The 2020 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 72nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The season was notably characterized by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of perennial title favourite Marc Márquez due to a serious arm injury, the high number of wins from different riders, teams and constructors, and the Yamaha engine controversy.
Joan Mir secured his maiden MotoGP title and Team Suzuki Ecstar secured their first and only team championship at the penultimate round. Mir's championship was the first for a Suzuki rider since 2000. [1] Mir won the title by 13 points ahead of Franco Morbidelli. Ducati won the constructors' championship following a 50-point deduction for Yamaha, despite having no riders in the championship's top three.
Marc Márquez and Repsol Honda started the season as the defending World Champion and World Constructors' champions respectively, after they both won their championships in 2019 for the fourth consecutive season. After an opening round crash resulting in a fractured humerus, [2] and an aborted return attempt the following week, [3] Márquez sat out the remainder of the season, meaning he could not win the title for a fifth consecutive time. [4] Former premier class world champion Valentino Rossi had a career-low season, finishing the championship outside of the top 7 for the first time in his career, ending 15th.
By mid-November, Joan Mir secured the riders' title with one win and seven podiums and Team Suzuki Ecstar clinched the teams' championship. [1] Ducati took the constructors' championship in the final round in Portugal, helped by the 50-point penalty handed to Yamaha earlier in the season. This was Ducati's first constructors' title since Casey Stoner's dominant 2007 season.
Riders Fabio Quartararo, Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira, Franco Morbidelli and Joan Mir won their first premier class victories during the season and KTM took their first wins as a constructor. Five riders taking their inaugural victories in the season surpassed the record set in the 2016 season. In addition, three teams (Petronas SRT, KTM Factory Racing and Tech3, respectively) won their first races in the premier class. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Between the Czech Republic and Aragon Grands Prix, different riders won in eight successive races, equalling the previous record set between the 2016 Italian and San Marino Grands Prix. [10] A total of 9 different riders won a race in the season, also matching the record set in 2016. [11] Morbidelli and Quartararo won three races each, Oliveira two, with Binder, Andrea Dovizioso, Maverick Viñales, Danilo Petrucci, Álex Rins and champion Mir (in chronological order) each having won a single race.
When Joan Mir secured the riders' championship title, he became the first Suzuki rider to win the title since Kenny Roberts Jr. in 2000, the first non-Honda or non-Yamaha rider to win the title since Ducati rider Casey Stoner in 2007, as well as the first Moto3 world champion to win the premier class title.[ citation needed ]
The season calendar was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the cancellation or postponement of many races and an overall delay to the start of the season. On 11 June, the rescheduled calendar was confirmed, with the season beginning on 19 July with the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. On 31 July, the FIM announced that the remaining flyaway races were to be cancelled, marking the first time since 1986 that the premier class was held entirely within Europe. [12] With a total of only 14 rounds, it was the shortest season of 500cc/MotoGP since 1998.
Before the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Yamaha and its teams were handed penalties for disregarding the protocol which requires obtaining unanimous approval from the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association (MSMA) for engine technical changes. Yamaha allegedly changed the specification of engine valves between the homologation freeze just before the abandoned Qatar round and the opening round in Jerez, claiming "an internal oversight". As a result, Yamaha was docked 50 points in the manufacturers' championship and the Yamaha factory team and Petronas SRT lost 20 and 37 points respectively, equal to the points scored using the non-compliant engines. No penalty was applied to individual riders' points totals. [19] [20] [21] Yamaha made an official statement accepting the FIM's sanctions and confirmed it would not appeal the decision. [22]
All teams used series-specified Michelin tyres. [50]
The following Grands Prix took place in 2020: [62]
Round | Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 July | Gran Premio Red Bull de España [63] | Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera |
2 | 26 July | Gran Premio Red Bull de Andalucía | |
3 | 9 August | Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky [64] | Brno Circuit, Brno |
4 | 16 August | myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich [65] | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg |
5 | 23 August | BMW M Grand Prix of Styria | |
6 | 13 September | Gran Premio Lenovo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini [66] | Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico |
7 | 20 September | Gran Premio TISSOT dell'Emilia Romagna e della Riviera di Rimini [67] | |
8 | 27 September | Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya [68] | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló |
