | Ret | 13 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 14 | 13 | 39 |
7 | / Proton KR | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | Ret | 18 | Ret | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
8 | Harris WCM | 18 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 15 | DNS | 13 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 12 |
9 | Moriwaki | 17 | 14 | 16 | 11 | Ret | 7 | |||||||||||
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | Pts |
Pos | Team | Bike No. | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha | 7 | 10 | 6 | 2 | Ret | 4 | 9 | 10 | Ret | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | Ret | 9 | 10 | 14 | 421 |
46 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Ret | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||
2 | Telefónica Movistar Honda MotoGP | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 414 |
45 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 9 | Ret | 2 | 11 | 4 | 8 | |||
3 | Camel Honda | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 3 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 367 |
6 | 8 | Ret | 9 | Ret | Ret | 12 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 5 | |||
4 | Repsol Honda Team | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 2 | 9 | Ret | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 282 |
69 | 5 | 5 | 11 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 4 | 6 | Ret | ||||
5 | Ducati Marlboro Team | 12 | 14 | Ret | 8 | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 9 | 3 | 188 |
65 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 4 | Ret | 7 | 5 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 3 | 9 | |||
6 | Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 | 17 | 9 | 11 | Ret | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 | Ret | Ret | 8 | 10 | Ret | 7 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 149 |
33 | 11 | Ret | 6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 13 | Ret | DNS | 9 | Ret | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | |||
7 | Kawasaki Racing Team | 56 | 12 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 7 | Ret | 9 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 3 | Ret | 8 | 12 | 7 | 134 |
66 | Ret | 13 | Ret | 14 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | Ret | 13 | 11 | |||
8 | D'Antin MotoGP | 11 | Ret | Ret | 14 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 11 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 3 | 13 | 11 | Ret | 115 |
50 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | 18 | 15 | |||
9 | Team Suzuki MotoGP | 10 | Ret | 8 | 12 | Ret | 17 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 14 | Ret | 89 | ||||
21 | 13 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 14 | 15 | 9 | 8 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 8 | Ret | 15 | 12 | ||||
32 | 16 | 17 | |||||||||||||||||
71 | 11 | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | MS Aprilia Racing | 24 | 16 | Ret | 16 | 44 | |||||||||||||
67 | 15 | Ret | DNS | 10 | 13 | Ret | 17 | 14 | 13 | DNS | 13 | ||||||||
84 | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||
99 | 16 | Ret | 13 | 16 | DNS | 15 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 14 | 13 | |||
11 | / Proton Team KR | 9 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 15 | Ret | 18 | Ret | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 | Ret | 17 | 19 | 18 | 15 |
36 | 12 | Ret | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
80 | WD | Ret | 15 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 19 | Ret | Ret | DNS | DNS | ||||||||
12 | WCM | 35 | DNQ | Ret | Ret | 18 | 17 | 20 | 16 | Ret | DNS | Ret | 12 | ||||||
41 | 15 | DNQ | 19 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
52 | Ret | ||||||||||||||||||
77 | Ret | 16 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 19 | |||||||||||||
84 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 15 | 16 | Ret | 15 | 20 | 17 | ||||||||||
Pos | Team | Bike No. | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | 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 position |
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Honda | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 354 |
2 | Aprilia | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 344 |
3 | Yamaha | 18 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 44 |
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | 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 position |
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Aprilia | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 329 |
2 | Honda | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 301 |
3 | KTM | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 2 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 204 |
4 | Derbi | 16 | Ret | 3 | 10 | 5 | 1 | Ret | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 179 |
5 | Gilera | 17 | 13 | 20 | Ret | 22 | 14 | Ret | 22 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Ret | 15 | 61 |
6 | Malaguti | 26 | 24 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 13 | Ret | 7 | 8 | 23 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 43 |
7 | Yamaha | 22 | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
Pos | Constructor | RSA | SPA | FRA | ITA | CAT | NED | RIO | GER | GBR | CZE | POR | JPN | QAT | MAL | AUS | VAL | 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.
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