Wikipedia

Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix

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.

Japanese Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueMobility Resort Motegi (1999, 2004–2019, 2022–present)
Suzuka Circuit (1963–1965, 1987–1998, 2000–2003)
Fuji Speedway (1966–1967)
First race1963
Most wins (rider)Marc Márquez (5)
Most wins (manufacturer)Honda (49)

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

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  • 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

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  •  
    Suzuka, used in 1987–1998 and 2000–2003
  •  
    Fuji, used in 1966–1967
  •  
    Suzuka layout used in 1962–1965

Winners of the Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix

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Kevin Schwantz on Suzuki RGV500 at the 1993 Japanese GP
 
Daijiro Kato winning the 1998 Japanese GP on his Honda NSR250
 
Dani Pedrosa celebrating after winning the 2011 Japanese GP on his Honda RC212V
 
Valentino Rossi in the lead followed by Marc Márquez and Dani Pedrosa at the 2013 Japanese GP
 
Marc Márquez riding his Honda RC213V while crossing the finish line first at the 2018 Japanese GP

Multiple winners (riders)

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# 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)

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# 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

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A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2024 Motegi   David Alonso CFMoto   Manuel González Kalex   Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Report
2023   Jaume Masià Honda   Somkiat Chantra Kalex   Jorge Martín Ducati Report
2022   Izan Guevara Gas Gas   Ai Ogura Kalex   Jack Miller Ducati Report
2021 Cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns
2020
2019   Lorenzo Dalla Porta Honda   Luca Marini Kalex   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2018   Marco Bezzecchi KTM   Francesco Bagnaia Kalex   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2017   Romano Fenati Honda   Álex Márquez Kalex   Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Report
2016   Enea Bastianini KTM   Thomas Lüthi Kalex   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2015   Niccolò Antonelli Honda   Johann Zarco Kalex   Dani Pedrosa Honda Report
2014   Álex Márquez Honda   Thomas Lüthi Suter   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2013   Álex Márquez KTM   Pol Espargaró Kalex   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2012   Danny Kent KTM   Marc Márquez Suter   Dani Pedrosa Honda Report
Year Track 125cc Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2011 Motegi   Johann Zarco Derbi   Andrea Iannone Suter   Dani Pedrosa Honda Report
2010   Marc Márquez Derbi   Toni Elías Moriwaki   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2009 Motegi   Andrea Iannone Aprilia   Álvaro Bautista Aprilia   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2008   Stefan Bradl Aprilia   Marco Simoncelli Gilera   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2007   Mattia Pasini Aprilia   Mika Kallio KTM   Loris Capirossi Ducati Report
2006   Mika Kallio KTM   Hiroshi Aoyama KTM   Loris Capirossi Ducati Report
2005   Mika Kallio KTM   Hiroshi Aoyama Honda   Loris Capirossi Ducati Report
2004   Andrea Dovizioso Honda   Daniel Pedrosa Honda   Makoto Tamada Honda Report
2003 Suzuka   Stefano Perugini Aprilia   Manuel Poggiali Aprilia   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
2002   Arnaud Vincent Aprilia   Osamu Miyazaki Yamaha   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2001 Suzuka   Masao Azuma Honda   Daijiro Kato Honda   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
2000   Youichi Ui Derbi   Daijiro Kato Honda   Norifumi Abe Yamaha Report
1999 Motegi   Masao Azuma Honda   Shinya Nakano Yamaha   Kenny Roberts Jr. Suzuki Report
1998 Suzuka   Kazuto Sakata Aprilia   Daijiro Kato Honda   Max Biaggi Honda Report
1997   Noboru Ueda Honda   Daijiro Kato Honda   Mick Doohan Honda Report
1996   Masaki Tokudome Aprilia   Max Biaggi Aprilia   Norifumi Abe Yamaha Report
1995   Haruchika Aoki Honda   Ralf Waldmann Honda   Daryl Beattie Suzuki Report
1994   Takeshi Tsujimura Honda   Tadayuki Okada Honda   Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Report
1993   Dirk Raudies Honda   Tetsuya Harada Yamaha   Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report
1992   Ralf Waldmann Honda   Luca Cadalora Honda   Mick Doohan Honda Report
1991   Noboru Ueda Honda   Luca Cadalora Honda   Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Report
1990   Hans Spaan Honda   Luca Cadalora Yamaha   Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report
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

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  1. ^ The 1964 50cc race only had five competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[15]
  2. ^ The 1963 350cc race only had three competitors and the race was excluded from the world championship.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Suzuka scrapped from 2004 calendar". Crash. 19 September 2003.
  2. ^ "Motul Grand Prix of Japan cancelled". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  3. ^ "1963 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  4. ^ "1987 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  5. ^ "1990 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  6. ^ "1992 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  7. ^ "1993 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  8. ^ "1994 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  9. ^ "2002 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  10. ^ "2004 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  11. ^ "2006 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  12. ^ "2009 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  13. ^ "2012 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  14. ^ "2014 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". progcovers.com.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
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