MotoGP World Championship- All you need to know

• May 29, 2017
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MotoGP is the highest level of Motorcycle racing in the World, governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM). At present the MotoGP World Championship's commercial rights is owned by Dorna sports while FIM acts as the sanctioning body.

MotoGP History:

Until 2001 the Premier class was called the 500cc class, and the last 500cc World title was won by Valentino Rossi on a 2 stroke Honda NSR500. Come 2002, the Championship was officially named MotoGP, with an option of 990cc four strokes or 500cc two strokes. In a few years time the rules were changed for 2007, allowing only four stroke bikes and limited to 800 cubic capacity. In 2012 as a result of another rule change, the bikes were all increased to a maximum engine capacity of 1000cc and four cylinders which is still followed. Bikes Used In MotoGP:

The bikes used in the MotoGP World Championship are technologically advanced racing prototypes developed by the corresponding manufacturing for the discrete use of closed circuit racing. The MotoGP bikes are inaccessible for normal public, and is provided only for the signed racers. There are 6 different manufacturers right now in the MotoGP World Championship using different types of engine configurations. They are listed below.

* Yamaha - Inline four
* Honda - V4
* Ducati - 90° V4
* Suzuki - Inline four
* Aprilia - V4
* KTM - V4

As far as the ECU and software is concerned, at present the entire grid uses an unified software and ECU provided by Magneti Marelli. The unified rule was brought to bridge the large gap between factory and open bikes, to make the bikes equally competitive at the end. The bikes have highly sophisticated and advanced technologies like Seamless Shift Gearbox, Counter Rotating Crankshaft, Pneumatic Valves, Anti Hoping Dry Clutch Unit, Advanced Traction and Wheelie Control Systems, Interchangeable Fuel Maps, Titanium engine components and so on.

*** Team Movistar Yamaha MotoGP

MotoGP Teams:

The teams are classified into 3 major categories- Factory team, Satellite team and Open team.

1. The teams that are directly run by manufacturers/factories are known as Factory teams, and these teams get regular mid season upgrades through the R&D of the respective manufacturers.

Factory Teams- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, Repsol Honda, Ducati Team, Team Suzuki Ecstar, Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

2. The Satellite teams are those teams which are majorly backed and sponsored by the manufacturers, making them a mix of factory and open class. The satellite teams get bikes which are slightly similar to the factory bikes, and also get occasional updates. The satellite teams have access to the data of factory teams and vice versa.

Satellite Teams- Monster Yamaha Tech3, LCR Honda, Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS, Octo Pramac Racing.

3. The Open teams are those which has a separate owner or group of owners. These teams lend bikes from the factories and usually get their lower spec bikes from the previous years.

Open Teams- Pull&Bear Aspar Team, Reale Avintia Racing.


MototGP Practice And Qualifying:

Every race weekend starts off with a pre race press conference taking place on Thursday. Action starts on Friday, as the free practice sessions 1 and 2 gets underway. Saturday morning has a free practice session 3 scheduled. There is also a free practice 4 session before the Qualifying, but the times set during FP4 aren't counted.

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Combining the three FP timings together, there is a consolidated time sheet. The first 10 riders in this get through directly to Q2. Those in 11th place and below, go into Q1. Each of the Q1 and Q2 takes place as a 15 minute session. The top 2 riders from Q1, go into the Q2. The first 12 rider grid is formed according to the times set in Q2, and the rest is followed by the riders in Q1.

MotoGP Race And Points Classification:

The MotoGP race always takes place on Sunday afternoon, usually at 2.30PM. At the end of the race, the riders are classified and given their respective points. The winner scores 25 points followed by 20 points to the runner up. The second runner up gets 15 points. P4 and P5 get 13 and 11 points respectively, while P6 to P15 get points from 10 to 1. MotoGP Teams And Rider Line Up:

The number of teams and their corresponding rider line up for the current 2017 season is listed below. By: Aravind Rb