The teams, riders and sponsors of the MotoGP World Championship
On the eve of this MotoGP 2021 season, we want to present on our blog a complete guide to the eleven teams who will take part in the Championship. It is not the first time that on these pages we have tried to give a complete picture of the premier class of motorcycling: for several years, for example, we have been offering the complete list of MotoGP partners and sponsors.
However, this is a different exercise. For once, we do not only deal with sponsorship, but we try to give a complete picture of each team, providing information on the Team and riders, as well as trying to draw a quick picture of the history of these 11 important realities of international motorsport.
The goal is to try to make the depth and facets of a Championship with a thousand faces and points of interest as clear as possible, which has excellent value systems, but also great stories of dedication, will and success. We propose the teams in alphabetical order according to the official nomenclature communicated to Dorna and published on the official MotoGP website.
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Founded by Fausto Gresini, the Imola rider who was a back-toback 125 cc world champion, Team Gresini Racing made his debut in 1997 in the 500 class with Alex Barros.
It is the beginning of an ambitious journey, which will bring the Italian team (the headquarters are in Faenza, as for the Formula 1 AlphaTauri team) to compete through all three classes alternating talented high profile drivers: from Gibernau to Toni Elias (who will be Moto2 world champion in 2010), from Kato (World Champion 2001 in the 250) to Aoyama, from Melandri to Marco Simoncelli.
The tragic loss of Simoncelli in 2011 leaves a deep scar in the life of the team. From the following year, as well as a radical change to the livery – which changes from white to black – the Team strengthens its presence in all three classes, thus becoming one of the most solid realities in the whole championship.
The cooperation with Aprilia as a manufacturer arrives in 2015, with the Team choosing Alvaro Bautista and Marco Melandri as riders, with the latter being replaced by the German Stefan Bradl mid-season. In 2017, Aleix Espargaro is the main rider, who has become the true flag-bearer for the Gresini Racing Team over the recent seasons and alongside which Sam Lowes, Scott Redding, Andrea Iannone and now Lorenzo Savadori will take turns.
General Information
Manufacturer: Aprilia
Team Manager: Fausto Gresini (ITA)
Headquarters: Via Pana 26 – Faenza (Ravenna) – Italy
Team sponsors
Main Sponsor: Sky Q
Official Sponsors: Gulf Oil Corporation, Marsh Inc., Experis (ManpowerGroup), Utility Diadora, Boost Italian Mood, Unibat, Michelin, Berner, FPT Industrial, Sag Tubi, Ixon
Technical Sponsors: Akrapovič, Bike-Lift Europe SRL, Cima, Dell’Orto S.p.a, FGR Engineering, Regina, Sprint Filter, STM Italy, Thermal Technology, Zanasi Group, Zoccarato S.p.a
Riders and Personal sponsors
Aleix Espargarò
(ESP) born 30/07/1989, Number: 41
Sponsor Aleix Espargaro: KYT Helmet, RAW Superdrink
Lorenzo Savadori
(ITA) born 04/04/1993, Number: 32
Sponsor Lorenzo Savadori: Perini, Eleveit, KYT
Ducati team
Ducati’s story began in Bologna in 1926 by the will of Engineer Antonio Cavalieri Ducati. Far from today’s production on two wheels, the company begins its course as a company specialized in the design and manufacture of radio sets, antennas, condensers and cinema projectors.
It is only after the Second World War that Ducati chooses the motorcycle route. It is 1946 and in Borgo Panigale, the Cucciolo is produced, a 48cc single-cylinder combined with a bicycle frame: it is the first motorcycle produced by Ducati and the beginning of a story that will become famous all over the world.
The debut in the premier class came in 2003, with Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss, arrived from SuperBike: Ducati immediately showed competitiveness and a spirit of innovation, surprising the public and professionals.
The final consecration came in 2007, with the Australian talent Casey Stoner returning the title to an Italian manufacturer thirty-three years after the last triumph of MV Agusta. The “kangaroo” will remain in Borgo Panigale until 2010 when Valentino Rossi succeeds him.
However, because of several factors, the Doctor’s two-year red period is not among the luckiest, and the house decides to focus on Andrea Dovizioso and a new technical team.
