Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme Grand Prix motorcycle racing |
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Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into four classes since the 2023: MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE. Classes that have been discontinued include 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, and 50cc/80cc. [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. [2]
There were four classes when the championship started in 1949; 500cc, 350cc, 250cc and 125cc. The 50cc class was introduced in the 1962 season. Due to escalating costs that resulted in a number of manufacturers leaving the championship, the FIM limited the 50cc bikes to a single cylinder, the 125cc and 250cc bikes were limited to two cylinders and the 350cc and 500cc bikes were limited to four cylinders. The 350cc class was discontinued in 1982; two years later the 50cc class was replaced with an 80cc class, which was discontinued in 1989. In 2002, 990cc bikes replaced the 500cc bikes and the class was renamed as MotoGP. [3] 600cc bikes replaced the 250cc bikes in the 2010 season, with the class re-branded as Moto2. [4] In 2012, 250cc bikes replaced the 125cc bikes, with the class re-branded as Moto3, retiring the two-stroke bikes from Grand Prix motorcycle racing. [5] MotoE was introduced in 2019 as a "World Cup" until 2022 and thus statistics from that time span is not included here. [6] MotoE gained World Championship status in 2023.
Giacomo Agostini, with 15 victories, has won the most world championships. Ángel Nieto is second with 13 world championships and Valentino Rossi, Mike Hailwood and Carlo Ubbiali are third with 9 world championships. [7] Agostini holds the record for the most victories in the 500cc/MotoGP and 350cc classes with eight and seven world championships respectively. Phil Read and Max Biaggi have won the most 250cc/Moto2 championships, with four victories each. Nieto won the most championships in the 125cc and 50cc/80cc classes with seven and six victories respectively. [8]
Country | MotoGP/500cc | 350cc | Moto2/250cc | Moto3/125cc | 80cc/50cc | MotoE | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Italy | 22 | 8 | 25 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 82 |
Spain | 12 | 0 | 13 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 61 |
United Kingdom | 17 | 13 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 45 |
Germany | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 18 |
United States | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Australia | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Japan | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Rhodesia | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
France | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 |
South Africa | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Venezuela | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Netherlands | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
San Marino | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Sweden | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Austria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Hungary | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Colombia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 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.
The 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 27th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1972 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 24th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 30 April, with West German Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 23 September.
The 1966 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 18th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 8 May, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Japanese Grand Prix on 17 October.
The 1969 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 21st F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 4 May, with Spanish Grand Prix and ended with Yugoslavian Grand Prix on 14 September.
The 1976 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 28th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1977 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 29th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
The 1971 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 23rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 9 May, with Austrian Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 26 September.
The 1970 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 22nd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of twelve Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc. It began on 3 May, with West German Grand Prix and ended with Spanish Grand Prix on 27 September.
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