Grand Prix motorcycle racing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Grand Prix motorcycle racing

MotoGP World Championship
Category	Motorcycle racing
Region	International
Inaugural season	2002 (originally in 1949 as 500cc)
Constructors	Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Yamaha
Tyre suppliers	Michelin
Riders' champion	Marc Márquez (2025)
Constructors' champion	Ducati (2025)
Teams' champion	Ducati Lenovo Team (2025)
Current season
Moto2 World Championship
Category	Motorcycle racing
Region	International
Inaugural season	2010 (originally in 1949 as 250cc)
Constructors	Boscoscuro, Forward, Kalex
Tyre suppliers	Pirelli
Riders' champion	Diogo Moreira (2025)
Constructors' champion	Kalex (2025)
Teams' champion	Fantic Racing (2025)
Current season
Moto3 World Championship
Category	Motorcycle racing
Region	International
Inaugural season	2012 (originally in 1949 as 125cc)
Constructors	Honda, KTM
Tyre suppliers	Pirelli
Riders' champion	José Antonio Rueda (2025)
Constructors' champion	KTM (2025)
Teams' champion	Red Bull KTM Ajo (2025)
Current season

2025 Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix

Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the top level of motorcycle road racing. These exciting races happen on special tracks and are approved by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Motorcycle races have been around since the early 1900s. In 1949, the FIM started organizing these events into official World Championships. This makes it the oldest motorsport world championship still running today!

Grand Prix motorcycles are very special. They are built just for racing and cannot be bought by the public or ridden on regular roads. This is different from other races, like the Superbike World Championship, where bikes are modified versions of motorcycles you can buy. Since 2002, the top racing class has been called MotoGP. Before that, it was known as the 500cc class.

The championship has three main classes: MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. All these classes use powerful four-stroke engines. The rider with the most wins in Grand Prix history is Giacomo Agostini, who has 15 titles. In the top MotoGP class, Agostini, Valentino Rossi, and Marc Márquez are among the most successful riders.

History of Grand Prix Racing

The FIM first organized the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix in 1949. Today, a company called Dorna Sports manages the commercial side of the sport. The FIM still sets the rules. Teams and manufacturers also have groups that help decide on rules and changes.

In the early days, races had different classes based on engine size. There were classes for 50cc, 80cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, and even 750cc motorcycles. Sidecars also used to race. For a long time, four-stroke engines were the most common. But in the 1960s, two-stroke engines became popular in the smaller classes because of new technology.

In 1969, the FIM changed the rules to make racing fairer and less expensive. These changes limited the number of cylinders and gears bikes could have. Some big manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha left the sport for a while because of these changes. When they returned, two-stroke engines had become dominant in all classes.

Over the years, some classes were removed. The 50cc class (later 80cc) ended in 1989. The 350cc class ended in 1982, and the 750cc class in 1979. Sidecar races stopped being part of the World Championship after 1996.

Yamaha YZR-M1 MotoGP bike (2006)

From the 1970s until 2001, the top class allowed 500cc engines. Most bikes used two-stroke engines because they were more powerful for their size. In 2002, big changes came. The top class became MotoGP. Manufacturers could choose between 500cc two-stroke engines or new 990cc four-stroke engines. The four-stroke engines quickly became much better, and by 2003, all bikes in MotoGP were four-strokes. The smaller 125cc and 250cc classes still used two-stroke engines for a while.

In 2007, the MotoGP engine size was reduced to 800cc. To save money during the Great Recession around 2009, many changes were made. These included fewer practice sessions, longer-lasting engines, and using only one tyre supplier. In 2012, the MotoGP engine size increased again to 1,000cc.

The 250cc two-stroke class was replaced by the new Moto2 class in 2010. These bikes used 600cc four-stroke engines. In 2012, the 125cc two-stroke class was replaced by the Moto3 class, which uses 250cc four-stroke engines. In 2019, Moto2 bikes started using a new 765cc engine from Triumph.

A new electric motorcycle class, MotoE, was introduced in 2019 as a "World Cup." It became a World Championship in 2023. The MotoE class is taking a break after the 2025 season.