It is the right choice and Ducati returns to being a top-notch force, respectively alternating alongside Dovi, firstly Iannone, secondly Lorenzo and thirdly Petrucci. Dovizioso will face Marc Marquez for the three years from 2017 to 2019, graduating as vice world champion for the three years in a row.
2021 marks a great change, with Borgo Panigale choosing the Australian Miller and Francesco Bagnaia for the run-up to the title.
General information
Manufacturer: Ducati
Team Manager: Davide Tardozzi (ITA)
Headquarters: Via Cavalieri Ducati, 3 – Bologna – Italy
Team sponsors
Official Partner: Philip Morris International
Main Sponsors: Audi Sport, Lenovo
Official Sponsors: Riello UPS, NetApp, Shell, Valsir, UnipolSai, Akrapovič
Official Partners: Alpinestars, Aruba, Autogrill, Bancomat S.p.a, Bosch, Contadi Castaldi, Dailko, Econocom, Esaote, Flex-box, Frecciarossa, Givi, Amaro Montenegro, Motorola, Pittarosso, Q1 Premium Masking Solutions, Randstad
Technician Partners: Beta, Capit, CoboGroup, Did Chain, Magneti Marelli, Mahle, Mechinno, NGK Spark Plugs, Reflexallen Composites Division, Siemens, Streparava, Tecno Elettra Impianti, Vargroup
Riders and Personal sponsors
Jack Miller
(AUS) born 18/01/1995 – Number: 43
Sponsor Miller: Red Bull, Oakley, Dainese. Michelin, AGV Helmets, Fox Moto, Rival Ink, Acerbis, First Hand Wear, Two Stroke Performance, Shift Media, Thrill Seekers, SM Media
Francesco Bagnaia
(ITA) born 14/01/1997 – Number: 63
Sponsor Bagnaia: Monster Energy, Alpinestars, Suomy Helmets, VR46 Riders Academy, Lamborghini
LCR Honda MotoGP Team
It is the founder and manager Lucio Cecchinello to give the name to the LCR Team, an acronym precisely for Lucio Cecchinello Racing. The team was born in 1996 when the Venetian driver decided to create a structure to support his sports career. In the double role of rdier-manager, Cecchinello faces two good seasons in the 125 before deploying Noboru Ueda at his side for 1998.
The team, which after a start with Honda moves to Aprilia, continues to grow, and also in 2002 field two bikes in the intermediate class, offering the saddle to a very young Casey Stoner flanked by the Spaniard David Checa, brother of that Carlos who will then find luck on Ducati in WSBK.
Increasingly engaged in his managerial role, Cecchinello ceases sporting activity in 2003 and aims at the growth of the team which, in 2006, lands in MotoGP. It is up to Honda to provide the bike for the company and riding it is always the Australian Stoner, who gets 2 podiums and one pole. The adventure in the premier class continues for almost a decade almost always with only one bike in the race, entrusted first to DePuniet, then to Elias, then to the German Stefan Bradl.
The turning point was 2015: LCR, again supported by Honda, lined up two motorcycles on the grid. Cal Crutchlow, arriving from Ducati, is entrusted with the official version of the RC213V, while yet another Australian, Jack Miller, is endowed with the open configuration of the Tokyo prototype.
The first victory came in 2016 in Brno, followed by another success in Argentina. Just the South American track will prove particularly favourable to Crutchlow which on the same track takes its third triumph in 2018. In the same year the Japanese Taka Nakagami, coming from Moto2, joins Crutchlow, which will continue with LCR for 2019 and 2020.
From 2019 LCR will also field two bikes in the debutant MotoE electric championship, entrusting the two prototypes to the Frenchman De Puniet and Niccolo Canepa.
For 2021 the Team must say goodbye to Cal Crutchlow, their most successful rider ever, who in the meantime has chosen to abandon the competitions. In his place comes Alex Marquez, brother of the multiple world champion Marc and back from a very positive end of 2020.
