Grand Prix motorcycle racing refers to the premier categories of motorcycle road racing. The category is commonly referred to simply as GP racing or MotoGP. Premier class GP motorcycles are prototype racing machines that are not available for general purchase (road-going versions of the 125 and 250cc machines are available). This contrasts with the various production categories of racing, such as World Superbike, that feature modified versions of motorcycles available to the public. Currently there are three engine displacement categories of Grand Prix motorcycles: 125 cc, 250 cc and MotoGP (up to 990 cc). In 2007, the MotoGP class will have its maximum engine displacement capacity reduced to 800 cc, ostensibly for safety reasons. Moto Gp logo File links The following pages link to this file: Grand Prix motorcycle racing ... A motorcycle (or motorbike) is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. ... Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle road racing based on heavily-modified production motorcycles, approximately akin to Touring car racing. ... Engine displacement is defined as the total volume of air/fuel mixture an engine can draw in during one complete engine cycle; it is normally stated in cubic inches, cubic centimeters, or litres. ... A cubic centimetre (cm3) is an SI derived unit of volume, equal to the volume of a cube with side length of 1 centi metre. ...

Overview

A World Championship for motorcycle racing was first organized by the FIM in 1949. There have traditionally been several races at each event for various classes of motorcycles, based on engine size, and one class for sidecars. Classes for 50cc, 125cc, 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc single seaters have existed over time, and 350cc and 500cc sidecars. Up through the 1950s and most of the 1960s, four-stroke engines dominated all classes. In the 1960s, two-stroke engines began to take root in the smaller classes. By the 1970s, two-strokes completely eclipsed the four-strokes. In 1979, Honda made an attempt to return the four-stroke to the top class, with the NR500, but this project failed, and in 1983, even Honda was winning with a two-stroke 500. The 50cc class was replaced by an 80cc class, then the class was dropped entirely in the 1990s, after being dominated primarily by Spanish and Italian makes. The 350cc class vanished in the 1980s. Sidecars were dropped from World Championship events in the 1990s, reducing the field to 125s, 250s, and 500s. FIM can refer to: the currency code for Markka Field ion microscope Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The four-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine is the cycle most commonly used for automotive and industrial purposes today (cars and trucks, generators, etc). ... The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two strokes (linear movements of the piston) instead of four, although the same four operations (intake, compression, power, exhaust) still occur. ... Honda Motor Co. ... The NR500 was a 500cc racing motorcycle made by Honda from 1979 to 1983 for Grand Prix motorcycle racing. ...

The premier class of GP motorcycle racing has changed dramatically in recent years. From the mid-1970s until 2002 the top class of GP racing was restricted to four cylinders and 500 cc, regardless of whether the engine was a two-stroke or four-stroke. Consequently, all machines were two-strokes, due to the greater power output for a given engine capacity. In 2002 manufacturers were first permitted to enlarge the total capacity of four stroke machines to a maximum of 990 cc, and to employ their choice of three to six cylinders. 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two strokes (linear movements of the piston) instead of four, although the same four operations (intake, compression, power, exhaust) still occur. ... The four-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine is the cycle most commonly used for automotive and industrial purposes today (cars and trucks, generators, etc). ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A 500 cc two-stroke machine should, in theory, deliver similar power to a 990 cc four-stroke machine, and the 2002 field was comprised of numerous machines of each engine type. However, it rapidly became apparent that the four-stroke machines were outperforming the two-strokes in almost every area. As a result, in 2003 there were no two-stroke machines remaining in the field. The 125 cc and 250 cc classes still consist exclusively of two-stroke machines. 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Since nearly all medium and large capacity (over 250 cc) road motorcycles have four-stroke engines, most manufacturers benefit more directly from the technology developed in road racing if they use four-stroke racing engines. Recent decisions by the EU to prohibit the sale of two-stroke machines to the general public have raised doubts about the long-term viability of two-stroke motorcycle racing classes, although there has been no official announcements from any of the ruling organisations.

Beginning in 2007, the displacement of MotoGP class machines will be restricted to 800 cc. The stated reason for this reduction is to improve rider safety, as the power output and top speed of MotoGP machines has been increasing substantially since 2002. The current MotoGP speed record of 332.4 km/h (206.5 mph) was set by Loris Capirossi on a Ducati Desmosedici at Mugello in 2003. By way of comparison, the current Formula One speed record of 369.9 km/h (229.8 mph) was set by Antonio Pizzonia of the BMW WilliamsF1 team, at Monza in 2004. The inaugural Formula One World Championship was won by Italian Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo in 1950, barely defeating his Argentine teammate Juan Manuel Fangio. ... Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is a motor racing circuit near the town of Monza in Italy, north of Milan. ...

