Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into three classes since 1997: 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP. Former classes that have been discontinued include 350cc, 50cc/80cc and Sidecar. [1] The premier class is MotoGP, which was formerly known as the 500cc class. [1] The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was established in 1949 by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and is the oldest motorsport World Championship in existence. [2] The motorcycles used in MotoGP are purpose-built for the sport, and are unavailable for purchase by the general public because they cannot be legally ridden on public roads. [2] From the mid-1970s to 2002, the top class of GP racing allowed 500cc with a maximum of four cylinders, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. [2] Rule changes were introduced in 2002, to facilitate the phasing out of two-stroke engines. [3]
Each season consists of 6 to 20 Grands Prix contested on closed circuits, as opposed to public roads. Points earned in these events count toward the riders' and constructors' world championships. The riders' and constructors' championship are separate championships, but are based on the same point system. The number of points awarded at the end of each race to the top 15 qualifying riders depends on their placement. Points received by each finisher, from first place to 15th place: 25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Historically, there have been several points systems. [4] Results from all current Grands Prix count towards the championships; in the past, only a certain number of results were counted. [5]
Giacomo Agostini has won the most championships, with eight, including a record seven championships in succession from 1966 to 1972. Marc Márquez is the youngest to win the championship; he was 20 years and 266 days old when he became champion in 2013. [6] Italian riders have won the most championships; seven riders have won a total of twenty-one championships. Riders from Great Britain have won the second most; six riders have won a total of seventeen championships. Riders from the United States have won the third most, as seven riders have won a total of fifteen championships. [7] Leslie Graham won the inaugural championship in 1949.
† | Champion also won 350cc Championship in that season |
* | Champion also won 250cc Championship in that season |
— | Indicates information is not available |
Rider | Titles | Seasons |
---|---|---|
Giacomo Agostini | 8 | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 |
Valentino Rossi | 7 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 |
Marc Márquez | 6 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
Mick Doohan | 5 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Geoff Duke | 4 | 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955 |
John Surtees | 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 | |
Mike Hailwood | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 | |
Eddie Lawson | 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989 | |
Kenny Roberts | 3 | 1978, 1979, 1980 |
Wayne Rainey | 1990, 1991, 1992 | |
Jorge Lorenzo | 2010, 2012, 2015 | |
Umberto Masetti | 2 | 1950, 1952 |
Phil Read | 1973, 1974 | |
Barry Sheene | 1976, 1977 | |
Freddie Spencer | 1983, 1985 | |
Casey Stoner | 2007, 2011 | |
Francesco Bagnaia | 2022, 2023 |
Constructor | Titles |
---|---|
Honda | 21 |
MV Agusta | 18 |
Yamaha | 18 |
Suzuki | 7 |
Gilera | 6 |
Ducati | 3 |
Norton | 1 |
AJS | 1 |
Country | Riders | Titles |
---|---|---|
Italy | 7 | 22 |
United Kingdom | 6 | 17 |
United States | 7 | 15 |
Spain | 4 | 11 |
Australia | 3 | 8 |
Rhodesia and Nyasaland | 1 | 1 |
France | 1 | 1 |
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.
Frederick Burdette Spencer, sometimes known by the nickname Fast Freddie, is an American former world champion motorcycle racer. Spencer is regarded as one of the greatest motorcycle racers of the early 1980s.
The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
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 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 46th 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 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 2013 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 65th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 2014 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 66th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Marc Márquez started the season as the defending riders' champion in the MotoGP category, with Honda the defending manufacturers' champions.
The 2014 FIM Moto3 World Championship was a part of the 66th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Maverick Viñales was the reigning series champion, but did not contest the season as he moved to the series' intermediate class, Moto2.
The 2020 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 2020 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season and the third round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship. It was held at the Brno Circuit in Brno on 9 August 2020. Fabio Quartararo was the defending MotoGP race winner who aimed for his second consecutive Grand Prix win, having won the previous round.
The 2013 FIM Moto2 World Championship was a part of the 65th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Marc Márquez was the reigning champion, but did not contest in season as he joined MotoGP with Repsol Honda.
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