GP Motorcycle Racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing refers to the premier category of motorcycle road racing, currently divided into three engine displacement classes: 125cc, 250 cc and MotoGP (up to 990 cc). MotoGP motorcycles are purpose-built racing machines that are not available for general purchase (road-going versions of the 125 and 250 cc machines are available); this contrasts with the various production categories of racing, such as World Superbike, that feature modified versions of motorcycles available to the public. In 2007, the MotoGP class will have its maximum engine displacement capacity reduced to 800 cc.
A World Championship for motorcycle racing was first organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949. The commercial rights are owned by Dorna Sports
There have traditionally been several races at each event for various classes of motorcycles, based on engine size, and one class for sidecars. Classes for 50 cc, 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc single seaters have existed over time, and 350 cc and 500 cc sidecars. Up through the 1950s and most of the 1960s, four-stroke engines dominated all classes. In the 1960s, two-stroke engines began to take root in the smaller classes. By the 1970s, two-strokes completely eclipsed the four-strokes. In 1979, Honda made an attempt to return the four-stroke to the top class with the NR500, but this project failed, and in 1983, even Honda was winning with a two-stroke 500. The 50 cc class was replaced by an 80 cc class, then the class was dropped entirely in the 1990s, after being dominated primarily by Spanish and Italian makes. The 350 cc class vanished in the 1980s. Sidecars were dropped from World Championship events in the 1990s (see superside), reducing the field to 125s, 250s, and 500s.
MotoGP, the premier class of GP motorcycle racing, has changed dramatically in recent years. From the mid-1970s until 2002 the top class of GP racing was restricted to four cylinders and 500 cc, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. Consequently, all machines were two-strokes, due to the greater power output for a given engine capacity. Some twin-cylinder two-stroke 500s were seen, but though they typically attained higher corner speed and could qualify well, they lacked the power of the four-cylinder machines. In 2002 manufacturers were first permitted to enlarge the total capacity of four stroke machines to a maximum of 990 cc, and to employ their choice of three to six cylinders. By 2003 no two-stroke machines remained in the MotoGP field. The 125 cc and 250 cc classes still consist exclusively of two-stroke machines.
The current racing calendar consists of 16 rounds in 14 different countries (Spain which hosts 3 rounds, Qatar, Turkey, China, France, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and Portugal). Only for MotoGp class there is also a USA round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The grid is composed of 3 columns and contains about 20 riders. Grid positions are decided in descending order of qualifying speed, the fastest on the 'pole' or first position. Races are about 45 minutes long, and as a result, it is a sprint without pitting for fuel or tires.
Tire selection is critical, usually done by the individual rider based on bike 'feel' during practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up laps on the morning of the race, and the predicted weather. The typical compromise is between grip and longevity--the softer and 'grippier' the tire, the more quickly it wears out; the harder and less grippy, the more likely the tire is to last the entire race. Tire choice often determines the winner. Special 'Q' or qualifying tires of extreme softness and grip are typically used by riders during grid qualifying, but they last typically no longer than one lap, though they may deliver higher qualifying speed, up to one second per lap. For wet conditions, special tires ('wets') with full treads are used, but they suffer extreme wear if the track dries out.
In 2005, a flag-to-flag rule for MotoGP was introduced. Previously, if a race started dry and rain appeared, riders or officials could red-flag (stop) the race and begin again on wet tires. Now, if it begins to rain there is no red flag, though riders can pit to change their tires at their discretion (and if a white flag is waved by officials). This rule came into play for the first time at the 2006 Phillip Island (Australia) round, where all riders switched mid-race to their spare bikes shod with rain tires.
When a rider crashes, track marshalls wave a yellow flag, prohibiting passing in that area; one corner back, a stationary yellow flag is shown and passing is prohibited; if a fallen rider cannot be safely evacuated from the track, the race is red-flagged. Motorcycle crashes are usually of two types: lowsides and highsides. A lowside is when the motorcycle falls onto the side closest to the ground mostly caused by the the front tyre losing grip, usually from cornering too sharply or using too much front brake; a highside is when a motorcycle flips in the opposite direction of the turn. Highsides occur from the back tyre losing grip, starting to spin and slide and finally achieving grip which, in most cases, propels the rider from the seat.