The specific choice of a reduction to 800 cc (as opposed to other power reduction methods, such as decreasing the number of transmission gears permitted) is very favourable to Honda, who currently run a five cylinder machine, and need only remove a cylinder to modify their engine. Other manufacturers will need to entirely redesign their engines. Cynical journalists have suggested that this power reduction decision came about due to pressure from Honda, but there is no public evidence to support this claim. Honda Motor Co. ... The Honda RC211V was developed in 2001 by HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) because regulations for the World Championship motorcycle road racing 500 cc class were changed drastically for the 2002 season. ...

Specifications

125 cc machines are restricted to a single cylinder and a minimum weight of 80 kilograms and the 250 cc machines to two cylinders and a minimum of 100 kilograms. The word cylinder has several meanings. ... Weight is the interaction of matter with a gravitational field. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ...

MotoGP bikes are permitted to have engines with 3 to 6 cylinders, and have variable weight limits depending on the number of cylinders. This is because an engine with more cylinders for a given capacity means the engine can produce more power, and the weight limit is increased as a form of handicap. In 2004 motorcycles were entered with three-, four- and five-cylinder configurations. 2005 saw the additional entry of a six-cylinder machine from Blata. See also: Handicap (competition) Handicapped is an adjective used to refer to a person or animal who is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. ...

Like Formula One cars, GP motorcycles are made not only to be raced but to demonstrate the technical and design prowess of the manufacturer. As a result, MotoGP machines are generally made of lightweight and expensive materials such as titanium and carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. They regularly feature technology not available to the general public. The inaugural Formula One World Championship was won by Italian Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo in 1950, barely defeating his Argentine teammate Juan Manuel Fangio. ... General Name, Symbol, Number titanium, Ti, 22 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 4, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Atomic mass 47. ... Graphite-reinforced plastic or carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP or CRP), is a strong, light and very expensive composite material or fibre reinforced plastic. ...

Examples of this include sophisticated electronics, including telemetry, engine management systems and traction control, carbon disk brakes, and advanced engine technology such as Honda's V5 engine configuration and Aprilia's RS3. The latter employs the Cosworth-designed pneumatic valve actuation system, used in Formula One cars. Telemetry is a technology which allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of interest to the system designer or operator. ... In the automotive area, ECU is an acronym for Electronic Control Unit, being sometimes also used to denote an Engine Control Unit. ... Traction control and Vehicle Stability Control systems, on current production vehicles, are typically (but not necessarily) electro-hydraulic systems designed to prevent loss of control when excessive throttle or steering is applied by the driver. ... On automobiles, disc brakes are located within the wheel The disc brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel. ... Honda Motor Co. ... V5 may refer to: Cortical area V5 The V5 interface An engine in V configuration with 5 cylinders, e. ... An Aprilia RS125, model of 1998 Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle company, which in recent times bought the historical Moto-Guzzi and Laverda brands. ... A Ford Cosworth DFV on a Ligier JS11 The original company was founded as a British racing engine maker, based in Northampton in 1958 by Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth. ... poppet valve A poppet valve is the type of valve system used in most piston engines, used to seal the intake and exhaust ports. ...

While MotoGP motorcycles are only raced at World Championship level, slightly less powerful 125 cc and 250 cc bikes are available at relatively reasonable cost. A 125 cc bike costs about the same as a small car. These bikes are raced in national championships around the world.

One of the main challenges that confronts a MotoGP motorcycle rider and designer is how to translate the machine's enormous power - around 240 horsepower (179 kW), through a single tyre-contact patch roughly the size of a human hand. For comparison, Formula 1 cars produce up to 800 bhp (600 kW) from their three-litre engines but have 10 times the tyre contact surface. Because of this difficulty, MotoGP is perhaps unique in modern motor sport in that teams will often deliberately detune their engines to allow their riders a chance to control them, with most not making more than the 180 to 190 bhp (135 to 140 kW) of the front-running two-stroke bikes. // Mechanical power In physics, power (symbol: P) is the amount of work W done per unit of time t. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... The litre (spelled liter in American English) is a metric unit of volume. ...

Riders

The top riders travel the world to compete in the annual World Championship series. The circuit is perhaps most closely followed in Spain and Italy, home of many of the more successful riders at the moment.

The premier class in past seasons has been dominated by Italian Valentino Rossi, winner of the 2001 to 2004 titles, with fellow countryman Max Biaggi and Spaniard Sete Gibernau his closest rivals. Valentino Rossi is a professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. ... Max Biaggi is an Italian MotoGP racer currently residing in Monaco. ... Sete Gibernau is a Spanish MotoGP racer currently residing in Switzerland. ...