Key Moments in Grand Prix History

• 1949: The first FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix began with five categories. Harold Daniell won the first 500cc Grand Prix.
• 1961: The Argentine Grand Prix was the first world championship race held outside Europe. Kunimitsu Takahashi became the first Asian winner.
• 1963: The Japanese Grand Prix was the first world championship race in Asia.
• 1964: The United States Grand Prix was the first world championship race in North America.
• 1966: Honda won championships in all five solo classes. Jim Redman achieved Honda's first 500cc Grand Prix win.
• 1975: Giacomo Agostini (Yamaha) became the first non-European brand rider to win the 500cc championship with a two-stroke engine.
• 1976: The Isle of Man TT race was removed from the Grand Prix calendar due to safety concerns raised by riders.
• 1978: Kenny Roberts (Yamaha) became the first American to win the 500cc class.
• 1982: Antonio Cobas developed a new, lighter aluminum frame for motorcycles, which became standard in racing.
• 1985: Freddie Spencer (Honda) won both the 250cc and 500cc titles in the same year.
• 1992: Dorna Sports became the commercial rights owner of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
• 1993: Shinichi Ito broke the 200 mph (320 km/h) barrier on his fuel-injected Honda.
• 1998: Mick Doohan won his fifth straight 500cc title with Honda.
• 1999: Àlex Crivillé (Honda) became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc class.
• 2001: Valentino Rossi won his first top-class title, becoming the last two-stroke champion in the premier class.
• 2002: The MotoGP era began, replacing the 500cc class. Four-stroke engines were reintroduced.
• 2005: MotoGP introduced the "flag-to-flag" rule, allowing riders to change bikes during a race if it starts raining.
• 2007: MotoGP engine capacity was reduced to 800cc. Casey Stoner won the riders' championship for Ducati, the first European brand to win in 30 years.
• 2009: Bridgestone became the sole tyre supplier for MotoGP. Valentino Rossi won his seventh and final MotoGP title.
• 2010: Moto2 replaced the 250cc class, using 600cc four-stroke engines.
• 2012: Moto3 replaced the 125cc class, using 250cc four-stroke engines. MotoGP engine capacity increased to 1,000cc.
• 2013: Marc Márquez became the youngest ever premier class world champion.
• 2015: Suzuki returned to MotoGP after a four-year break.
• 2016: Michelin returned as the official tyre supplier for MotoGP.
• 2019: Triumph became the sole engine supplier for Moto2. The MotoE class for electric motorcycles was introduced. Marc Márquez won his sixth MotoGP title. Valentino Rossi competed in his 400th Grand Prix.
• 2020: The first half of the season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Brad Binder and Miguel Oliveira became the first riders from South Africa and Portugal to win a premier class Grand Prix. Joan Mir won the World Championship for Suzuki.
• 2021: Valentino Rossi retired, being the last rider to have competed in the 500cc class. Fabio Quartararo became the first French rider to win a premier class championship.
• 2022: Francesco Bagnaia became the first Italian rider to win a premier class championship since Valentino Rossi in 2009, and the first for Ducati since Casey Stoner in 2007.
• 2023: Sprint races were introduced at all Grands Prix in the MotoGP class. The MotoE class gained World Championship status. Brad Binder set a new top speed record of 366.1 km/h (227 mph) on his KTM.
• 2024: Pirelli became the official tyre supplier for Moto2 and Moto3 classes. Jorge Martín became the first independent team rider to win the World Championship in the MotoGP class.
• 2025: Marc Márquez won the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, ending a long wait for a title. He and his brother Álex Márquez made history by finishing first and second in a Grand Prix race. Diogo Moreira became the first Brazilian rider to win a World Championship in Moto2. Liberty Media, which owns Formula One, bought Dorna Sports (including MotoGP). The MotoE class is taking a break after the 2025 season.

How Races Work

A Grand Prix race usually has about 20 riders on the starting grid. Riders line up based on how fast they were in qualifying, with the fastest rider at the very front (called pole position). Each race is a fast 45-minute sprint. Riders do not stop for fuel or new tyres during the race.

