MotoGP is the top competition in the world for motorcycle road racing.
Although independent races had been hosted since the early twentieth century and were frequently given the title of 'Grand Prix', the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme was not founded until 1949. The development of this worldwide federation allowed rules and regulations to be standardised across events in different countries, so the first ever motorsport world championship could be created.
Originally, each event featured races in 5 categories, split according to the engine size of the motorcycles: there were classes for 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc, and 500 cc engines, plus another class for vehicles with sidecars attached.
In 2002, the top class of competition was rebranded as MotoGP, and 2-stroke 500 cc engines were phased out in favour of 4-stroke engines up to 990 cc. The current breakdown of classes at a Grand Prix event includes MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE, with the first 3 using 4-stroke engines and the recently developed MotoE using only electric motorcycles.
Format & Scoring
Each MotoGP season is made up of Grand Prix events, which are held at circuits all across the globe. The number of Grands Prix varies from year to year, but in 2023 there will be 21 events.
Each motorcycle Grand Prix is contested by 22 riders, representing 11 teams and 5 different manufacturers. The events begin with qualifying races, which determine the starting order for the competitive race. The rider who performs best in qualifying starts in pole position, while the rider who performs worst must start furthest from the line. Once the race begins, the riders do not stop for fuel, new tyres, or any other kind of break.
The winner of the Grand Prix race receives a trophy and 25 championship points, while those who finish second and third receive 20 and 16 points respectively. Points are awarded down to the rider who finishes in 15th position, who receives 1 point. At the end of the season, the rider with the most points wins the World Riders' Championship, while the team with the most points between its 2 riders wins the World Constructors' Championship.