Notable riders of the past include:

• Giacomo Agostini
• Michael Doohan
• Mike Hailwood
• Libero Liberati
• Eddie Lawson
• Toni Mang
• Angel Nieto
• Wayne Rainey
• Wayne Gardner
• Jim Redman
• Phil Read
• Kenny Roberts Sr
• Kevin Schwantz
• Barry Sheene
• Freddie Spencer
• Egbert Streuer (sidecar)
• John Surtees
• Jock Taylor
• Tetsuya Harada
• Daijiro Kato

Agostini in 2003 Giacomo Agostini, nickname Ago, born 16 June 1942 in Brescia, Italy was a motorcyclist. ... Michael Mick Doohan (born June 4, 1965) is one of the worlds most successful motorcycle racers, winning five 500 cc World Championships (at the time the premier racing category), second only to Giacomo Agostini in number of championships won. ... Mike Hailwood (born April 2, 1940, died March 23, 1981)was a nine time motorcycle world champion and later a Formula One driver from Britain. ... Libero Liberati (Terni, 1926‑1962) was an Italian motorcycle racer, the 500cc/MotoGP World Champion in 1957. ... Eddie Lawson (b March 11, 1958) was an American motorcycle racer with four world GP championships to his name. ... Wayne Rainey (born October 23, 1960) was one of the most successful American motorcycle road racers during the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Wayne Gardner (born October 11, 1959) was an Australian motorcycle road racer and touring car racer. ... Kevin Schwantz (born June 19, 1964) was an American motorcycle road racer during the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Barry Sheene MBE (September 11, 1950 - March 10, 2003) was a legendaryBritish motorcycle racer, winning several British and World Championships. ... John Surtees (born February 11, 1934) is a British racing driver, and the only one to have become World Champion on both two and four wheels. ... Jock Taylor (March 9, 1954 - August 15, 1982) was a British World Champion motorcycle sidecar racer. ... Daijiro Kato (加藤 大治郎 Katō Daijirō, July 4, 1976 - April 18, 2003) was a Japanese motorcycle racer, the 2001 World Champion in the 250 cc class. ...

2005 MotoGP competition

• 3 Max Biaggi, Repsol Honda Team, 2004 3rd
• 4 Alex Barros, Camel Honda Team
• 5 Colin Edwards, Gauloises Yamaha Team
• 6 Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda
• 7 Carlos Checa, Ducati Marlboro Team
• 10 Kenny Roberts Jr, Team Suzuki MotoGP
• 11 Ruben Xaus, Fortuna Yamaha Team
• 12 Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda Team
• 15 Sete Gibernau, Team movistar Honda MotoGP, 2004 2nd
• 16 Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Konica Minolta Honda
• 19 Olivier Jacque, Kawasaki Racing Team
• 21 John Hopkins, Team Suzuki MotoGP
• 24 Toni Elias, Fortuna Yamaha Team
• 27 Franco Battaini, Blata WCM
• 33 Marco Melandri, Team movistar Honda MotoGP
• 44 Roberto Rolfo, D'Antin MotoGP Ducati
• 46 Valentino Rossi, Gauloises Yamaha Team, 2004 World Champion
• 56 Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki Racing Team
• 65 Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro Team
• 66 Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki Racing Team
• 67 Shane Byrne, Team Roberts
• 69 Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team
• 72 Tohru Ukawa, Moriwaki Racing
• 77 James Ellison, Blata WCM
• 94 David Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team