Since 2005, if it starts raining during a MotoGP race, a white flag is shown. This means riders can quickly enter the pit lane to switch to a different motorcycle that has wet-weather tyres. These wet-weather bikes also have special steel brakes instead of carbon ones, because carbon brakes need to be very hot to work well, and rain cools them down too much.

If a rider crashes, marshals wave yellow flags to warn others and stop overtaking in that area. If a fallen rider cannot be moved safely, the race is stopped with a red flag. Crashes can be "lowside" (the bike slides out) or "highside" (the bike flips over). Modern bikes have traction control to help prevent the more dangerous highsides.

In 2023, "Sprint" races were added. These shorter races happen on Saturday, while the main Grand Prix is on Sunday. Sprint races are about half the length of a Grand Prix, and riders earn about half the points.

Meet the Riders

Here are some of the riders who competed in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship.

Name	Country	Constructor	Team	No.
Johann Zarco	France	Honda	Castrol Honda LCR	5
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu	Turkey	Yamaha	Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP	7
Luca Marini	Italy	Honda	Honda HRC Castrol	10
Diogo Moreira	Brazil	Honda	Honda LCR	11
Maverick Viñales	Spain	KTM	Red Bull KTM Tech3	12
Fabio Quartararo	France	Yamaha	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team	20
Franco Morbidelli	Italy	Ducati	Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team	21
Enea Bastianini	Italy	KTM	Red Bull KTM Tech3	23
Raúl Fernández	Spain	Aprilia	Trackhouse MotoGP Team	25
Brad Binder	South Africa	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	33
Joan Mir	Spain	Honda	Honda HRC Castrol	36
Pedro Acosta	Spain	KTM	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	37
Álex Rins	Spain	Yamaha	Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team	42
Jack Miller	Australia	Yamaha	Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP	43
Fabio Di Giannantonio	Italy	Ducati	Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team	49
Fermín Aldeguer	Spain	Ducati	BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP	54
Francesco Bagnaia	Italy	Ducati	Ducati Lenovo Team	63
Marco Bezzecchi	Italy	Aprilia	Aprilia Racing	72
Álex Márquez	Spain	Ducati	BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP	73
Ai Ogura	Japan	Aprilia	Trackhouse MotoGP Team	79
Jorge Martín	Spain	Aprilia	Aprilia Racing	89
Marc Márquez	Spain	Ducati	Ducati Lenovo Team	93

Champions of Grand Prix Racing

The Riders' World Championship is given to the rider who earns the most points throughout a season. Points are awarded based on how well riders finish in each Grand Prix race.

Giacomo Agostini is the most successful champion ever, with 15 titles (8 in 500cc and 7 in 350cc). Another amazing rider was Mike Hailwood, who won 10 out of 12 races in the 250cc class in 1966. Mick Doohan also had an incredible season in 1997, winning 12 out of 15 races in the 500cc class.

Valentino Rossi is a very famous modern rider. He won nine titles in total, including seven in the top 500cc/MotoGP class. The 2025 champion in the MotoGP class was Spanish rider Marc Márquez.

Race Tracks Around the World

The 2026 MotoGP World Championship will visit 22 different circuits. These tracks are located all over the world, making it a truly international sport!

•  Thailand, Buriram, Chang International Circuit
•  Brazil, Goiânia, Autódromo Internacional Ayrton Senna
•  United States, Austin, Circuit of the Americas
•  Qatar, Lusail, Lusail International Circuit
•  Spain, Jerez de la Frontera, Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto
•  France, Le Mans, Bugatti Circuit
•  Spain, Montmeló, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
•  Italy, Scarperia e San Piero, Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello
•  Hungary, Balatonfőkajár, Balaton Park Circuit
•  Czech Republic, Brno, Brno Circuit
•  Netherlands, Assen, TT Circuit Assen
•  Germany, Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Sachsenring
•  United Kingdom, Silverstone, Silverstone Circuit
•  Spain, Alcañiz, MotorLand Aragón
•  Italy, Misano Adriatico, Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
•  Austria, Spielberg, Red Bull Ring
•  Japan, Motegi, Mobility Resort Motegi
•  Indonesia, Mandalika, Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit
•  Australia, Phillip Island, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
•  Malaysia, Sepang, Petronas Sepang International Circuit
•  Portugal, Portimão, Algarve International Circuit
•  Spain, Valencia, Circuit Ricardo Tormo