9 | 11 October | SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de France [69] | Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans |
10 | 18 October | Gran Premio Michelin de Aragón [70] | MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz |
11 | 25 October | Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel | |
12 | 8 November | Gran Premio de Europa | Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia |
13 | 15 November | Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana [71] | |
14 | 22 November | Grande Prémio MEO de Portugal [72] | Algarve International Circuit, Portimão |
The following rounds were included on the original calendar, but were cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: [73]
Original Date | Grand Prix | Circuit |
---|---|---|
8 March [lower-alpha 4] | QNB Grand Prix of Qatar [74] | Losail International Circuit, Lusail |
31 May | Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley | Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero |
21 June | HJC Helmets Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland [75] | Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal |
28 June | Motul TT Assen [76] | TT Circuit Assen, Assen |
12 July | Finnish Grand Prix [77] | Kymi Ring, Iitti |
30 August | British Grand Prix [78] | Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone |
4 October [lower-alpha 5] | OR Thailand Grand Prix [79] | Chang International Circuit, Buriram |
18 October | Japanese Grand Prix | Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi |
25 October | Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix [80] | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island |
1 November | Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix [81] | Sepang International Circuit, Sepang |
15 November [lower-alpha 5] | Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas [82] | Circuit of the Americas, Austin |
22 November [lower-alpha 5] | Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina [83] | Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo |
The season calendar was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the cancellation or postponement of many races and an overall delay to the start of the season.
Round | Grand Prix | Pole position | Fastest lap | Winning rider | Winning team | Winning constructor | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix | Fabio Quartararo | Marc Márquez | Fabio Quartararo | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
2 | Andalusian motorcycle Grand Prix | Fabio Quartararo | Fabio Quartararo | Fabio Quartararo | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
3 | Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix | Johann Zarco | Brad Binder | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | KTM | Report |
4 | Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix | Maverick Viñales | Álex Rins | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati Team | Ducati | Report |
5 | Styrian motorcycle Grand Prix | Pol Espargaró | Pol Espargaró | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | KTM | Report |
6 | San Marino and Rimini Riviera motorcycle Grand Prix | Maverick Viñales | Francesco Bagnaia | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
7 | Emilia Romagna and Rimini Riviera motorcycle Grand Prix | Maverick Viñales | Francesco Bagnaia | Maverick Viñales | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | Report |
8 | Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix | Franco Morbidelli | Fabio Quartararo | Fabio Quartararo | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
9 | French motorcycle Grand Prix | Fabio Quartararo | Johann Zarco | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati Team | Ducati | Report |
10 | Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix | Fabio Quartararo | Álex Rins | Álex Rins | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki | Report |
11 | Teruel motorcycle Grand Prix | Takaaki Nakagami | Franco Morbidelli | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
12 | European motorcycle Grand Prix | Pol Espargaró | Brad Binder | Joan Mir | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki | Report |
13 | Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix | Franco Morbidelli | Jack Miller | Franco Morbidelli | Petronas Yamaha SRT | Yamaha | Report |
14 | Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix | Miguel Oliveira | Miguel Oliveira | Miguel Oliveira | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | KTM | Report |
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 |
|
|
Each constructor received the same number of points as their best placed rider in each race.
Pos. | Constructor | SPA | ANC | CZE | AUT | STY | RSM | EMI | CAT | FRA | ARA | TER | EUR | VAL | POR | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ducati | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 221 | |
2 | Yamaha | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 204 [lower-alpha 6] | |
3 | Suzuki | Ret | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 202 | |
4 | KTM | 6 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 200 | |
5 | Honda | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 144 | |
6 | Aprilia | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | Ret | 9 | 8 | 51 | |
Pos. | Constructor | SPA | ANC | CZE | AUT | STY | RSM | EMI | CAT | FRA | ARA | TER | EUR | VAL | POR | Pts | |
Source: [102] |
The teams' standings were based on results obtained by regular and substitute riders.
