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. [1]
Casey Stoner was crowned as MotoGP World Champion for the second time, following his ninth victory of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. [2] 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 2024, 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. [3]
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. [4] 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. [5]
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 2011: [6] [7] An 18-race provisional calendar was announced on 30 September 2010. [8] The Japanese Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 24 April, was moved to 2 October due to the effects of the Tōhoku earthquake and the Fukushima I nuclear accidents. [9] [10]
All entries used Bridgestone tyres.
1 Being his final MotoGP race, Capirossi switched numbers for Valencia as a memorial to his fallen countryman Simoncelli, killed at Sepang, by racing with the #58 that Simoncelli used, instead of his normal #65. [38] He was still shown as #65 in official timing documentation. [39]
On 31 October 2010, a list of 22 teams was accepted by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, Dorna Sports and IRTA to compete in the 2011 championship. [40] A 38-rider provisional entry list was released on 24 January 2011. [13] All Moto2 competitors raced with an identical CBR600RR inline-four engine developed by Honda. Teams competed with tyres supplied by Dunlop.
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All entries used Dunlop tyres.
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. 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 | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | USA ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | C | 1 | 405 |
2 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | C | 2 | 325 |
3 | ![]() | 7 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | C | 8 | 180 |
4 | ![]() | DNS | 10 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 8 | 6 | Ret | Ret | C | Ret | 73 |
Pos | Constructor | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | USA ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
Pos | Team | Bike No. | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | USA ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 4 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Ret | 5 | 3 | C | 3 | 528 [a] |
7 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
26 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Ret | 8 | 1 | 3 | Ret | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | C | 5 | ||||||
27 | 1 | Ret | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | C | 1 | |||
2 | ![]() | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Ret | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | DNS | 446 | ||
11 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 3 | Ret | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 | DNS | C | 2 | |||
89 | C | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | ![]() | 46 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 10 | Ret | Ret | C | Ret | 271 |
69 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 14 | Ret | 7 | 7 | 7 | C | Ret | |||
4 | ![]() | 7 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 9 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | Ret | C | 12 | 232 | |
58 | 5 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 6 | Ret | 9 | 5 | 6 | Ret | 3 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | C† | ||||
64 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | ![]() | 5 | 8 | Ret | 6 | 13 | DNS | 3 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 5 | C | 188 | |
35 | 11 | 8 | 8 | Ret | 7 | DNS | 14 | Ret | 14 | Ret | Ret | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | Ret | C | 4 | |||
41 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
6 | ![]() | 6 | Ret | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Ret | Ret | 10 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | 14 | 13 | DNS | 12 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 6 | C | Ret | |||
50 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
65 | Ret | 11 | 12 | Ret | 9 | 10 | DNS | 12 | 13 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | C | 9 | ||||||
7 | ![]() | 6 | DNS | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | 12 | 6 | Ret | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 10 | Ret | 9 | 8 | Ret | C | 11 | ||||
8 | ![]() | 19 | DNS | 13 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 8 | 6 | Ret | Ret | C | Ret | 73 | |
21 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 | ![]() | 17 | 13 | 7 | Ret | 10 | 10 | 7 | Ret | 12 | 12 | 11 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | DNS | 10 | C | 8 | 64 |
10 | ![]() | 24 | Ret | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 8 | C | 10 | 61 |
Pos | Team | Bike No. | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | USA ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. 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 | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 384 |
2 | ![]() | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 281 |
3 | ![]() | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 199 |
4 | ![]() | 4 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 6 | Ret | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 174 |
5 | ![]() | 9 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 7 | 149 |
6 | ![]() | 5 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 19 | 7 | 25 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 138 |
7 | ![]() | 11 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 16 | 9 | 22 | 6 | 10 | Ret | 5 | 31 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 77 |
8 | ![]() | 15 | 10 | 27 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 11 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 4 | 61 |
![]() | 22 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 28 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
![]() | 28 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Pos | Constructor | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. 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 | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 420 |
2 | ![]() | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 284 |
3 | ![]() | 16 | 13 | 16 | Ret | 16 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 12 | Ret | 15 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 49 |
4 | ![]() | 24 | 8 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 22 | 29 |
![]() | 21 | 22 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 27 | DNQ | Ret | 17 | DNQ | 19 | 0 | |||||||
Pos | Constructor | QAT ![]() | SPA ![]() | POR ![]() | FRA ![]() | CAT ![]() | GBR ![]() | NED ![]() | ITA ![]() | GER ![]() | CZE ![]() | INP ![]() | RSM ![]() | ARA ![]() | JPN ![]() | AUS ![]() | MAL ![]() | VAL ![]() | Pts |
Laguna Seca will offer a fantastic setting for another thrilling weekend before the premier class breaks for almost three weeks ahead of the Brno round, and with home interest in four riders adding to a close Championship fight the scene is set perfectly for a MotoGP centrepiece with neither the Moto2 or 125 categories in action.
1.25.2: If the results calculated show that less than three laps have been completed by the leader of the race and by all other riders on the same lap as the leader, then the race will be null and void and a completely new race will be run. If it is found impossible to re-start the race, then it will be declared cancelled and the race will not count for the Championship.
Cecchinello had targeted Italian duo Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri as replacements. But Capirossi is moving to Pramac Ducati and Melandri penned a Yamaha World Superbike deal in Misano last weekend.
Pedrosa will partner Aussie Casey Stoner on a factory Honda RC212V machine next season for his sixth season with the Japanese factory.
Suzuki has confirmed that it has signed 250cc championship contender Alvaro Bautista on a two-year contract to race in MotoGP.
Lorenzo also gave his reaction to the news of team-mate and rival Valentino Rossi's departure at the end of the campaign, as well as the prospect of being joined by Ben Spies after Lin Jarvis outlined the Yamaha factory team plans for next season.