Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
 | |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Mobility Resort Motegi (1999, 2004–2019, 2022–present) Suzuka Circuit (1963–1965, 1987–1998, 2000–2003) Fuji Speedway (1966–1967) |
| First race | 1963 |
| Most wins (rider) | Marc Márquez (5) |
| Most wins (manufacturer) | Honda (49) |
The Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix (日本グランプリ) is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.
The main venue who held the races for years was the Suzuka Circuit, until it permanently was replaced by the Mobility Resort Motegi from 2004 onwards after the circuit faced criticism for its short runoff areas and dangerous trackside barriers, causing the death of Japanese rider Daijiro Kato and the injuries of Marco Melandri and Alex Barros at the 2003 Japanese Grand Prix. As a result, Suzuka was faced with making considerable safety alterations to avoid a possible strike by the riders – many of whom believed the 240 hp motorbikes had outgrown the tight circuit. The FIM stated that the modifications would not be completed before 2005 and that, therefore, the 2004 Japanese Grand Prix would be held at Motegi, but Suzuka has not appeared on the calendar since.[1]
The 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19.[2]
Official names and sponsors
[edit]- 1963: Grand Prix Race Meeting (no official sponsor)[3]
- 1987–1989, 2001, 2005, 2010–2011: Grand Prix of Japan (no official sponsor)[4]
- 1990–1991: Kibun Japanese Grand Prix[5]
- 1992: Japanese Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[6]
- 1993: Marlboro GP[7]
- 1994–2000: Marlboro Grand Prix of Japan[8]
- 2002–2003: SKYY vodka Grand Prix of Japan[9]
- 2004: Camel Grand Prix of Japan[10]
- 2006–2008: A-Style Grand Prix of Japan[11]
- 2009: Polini Grand Prix of Japan[12]
- 2012–2013: AirAsia Grand Prix of Japan[13]
- 2014–2019, 2022–present: Motul Grand Prix of Japan[14]
Formerly used circuits
[edit]-
Suzuka, used in 1987–1998 and 2000–2003 -
Fuji, used in 1966–1967 -
Suzuka layout used in 1962–1965
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Winners of the Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix
[edit]
Multiple winners (riders)
[edit]| # Wins | Rider | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 5 |  Marc Márquez
|
MotoGP | 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| Moto2 | 2012 | ||
| 125cc | 2010 | ||
| 4 |  Kevin Schwantz
|
500cc | 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994 |
 Daijiro Kato
|
250cc | 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 | |
 Valentino Rossi
|
MotoGP | 2002, 2003, 2008 | |
| 500cc | 2001 | ||
| Dani Pedrosa
|
MotoGP | 2011, 2012, 2015 | |
| 250cc | 2004 | ||
| 3 |  Jim Redman
|
350cc | 1964 |
| 250cc | 1963, 1964 | ||
 Mike Hailwood
|
350cc | 1965, 1967 | |
| 250cc | 1965 | ||
| Luca Cadalora
|
250cc | 1990, 1991, 1992 | |
| Loris Capirossi
|
MotoGP | 2005, 2006, 2007 | |
 Mika Kallio
|
250cc | 2007 | |
| 125cc | 2005, 2006 | ||
| Jorge Lorenzo
|
MotoGP | 2009, 2013, 2014 | |
| Álex Márquez
|
Moto2 | 2017 | |
| Moto3 | 2013, 2014 | ||
| 2 |  Luigi Taveri
|
50cc | 1963, 1965 |
| Bill Ivy
|
125cc | 1966, 1967 | |
| Wayne Rainey
|
500cc | 1990, 1993 | |
 Ralf Waldmann
|
250cc | 1995 | |
| 125cc | 1992 | ||
| Noboru Ueda
|
125cc | 1991, 1997 | |
 Mick Doohan
|
500cc | 1992, 1997 | |
| Max Biaggi
|
500cc | 1998 | |
| 250cc | 1996 | ||
| Norifumi Abe
|
500cc | 1996, 2000 | |
| Masao Azuma
|
125cc | 1999, 2001 | |
| Hiroshi Aoyama
|
250cc | 2005, 2006 | |
| Andrea Iannone
|
Moto2 | 2011 | |
| 125cc | 2009 | ||
 Johann Zarco
|
Moto2 | 2015 | |
| 125cc | 2011 | ||
| Thomas Lüthi
|
Moto2 | 2014, 2016 | |
| Andrea Dovizioso
|
MotoGP | 2017 | |
| 125cc | 2004 | ||
| Francesco Bagnaia
|
MotoGP | 2024 | |
| Moto2 | 2018 | ||
Multiple winners (manufacturers)
[edit]| # Wins | Manufacturer | Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Years won | ||