According to a recent estimate, leasing a top-level motorcycle for a rider is about 3 to 3.5 million dollars.
A World Championship for motorcycle racing was first organized by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949. The commercial rights are owned by Dorna Sports
There have traditionally been several races at each event for various classes of motorcycles, based on engine size, and one class for sidecars. Classes for 50 cc, 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc single seaters have existed over time, and 350 cc and 500 cc sidecars. Up through the 1950s and most of the 1960s, four-stroke engines dominated all classes. In the 1960s, two-stroke engines began to take root in the smaller classes. By the 1970s, two-strokes completely eclipsed the four-strokes. In 1979, Honda made an attempt to return the four-stroke to the top class with the NR500, but this project failed, and in 1983, even Honda was winning with a two-stroke 500. The 50 cc class was replaced by an 80 cc class, then the class was dropped entirely in the 1990s, after being dominated primarily by Spanish and Italian makes. The 350 cc class vanished in the 1980s. Sidecars were dropped from World Championship events in the 1990s (see superside), reducing the field to 125s, 250s, and 500s.
MotoGP, the premier class of GP motorcycle racing, has changed dramatically in recent years. From the mid-1970s until 2002 the top class of GP racing was restricted to four cylinders and 500 cc, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. Consequently, all machines were two-strokes, due to the greater power output for a given engine capacity. Some twin-cylinder two-stroke 500s were seen, but though they typically attained higher corner speed and could qualify well, they lacked the power of the four-cylinder machines. In 2002 manufacturers were first permitted to enlarge the total capacity of four stroke machines to a maximum of 990 cc, and to employ their choice of three to six cylinders. By 2003 no two-stroke machines remained in the MotoGP field. The 125 cc and 250 cc classes still consist exclusively of two-stroke machines.
The current racing calendar consists of 16 rounds in 14 different countries (Spain which hosts 3 rounds, Qatar, Turkey, China, France, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Australia, Japan and Portugal). Only for MotoGp class there is also a USA round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The grid is composed of 3 columns and contains about 20 riders. Grid positions are decided in descending order of qualifying speed, the fastest on the 'pole' or first position. Races are about 45 minutes long, and as a result, it is a sprint without pitting for fuel or tires.
Tire selection is critical, usually done by the individual rider based on bike 'feel' during practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up laps on the morning of the race, and the predicted weather. The typical compromise is between grip and longevity--the softer and 'grippier' the tire, the more quickly it wears out; the harder and less grippy, the more likely the tire is to last the entire race. Tire choice often determines the winner. Special 'Q' or qualifying tires of extreme softness and grip are typically used by riders during grid qualifying, but they last typically no longer than one lap, though they may deliver higher qualifying speed, up to one second per lap. For wet conditions, special tires ('wets') with full treads are used, but they suffer extreme wear if the track dries out.
In 2005, a flag-to-flag rule for MotoGP was introduced. Previously, if a race started dry and rain appeared, riders or officials could red-flag (stop) the race and begin again on wet tires. Now, if it begins to rain there is no red flag, though riders can pit to change their tires at their discretion (and if a white flag is waved by officials). This rule came into play for the first time at the 2006 Phillip Island (Australia) round, where all riders switched mid-race to their spare bikes shod with rain tires.
When a rider crashes, track marshalls wave a yellow flag, prohibiting passing in that area; one corner back, a stationary yellow flag is shown and passing is prohibited; if a fallen rider cannot be safely evacuated from the track, the race is red-flagged. Motorcycle crashes are usually of two types: lowsides and highsides. A lowside is when the motorcycle falls onto the side closest to the ground mostly caused by the the front tyre losing grip, usually from cornering too sharply or using too much front brake; a highside is when a motorcycle flips in the opposite direction of the turn. Highsides occur from the back tyre losing grip, starting to spin and slide and finally achieving grip which, in most cases, propels the rider from the seat.
According to a recent estimate, leasing a top-level motorcycle for a rider is about 3 to 3.5 million dollars.
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