Pos. | Team | Bike No. | SPA | ANC | CZE | AUT | STY | RSM | EMI | CAT | FRA | ARA | TER | EUR | VAL | POR | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Team Suzuki Ecstar | 36 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | Ret | 310 |
42 | DNS | 10 | 4 | RetF | 6 | 5 | 12 | 3 | NC | 1F | 2 | 2 | 4 | 15 | |||
2 | Petronas Yamaha SRT | 20 | 1P | 1P F | 7 | 8 | 13 | Ret | 4 | 1F | 9P | 18P | 8 | 14 | Ret | 14 | 248 [lower-alpha 7] |
21 | 5 | Ret | 2 | Ret | 15 | 1 | 9 | 4P | Ret | 6 | 1F | 11 | 1P | 3 | |||
3 | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 33 | 13 | Ret | 1F | 4 | 8 | 12 | Ret | 11 | 12 | 11 | Ret | 7F | 5 | Ret | 222 |
44 | 6 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 3P F | 10 | 3 | Ret | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3P | 3 | 4 | |||
4 | Ducati Team | 04 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 4 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 213 |
9 | 9 | Ret | 12 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 16 | |||
5 | Pramac Racing | 43 | 4 | Ret | 9 | 3 | 2 | 8 | Ret | 5 | Ret | 9 | Ret | 6 | 2F | 2 | 183 |
51 | 12 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
63 | 7 | Ret | DNS | 2F | RetF | 6 | 13 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | |||||
6 | Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP | 12 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 10P | Ret | 6P | 1P | 9 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 178 [lower-alpha 8] |
31 | WD | ||||||||||||||||
46 | Ret | 3 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | 12 | |||||
7 | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | 27 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9 | 10 | 14 | Ret | 14 | 15 | 14 | 9 | WD | 152 | ||
82 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||
88 | 8 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 1 | 11 | 5 | Ret | 6 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1P F | |||
8 | LCR Honda | 30 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | RetP | 4 | Ret | 5 | 148 |
35 | DNS | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | DNS | 10 | Ret | 8 | 11 | Ret | 13 | 13 | ||||
9 | Repsol Honda Team | 6 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | DNS | 17 | 8 | 17 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 101 | ||
73 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | Ret | Ret | 16 | 9 | |||
93 | RetF | DNS | |||||||||||||||
10 | Esponsorama Racing | 5 | 11 | 9 | 3P | Ret | 14 | 15 | 11 | Ret | 5F | 10 | 5 | 9 | Ret | 10 | 87 |
53 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 21 | Ret | Ret | 15 | Ret | 20 | 14 | Ret | 17 | 18 | |||
11 | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | 32 | Ret | 18 | Ret | 54 | |||||||||||
38 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 16 | Ret | 19 | 15 | ||||||
41 | Ret | Ret | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 8 | |||
Pos. | Team | Bike No. | SPA | ANC | CZE | AUT | STY | RSM | EMI | CAT | FRA | ARA | TER | EUR | VAL | POR | Pts |
Source: [102] |
Johann Zarco is a French Grand Prix motorcycle racer, best known for winning the 2015 and 2016 Moto2 World Championships with his 2015 triumph being a record points total for the intermediate class. He is a MotoGP race winner, and currently rides for LCR Honda Castrol in MotoGP.
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The 2012 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighteenth and final round of the 2012 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 9–11 November 2012 at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo.
The 2015 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 67th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The championship was won by Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo, racing for Movistar Yamaha MotoGP. It was his third and final world title in the MotoGP category, his fifth overall in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. The season had 18 races, beginning in Qatar and finishing in Valencia, which determined who would be world champion between Movistar Yamaha teammates Lorenzo and runner-up Valentino Rossi. It was first time since 2013 that the world title was decided on the final race of the season. Lorenzo also had the most pole positions, fastest laps and race wins throughout the season; while Rossi had the most finishes, completing every race throughout the season, while Lorenzo had one race retirement in San Marino.
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The 2015 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth round of the 2015 MotoGP season. It was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on Sunday 18 October 2015.
The 2015 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth of eighteen motorcycle races of the 2015 MotoGP season. It was held before a crowd of 88,832 people at the Sepang International Circuit in the Malaysian district of Sepang in Selangor on 25 October 2015. Dani Pedrosa of Honda won the 20-lap race from pole position. Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo finished second and his teammate Valentino Rossi came in third. In the junior classes, Johann Zarco won the Moto2 race on a Kalex bike and KTM's Miguel Oliveira won in Moto3.
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The 2018 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 70th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Marc Márquez entered the season as the reigning champion, with Repsol Honda being the reigning team champions and Honda the reigning constructors' champions.
The 2019 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 71st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
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