Bikes must have 4-stroke engines

MotoGP

(bikes must have 4-stroke engines)

• 2 cylinders or less 133 kg
• 3 cylinders 140.5 kg
• 4 cylinders 148 kg
• 5 cylinders 155.5 kg
• 6 cylinders or more 163 kg

250cc

• 1 cylinder 100kg
• 2 cylinders 100kg

125cc

• Motorcycle + rider 136kg

The teams may add ballast to their bikes to achieve the minimum weights and the weight may be checked at the initial technical control, but the main control of weight is made at the end of practice sessions or at the end of the race. For the 125cc class the weight checked is the total of the rider with full protective clothing plus the weight of the motorcycle.

In normal circumstances each team has two bikes prepared for racing for each rider, so that there is no delay should a problematic bike need to be replaced before a race or before or during a practice or qualifying session. The 2006 season saw the first instance of flag-to-flag racing at the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, during which the MotoGP riders changed machinery mid-race to use bikes with wet tyres.

Showcase Design

Grand Prix bikes are produced to win races and to showcase the design and technological capabilities of their manufacturers. The machines are therefore constructed from expensive, hardwearing and extremely light materials such as titanium and reinforced carbon fibre and benefit from the sort of advanced technology (carbon disk brakes, engine management systems, traction control) which does not feature on regular road bikes.

With millions of fans watching each round of the World Championship, when the bikes are on track they are also showcases for the numerous big brands involved in sponsoring MotoGP teams. Each bike displays a race number at the front and back, and usually features the colours and logos of the respective teams’ main sponsor as well as numerous other logos displaying the names of teams’ sub-sponsors.

Competition into the MotoGP in 2003

Entrance Thogeter, but the nation is Different

Competition into the MotoGP in 2003, along with team Ducati Corse Kawasaki team must swallow bitter pill. Due to the global economic crisis Kawasaki team they almost certainly be back from MotoGP. Consequently Melandri clear that hope is able to rise in this new team and John Hopkins threatened not to appear in the 2009 season. A fate that is a back-off compared to the Ducati team is able to damage the Honda-Yamaha domination in moto GP.

Secercah still have hope ...

Unless Jorge Martinez Aspar team intends to become satellite (non-manufacturer) in the MotoGP with Kawasaki. But this appears to still want their own because Kawasaki Shinya Nakano (now Aprilia Factory Team Wsbk) into one of the pembalapnya. Alasanya quite clear, as is Nakano's most successful drivers are working for Kawasaki in moto GP plus is one of the most consistent drivers in each season. But Martinez seemed less like the Nakano (without a clear reason), and this is a question whether the Kawasaki MotoGP still live in or even following a Subaru, Suzuki and Honda F1 that WRC had to "pull" due to the global financial crisis.

The Riders

Riders

The current MotoGP World Champion is Australian Casey Stoner of the Ducati Marlboro team, who sensationally won the 2007 title in just his second season in the premier class – securing ten race wins along the way.

In defending his title in 2008 Stoner is faced with stiff competition from the likes of Valentino Rossi, the five-time MotoGP World Champion, and Dani Pedrosa, last year’s runner-up. Meanwhile, Rossi’s new Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, the reigning 250cc World title holder, and Pedrosa’s Repsol Honda colleague Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP World Champion, are also stars of the show, with talent in abundance in each case.

Indeed, the level of racing ability throughout the 2008 MotoGP grid is exceptionally high, with the likes of Loris Capirossi, Andrea Dovizioso, Colin Edwards, John Hopkins, Marco Melandri and James Toseland also competing for podium finishes.

In the 250cc category the title race should be wide open this year, following the promotion of the likes of Lorenzo and Dovizioso to MotoGP. A strong Aprilia challenge is presented by Spanish trio Hector Barbera, Alvaro Bautista and Alex Debon, battling with KTM riders Mika Kallio and Hiroshi Aoyama.

In the single cylinder World Championship the current title holder is Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi, one of the older 125cc competitors, who defends his crown against a plethora of young riding talent in 2008.

The list of participants in each Grand Prix is composed of the permanent riders, contracted and nominated by their teams for the whole season, and wildcard entries – who are often local riders. Approximately 18 participants enter each MotoGP race, about 25 take part in each 250cc race and the 125cc races usually involve around 35 riders. The ages of the Grand Prix riders range from 34 for MotoGP’s Loris Capirossi, down to the previously stated minimum age limit of 15 for the youngsters in 125cc. The youngest regular rider in the championship is Repsol KTM rookie Marc Marquez.

