 | |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Petronas Sepang International Circuit (1999–2019, 2022–present) Johor Circuit (1998) Shah Alam Circuit (1991–1997) |
| First race | 1991 |
| Most wins (rider) | Valentino Rossi (7) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Honda (33) |
The Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. The event is due to take place at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit until at least 2024. [1]
The first Malaysian Grand Prix was held in 1991 at the Shah Alam Circuit as the final race of the season. [2] Because of the long trip and high cost, many riders chose to not participate in this event. [3] [4] The 500cc race was won by John Kocinski. [2] The event was notorious due to the tropical temperatures and a high degree of humidity, something which plagued the riders for four consecutive years – from 1992 to 1995 respectively. [5] [6] [7] [8]
In 1998, the race was moved from Shah Alam to the Johor Circuit. [2] The reason for the change was because of the 1997 Asian financial crisis that hit Malaysia at this time. While the rich Sultan of Selangor protected the grand prix for years, the local government was no longer able to host the race at the venue. The circuit of Johor Bahru, close to the country of Singapore, was chosen and as a result, the circuit was overhauled: it was modernised and a new layer of asphalt was put on it. While there were pebbles on the track that kicked up and were a nuisance to the riders, the most shocking thing that happened during the weekend was when Lucio Cecchinello drove over the tail of a passing Cobra, which then looked up before getting hit at high speed by the leg of Gino Borsoi. [9]
In 1999 the Sepang International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke, had finished construction. The circuit was not only more modern and purpose-built compared to Johor, it also lay close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. As a result, the race for that season was moved to Sepang along with Formula One, who held its first race at the country in the same year. [10] [11] Since 1999, the Sepang circuit has hosted the Malaysian GP every year until 2020. [2] [4]
In 2006, the distance between the grid positions was increased following the 2006 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix where multiple riders crashed on the first corner. On Saturday afternoon, the circuit was hit by a hefty thunderstorm: a lot of rain fell and as a result, the qualifying practice of the MotoGP and second practice of the 250cc classes were cancelled. This caused a problem because there was no official starting times. The problem was solved by combining the three best times set by all riders on Friday practice. [12] [13] [14]
In 2010, Valentino Rossi won his first race in Malaysia since his accident at the Italian round earlier that year, which saw him break his leg. [15] In 2011, Marco Simoncelli died on the first lap of the race after a horror accident where two riders hit him in the head and lower body. The race was abandoned shortly after. [16]
In 2020, the Malaysian round was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [17] [18]
| # Wins | Rider | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 7 |  Valentino Rossi | MotoGP | 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 |
| 500cc | 2001 | ||
| 125cc | 1997 | ||
| 5 |  Mick Doohan | 500cc | 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 |
| Max Biaggi | MotoGP | 2002 | |
| 250cc | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 | ||
 Dani Pedrosa | MotoGP | 2012, 2013, 2015 | |
| 250cc | 2004 | ||
| 125cc | 2003 | ||
| 4 | Casey Stoner | MotoGP | 2007, 2009 |
| 250cc | 2005 | ||
| 125cc | 2004 | ||
| 3 | Luca Cadalora | 500cc | 1996 |
| 250cc | 1991, 1992 | ||
| Loris Capirossi | MotoGP | 2005 | |
| 250cc | 1999 | ||
| 125cc | 1991 | ||
| Marc Márquez | MotoGP | 2014, 2018 | |
| 125cc | 2010 | ||
| Maverick Viñales | MotoGP | 2019 | |
| Moto2 | 2014 | ||
| 125cc | 2011 | ||
| 2 |  Noboru Ueda | 125cc | 1994, 1998 |
 Kenny Roberts Jr. | 500cc | 1999, 2000 | |
| Álvaro Bautista | 250cc | 2008 | |
| 125cc | 2006 | ||
 Gábor Talmácsi | 125cc | 2007, 2008 | |
| Hiroshi Aoyama | 250cc | 2007, 2009 | |
 Thomas Lüthi | Moto2 | 2011 | |
| 125cc | 2005 | ||
 Johann Zarco | Moto2 | 2015, 2016 | |
 Miguel Oliveira | Moto2 | 2017 | |
| Moto3 | 2015 | ||
| Andrea Dovizioso | MotoGP | 2016, 2017 | |
| Francesco Bagnaia | MotoGP | 2022 | |
| Moto3 | 2016 | ||
| # Wins | Manufacturer | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 33 | Honda | MotoGP | 2003, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 |
| 500cc | 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 | ||
| 250cc | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009 | ||
| Moto3 | 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 | ||
| 125cc | 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 | ||
| 19 | Aprilia | 250cc | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 |
| 125cc | 1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 | ||
| 9 | Yamaha | MotoGP | 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2019 |
| 500cc | 1991, 1993 | ||
| 250cc | 2000 | ||
| 7 |  KTM | Moto2 | 2017, 2019 |
| 250cc | 2007 | ||
| Moto3 | 2012, 2013, 2015 | ||
| 125cc | 2004 | ||
| Ducati | MotoGP | 2005, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2023 | |
| 6 |  Kalex | Moto2 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022 |
| 2 | Suzuki | 500cc | 1999, 2000 |
| Derbi | 125cc | 2001, 2010 | |
| Suter | Moto2 | 2010, 2011 | |
 Husqvarna | Moto3 | 2022, 2023 | |
The United States motorcycle Grand Prix was a round of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship.
The Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.
The 1988 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was the thirteenth round of the 1988 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 12–14 August 1988 at the Anderstorp circuit.
The 1991 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 22–24 March 1991 at the Suzuka Circuit.
The 2008 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the penultimate round of the 2008 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 17–19 October 2008 at the Sepang International Circuit.
The Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1971 to 1997, and then again from 2016 onwards. The event is due to take place at the Red Bull Ring until at least 2025.
The 1994 Dutch TT was the seventh round of the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 25 June 1994 at the TT Circuit Assen located in Assen, Netherlands.
The 1994 French motorcycle Grand Prix was the ninth round of the 1994 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 17 July 1994 at the Bugatti Circuit located in Le Mans, France.
The 1999 French motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 23 May 1999 at Le Castellet.
The 2009 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifteenth round of the 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 16–18 October 2009 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Ducati rider Casey Stoner won the grand prix, in his home race. Championship leader Valentino Rossi finished second, further increasing his championship lead over rival Jorge Lorenzo, who crashed out and failed to score any points. This also marked the final Grand Prix win in the career of Marco Simoncelli before his death 2 years later on 23 October 2011 at the 2011 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix after suffering a fatal crash in Race.
The 2009 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth round of the 2009 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 23–25 October 2009 at the Sepang International Circuit. In wet conditions the race was dominated by Casey Stoner in a return to form following a mystery illness which ended his hopes of regaining the world championship title. Valentino Rossi finished third, which clinched the 2009 MotoGP championship for him.
The 2010 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifteenth round of the 2010 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 8–10 October 2010 at the Sepang International Circuit.
The 2011 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth round of the 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 14–16 October 2011 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The 2011 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 21–23 October 2011 at the Sepang International Circuit, but the MotoGP race was red-flagged and subsequently cancelled after two laps due to a serious accident involving Marco Simoncelli. Simoncelli fell while running fourth, his bike and body veering across the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi. Simoncelli was fatally struck in the head and chest by the two bikes. He was taken straight to the circuit's medical centre, but died of his injuries shortly thereafter.
The 2011 Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix was the last round of the 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 November 2011 at the Circuito Ricardo Tormo. It was the first race after the death of Marco Simoncelli in Sepang. It was the final race for the current formula in the premier (MotoGP) and lightweight classes. In the premier class, the 800cc engines would be replaced by 1000cc engines. Honda also would change motorcycles at the end of the season, as the Honda RC212V that débuted at the 2007 Qatar Grand Prix would be replaced by the RC213V for the following season. In the lightweight class, the 125cc two-stroke motorcycle formula would be replaced by 250cc four-strokes for 2012. This was also the final race for Suzuki as a factory team until their return in 2015.
The 2012 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth round of the 2012 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 19–21 October 2012 at the Sepang International Circuit. Sandro Cortese became the first Moto3 world champion.
The 2016 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2016 MotoGP season. It was held at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on 30 October 2016.
The 1983 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the tenth round of the 1983 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 29–31 July 1983 at the Silverstone Circuit.
The 2019 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the seventeenth round of the 2019 MotoGP season. It was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on 27 October 2019.
The 1975 Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighth round of the 1975 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4–6 July 1975 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