| 49 | Honda
|
MotoGP | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 |
| 500cc | 1992, 1997, 1998, 2001 | ||
| 350cc | 1964, 1967 | ||
| 250cc | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 | ||
| Moto3 | 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 | ||
| 125cc | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004 | ||
| 50cc | 1963, 1965 | ||
| 18 | Yamaha
|
MotoGP | 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 |
| 500cc | 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2000 | ||
| 350cc | 1966 | ||
| 250cc | 1966, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2002 | ||
| 125cc | 1966, 1967 | ||
| 11 | Suzuki
|
500cc | 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999 |
| 125cc | 1963, 1964, 1965 | ||
| 50cc | 1966, 1967 | ||
| 10 | Aprilia
|
250cc | 1996, 2003, 2009 |
| 125cc | 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009 | ||
| 9 | Kalex
|
Moto2 | 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 8 |  KTM
|
250cc | 2006, 2007 |
| Moto3 | 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018 | ||
| 125cc | 2005, 2006 | ||
| Ducati
|
MotoGP | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| 3 | Derbi
|
125cc | 2000, 2010, 2011 |
| Suter
|
Moto2 | 2011, 2012, 2014 | |
By year
[edit]A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.
| Year | Track | 80cc | 125cc | 250cc | 500cc | Report | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | |||
| 1989 | Suzuka | Ezio Gianola
|
Honda | John Kocinski
|
Yamaha | Kevin Schwantz
|
Suzuki | Report | ||
| 1988 | Anton Mang
|
Honda | Kevin Schwantz
|
Suzuki | Report | |||||
| 1987 |  Masaru Kobayashi
|
Honda | Randy Mamola
|
Yamaha | Report | |||||
| Year | Track | 50cc | 125cc | 250cc | 350cc | 500cc | Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | |||
| 1967 | Fuji | Mitsuo Itoh
|
Suzuki | Bill Ivy
|
Yamaha | Ralph Bryans
|
Honda | Mike Hailwood
|
Honda | Report | ||
| 1966 | Yoshimi Katayama
|
Suzuki | Bill Ivy
|
Yamaha | Hiroshi Hasegawa
|
Yamaha | Phil Read
|
Yamaha | Report | |||
| 1965 | Suzuka | Luigi Taveri
|
Honda |  Hugh Anderson
|
Suzuki | Mike Hailwood
|
Honda | Mike Hailwood
|
MV Agusta | Report | ||
| 1964 | Ralph Bryans [N 1]
|
Honda | Ernst Degner
|
Suzuki | Jim Redman
|
Honda | Jim Redman
|
Honda | Report | |||
| 1963 | Luigi Taveri
|
Honda | Frank Perris
|
Suzuki |  Jim Redman
|
Honda | Jim Redman [N 2]
|
Honda | Report | |||
| 1962 | Tommy Robb
|
Honda | Tommy Robb
|
Honda | Jim Redman
|
Honda | Jim Redman
|
Honda | Report | |||
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Suzuka scrapped from 2004 calendar". Crash. 19 September 2003.
- ^ "Motul Grand Prix of Japan cancelled". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "1963 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "1987 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "1990 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "1992 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "1993 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "1994 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2002 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2004 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2006 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2009 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2012 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "2014 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
- ^ "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1964" [World Championship Road Racing – 1964]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "Les Championnats du Monde de Courses sur Route – L'année 1963" [World Championship Road Racing – 1963]. Racing Memory (in French). Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
External links
[edit]- "History of the Grand Prix of Japan" (in French). Racing Memory. Retrieved 23 July 2007.