Riders from around the globe take part in the World Championships including the following countries: Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, UK and USA.

For profiles of every rider from all three Grand Prix categories visit our dedicated Riders section.

MotoGP

MotoGP is the world’s premier motorcycling championship, with a season of 18 Grands Prix in 14 countries bringing together the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, Aprilia and KTM - plus an elite crop of riders from every corner of the globe.

The motorcycles used for MotoGP are purpose-built racing prototypes which are unavailable for purchase by the general public and cannot be legally ridden on public roads.

The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was first organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949 and has been administrated by commercial rights owners Dorna Sports under the supervision of the FIM since 1992. It is the oldest motorsport World Championship in existence.

MotoGP began a new era in 2002 when revised regulations allowed for the participation of bikes with four-stroke engines. For the 2007 season the adaptation of MotoGP bikes from 990cc engine capacity to 800cc resulted in an even more exciting spectacle, with higher corner speeds and even more competitive races – patterns which are continuing this year.

Furthermore, in the opening round of 2008, MotoGP become the first motorsports World Championship to host a night-time Grand Prix, with the Losail International Circuit’s state-of-the-art new floodlight system permitting a superb start to the season in Qatar.

Grand Prix Weekends

On a Grand Prix weekend there are three individual races, one for each of MotoGP’s three categories:

• MotoGP – the ultimate test for the finest talents in motorcycle racing, in which maximum engine displacement capacity is now the aforementioned 800cc (four-stroke engines) and the minimum age for riders is 18.
• 250 – the intermediate category where maximum engine displacement capacity is 250cc (twin cylinder engines) and the minimum age for riders is 16.
• 125 – the class which offers young riders the chance to take their first step into Grand Prix, where maximum engine displacement capacity is 125cc (single cylinder engines), the maximum age for riders is 28 (or 25 years of age for wild-card riders or for newly contracted riders participating in a 125cc race for the first time) and the minimum age is 15 years old.

Races begin from a grid which is composed of three starting positions per row (four per row in the 250cc and 125cc classes), with starting places secured by qualifying times - the fastest rider earning the famous pole position. The races can vary between 95km and 130km in distance and usually last approximately 40-45 minutes, each being a spectacular sprint to the finish line, with pit-stops being rare rather than the norm.

Tyre selection is therefore absolutely crucial and is undertaken by the teams following consultation with their riders based on knowledge of the track, weather conditions and the feel of the bike during free practice, qualifying and the pre-race warm-up sessions. A critical balance has to be found between grip and the endurance of the tyre, as soft, ‘gripping’ tyres permit quicker speeds and faster lap times but wear out quickly, whilst harder, less ‘sticky’ tyres last longer but do not assist the rider in achieving maximum velocity.

who is Runner-up ?

Difference in 85 points with Casey Stoner after the series to thirteen with the rest of the 5 series. Means to live a maximum of 125 points that can be obtained by each of the fight in the event MotoGp. Almost impossible for Valentino Rossi to overtake Casey Stoner. Moreover, given the courage and kedigdayaan engine Ducati Desmosedici when compared with the performance engine and reabilitas Yamaha YZF M1 Valentino Rossi besutan.

Suzuki GSV-R is now no longer Black Horse

Apart from the monotonya races in the last three series due to dominance Stoner and Ducati Desmosedicinya actually more interesting when we see the team kick lunge and drivers "central axis", meaning the order of ten major competitors but is not in keeping with Stoner. Now Klasemen konstrukstor competition in the increasingly tight, because the Rizla Suzuki team with a duet Vermullen and Hopkins can not be considered a black horse. Although they are still difficult to be pre-eminent racing series sweep in the podium positions, but have become commonplace, if it does not want the team called a quota for the sky is blue.

Ducati not overlap, who is Runner-up ?

When the Ducati Klasemen konstruktor have too much to live for competitors now determine who will be on the Runner Up Klasemen konstruktor Because there are three teams who will memperebutkan title runner up. So far, Honda lead with 219 points, followed with 213 points Yamaha and Suzuki with 191 points. Given the extraordinary performance of Rizla Suzuki team in the last 3 series may not Rizla Suzuki team can be a Runner Up to the end Klasemen konstruktor at the end of 2007 this season.