Motorcycle Rules and Technology

MotoGP Class Bikes

Shortened 2025 MotoGP logo

Yamaha YZR-M1 of Fabio Quartararo displayed at Sensō-ji temple during a promotional event for 2024 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix

Luca Marini, riding a Honda RC213V, at Sepang (2024)

Marc Márquez, riding a Ducati Desmosedici, at Brno

Aleix Espargaró, riding an Aprilia RS-GP, at Sachsenring (2021)

Brad Binder, riding a KTM RC16, at Valencia (2020)

When the new MotoGP era began in 2002, bikes could have 500cc two-stroke or 990cc four-stroke engines. The four-stroke engines were so powerful that two-stroke bikes quickly disappeared from the class. In 2007, the maximum engine size was reduced to 800cc.

MotoGP bikes can have different engine designs. However, the more cylinders an engine has, the heavier the motorcycle must be. This rule helps to balance the competition, as engines with more cylinders can usually produce more power. Today, most teams use four-cylinder engines because they offer a good balance of power and weight.

To keep speeds safe, rules about weight, fuel, and engine size have changed over time. For example, in 2007, the engine size was reduced to 800cc, and fuel capacity was limited to 21 litres (4.6 imp gal; 5.5 US gal). The fastest speed ever recorded by a MotoGP bike was 366.1 km/h (227 mph), set by Brad Binder in 2023.

From 2012, the engine capacity increased to 1,000cc. Also, teams that were not major manufacturers could get special "claiming rule team" (CRT) status. This gave them more engines and fuel to help them compete. Later, this became the "Open Class." From 2016, all teams started using a standard engine control unit (ECU) software.

To make racing fairer, devices that lower the front or rear of the bike (called ride height or holeshot devices) were banned from 2023. From 2027, all ride height devices will be banned. Engine size will be 850cc, and aerodynamics will be more controlled. Bikes will also use 100% sustainable fuel.

Moto2 Class Bikes

Marcos Ramírez in Moto2 at Sepang (2024)

The Moto2 class started in 2010, replacing the old 250cc two-stroke class. These bikes use 600cc four-stroke engines. For many years, Honda supplied all the engines. Bikes in this class use steel brake discs, not carbon ones.

In 2019, Triumph became the new engine supplier for Moto2. Their engines are 765cc with three cylinders. Since 2024, Pirelli has been the only tyre supplier for Moto2 and Moto3.

Moto3 Class Bikes

Motorcycle of Ángel Piqueras in Moto3 at Mugello

The Moto3 class replaced the 125cc class in 2012. These bikes have single-cylinder 250cc four-stroke engines. The total weight of the motorcycle and rider must be at least 148 kg (326 lb).

To ensure rider safety, the FIM set a minimum age of 18 for Moto3 riders starting in the 2023 season. This change was made after several incidents involving young riders.

Tyres in Racing

Choosing the right tyres is very important for riders. They decide based on how the bike feels during practice and the weather forecast. Softer tyres offer more grip but wear out faster. Harder tyres last longer but have less grip. Riders need to be skilled at managing their tyres during a race.

Special "wet" tyres with deep treads are used when it rains. However, if the track dries out, these tyres wear down very quickly.

Rules about tyres have changed over the years. In 2007, the number of tyres a rider could use was limited. This made tyre choice a big challenge. From 2009 to 2015, Bridgestone was the only tyre supplier for MotoGP. Michelin returned as the official supplier in 2016.

After the 2025 season, Pirelli will become the tyre supplier for MotoGP from 2027. Pirelli has already been supplying tyres for Moto2 and Moto3 since 2024.

See also

In Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Motociclismo para niños

• MotoGP Rookie of the Year
• Outline of motorcycles and motorcycling
• Grand Prix motorcycle racing sponsorship liveries
• List of Grand Prix motorcycle races
• List of 500cc/MotoGP World Riders' Champions