Please dont use this image. ... Max Biaggi is an Italian MotoGP racer currently residing in Monaco. ... Repsol YPF is an integrated oil and gas company with operations in 29 countries, principally Spain and Argentina. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Image File history File links General info: Large flag of Brazil Dimensions: 431x302 pixels Source: Image originally derived from the public domain flags of the CIA World Factbook License: originally public domain, modifications under GFDL Most of the flags have had their colours improved and many have been resized to... Alexandre Barros Alex Barros (Alexandre Barros) is a Brazilian MotoGP racer. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 18 KB) Subject: Flag of the United States. ... Colin Edwards Jr. ... Gauloises are a brand of cigarette manufactured in France. ... Yamaha Motor Corporation (ヤマハ発動機株式会社) is a motorized vehicle-producing company, initially part of the Yamaha Corporation. ... Large flag of Japan (10:7 (length:width) white rectangle with a centered red circle with a diameter of 3/5 of the width) Dimensions as stated and colors as used on the Homepage of the Japanese embassy to germany. ... Konica Minolta Co. ... Konica Minolta Co. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Ducati Motor Holding is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. ... Marlboro is the name of some places in the United States of America: Marlboro, New Jersey Marlboro, New York Marlboro, Vermont Upper Marlboro, Maryland Marlboro is the name of a suburb of Sandton in Gauteng Province, South Africa There is also Marlboro cigarettes Also see Marlborough. ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 18 KB) Subject: Flag of the United States. ... 2002 Suzuki FXR150 Suzuki Motor Corporation is a Japanese manufacturing company producing a range of small automobiles (especially Keicars), a full range of motorcycles, outboard motors, and a variety of other small combustion-powered engine products. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Yamaha Motor Corporation (ヤマハ発動機株式会社) is a motorized vehicle-producing company, initially part of the Yamaha Corporation. ... Australian National Flag For more information, see Australian Government, Flying the Flag - Its an Honour!. Created by User:E Pluribus Anthony File links The following pages link to this file: Australia Politics of Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Labor Party Australian Democrats Australian Capital Territory Talk:Australian rules... Honda Motor Co. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Sete Gibernau is a Spanish MotoGP racer currently residing in Switzerland. ... Movistar is a major mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Large flag of the Netherlands. ... Konica Minolta Co. ... Konica Minolta Co. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Tricolore of France Created by User:Anthony S. Tsoumbris French Tricolore flag File links The following pages link to this file: Austria Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam A.S. Roma A.C. Milan Belgium Czech Republic Cyprus Economy of the Czech Republic Corsica Chelsea F.C. European Union Estonia European... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 18 KB) Subject: Flag of the United States. ... John Hopper Hopkins is a MotoGP racer currently riding for the Suzuki team. ... 2002 Suzuki FXR150 Suzuki Motor Corporation is a Japanese manufacturing company producing a range of small automobiles (especially Keicars), a full range of motorcycles, outboard motors, and a variety of other small combustion-powered engine products. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... Yamaha Motor Corporation (ヤマハ発動機株式会社) is a motorized vehicle-producing company, initially part of the Yamaha Corporation. ... Please dont use this image. ... Please dont use this image. ... Marco Melandri is an Italian MotoGP racer currently racing for Team Movistar Honda. ... Movistar is a major mobile phone operator owned by Telefónica Móviles. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Please dont use this image. ... Ducati Motor Holding is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. ... Please dont use this image. ... Valentino Rossi is a professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. ... Gauloises are a brand of cigarette manufactured in France. ... Yamaha Motor Corporation (ヤマハ発動機株式会社) is a motorized vehicle-producing company, initially part of the Yamaha Corporation. ... Large flag of Japan (10:7 (length:width) white rectangle with a centered red circle with a diameter of 3/5 of the width) Dimensions as stated and colors as used on the Homepage of the Japanese embassy to germany. ... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ... Please dont use this image. ... Ducati Motor Holding is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. ... Marlboro is the name of some places in the United States of America: Marlboro, New Jersey Marlboro, New York Marlboro, Vermont Upper Marlboro, Maryland Marlboro is the name of a suburb of Sandton in Gauteng Province, South Africa There is also Marlboro cigarettes Also see Marlborough. ... {{JESUS TOOK THE FLAG}} He stole it and sold it to some asian drug dealers from the atlantic, hmm? File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Berlin Brandenburg Chelsea F.C. European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats Fulham F.C. Football World... Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. ... Image File history File links Uk_flag_large. ... Shane Byrne (aka Munch) attended Blacrock College in Dublin, the alma matter of many Irish greats. ... Kenny Roberts is an American motorcycle road racer. ... Download high resolution version (1520x800, 18 KB) Subject: Flag of the United States. ... // Biography Professional Motorcycle Racer (MotoGP, AMA) Birth Date: July 30, 1981 Birth Place: Owensboro, Kentucky Nicky Hayden, also known as The Kentucky Kid, has been racing motorcycles most of his life. ... Repsol YPF is an integrated oil and gas company with operations in 29 countries, principally Spain and Argentina. ... Honda Motor Co. ... Large flag of Japan (10:7 (length:width) white rectangle with a centered red circle with a diameter of 3/5 of the width) Dimensions as stated and colors as used on the Homepage of the Japanese embassy to germany. ... Image File history File links Uk_flag_large. ... Source: Sodipodis Clipart Gallery. ... David checa is motorcycle rider from spain, he is young brother of Motogp rider charlos checa ... Yamaha Motor Corporation (ヤマハ発動機株式会社) is a motorized vehicle-producing company, initially part of the Yamaha Corporation. ...

External links

• Official Site
• MotoGP Magazine - Latest news, photos, results and profiles of all riders and teams.
• MotoGP Forum
• MotoGP News - a site devoted to satirizing MotoGP
• MotoGP Forum, blog and tipping competition