General Information
Manufacturer: Honda
Team Manager: Lucio Cecchinello (ITA)
Headquarters: 7, Rue du Gabian – Monaco, Montecarlo
Team Sponsors
LCR HONDA CASTROL
Official Sponsors: Givi, Castrol, Custom
Main Partners: Sifi Group, Rizoma, Agos, Lavorwash, Comet S.p.a, Ivar Group, Michelin, Sena, Dell’Orto, CMS, Viar, Monster, Pole Position Travel, Öhlins, Did Chain, Zelos, Draco, Four Team
Official Partners: Carpimoto, Arrow, Hevik, ProGrip, Piolanti Truck, OZ Racing, Special Impianti, Flow Meter, PBR, Cantiere Galli, Frentubo, MIW Filter
LCR HONDA IDEMITSU
Official Sponsors: Idemitsu
Main Sponsors: Givi, Rizoma, Custom, Michelin, Ivar, Frentubo, La Tognazza, CMS
Official Partners: Yes!, Arrow, Olymp Trade, OZ Racing, PBR, DID Chain, Beta, Cosmai Caffè, Miimo, NGK Spark Plugs
Riders and Personal sponsors
Alex Marquez
(SPA) born 23/04/1996 – Number: 73
Sponsor Marquez: Alpinestars, Pull & Bear, Shoei, Dave Design, Red Bull, Haan Wheels, Arc Graphics, Specialized, Northweek Sunglasses, Shooter Bikes
Takaaki Nakagami
(JPN) born 9/02/1992 – Number: 30
Sponsor: Idemitsu, Alpinestars, Oakley, Breitling, Red Bull, Arai Helmet, Smart Okinawa
Yamaha Monster Energy MotoGP
Since 1955, the year in which the company’s musical production was accompanied by the construction of motorcycles and motorized vehicles, Yamaha has been involved in the world of racing. For the house of the three tuning forks, competition is not only part of the corporate DNA but represents a fundamental Research and Development bench and a very powerful marketing platform.
In the top series of two-wheel speed, Yamaha has had a major role since the 1960s, with Phil Read and Mike Duff giving the first two laurels of a long list.
It is indeed impressive the number of extraordinary champions who alternated riding Iwata’s motorcycles, from Giacomo Agostini to Kenny Roberts, from Eddie Lawson to Wayne Rainey, from Jorge Lorenzo to Valentino Rossi. There are 17 world titles in the premier class, as many in the intermediate class and 4 in the lower class.
However, the works team we know today is more recently founded. Until 1999 Yamaha undertakes to supply the official motorcycles to the teams of the riders, without however officially taking the field with a Factory Team. After the retirement of Wayne Rainey, Yamaha instead equips itself with an autonomous structure, which first is based in the Netherlands and then finds a location in Gerno di Lesmo.
From 2004 to today, the name of Yamaha in MotoGP has been closely linked to that of Valentino Rossi (except for the two-year Ducati period). Together with the man from Tavullia, Yamaha wins 4 world titles, followed in rapid succession by the hat-trick of Jorge Lorenzo, who shares the garage with Rossi (somehow) in the most intense years of a great rivalry. The second saddle of Iwata is entrusted to Maverick Vinales, one of the most accredited suitors to take the throne of Marc Marquez.
2020 has fluctuating results for the colors of Lin Jarvis’s team and the renewal for the 2021 Calendar has to see to the farewell of Valentino Rossi, headed to Team Petronas, and the arrival of Fabio Quartararo, who in the meantime has consolidated himself as one of the strongest riders on the grid.
General information
Manufacturer: Yamaha
Team Manager: Massimo Meregalli (ITA)
Headquarters: Via A. Tinelli, 69 – Lesmo (Monza – Brianza) – Italy
Team Sponsors
Main Partner: Monster Energy
Main Sponsors: Eneos Motor Oil, Semakin di Depan, Yamalube
Official Sponsors: Akrapovič, Mid, Go Beyond, Thai Yamaha Motor, Cradle, BlueCore, Oakley, Descente, Alpinestars, Abarth, Blu Cru, Gilles, RCB, Furukawa Electric, Cromax, Magneti Marelli, Did Chain, NGK Spark Plugs, BMC Air Filter, 2D, Beta, Yamaha, Michelin
Regional Official Sponsor: Pont Grup
Premium Suppliers: 3M, HP, Saucony
Official Suppliers: Bric’s
Premium Partners: Siemens, Capit
Official Partners: RCM, Initial, Toyota Material Handling, Haier, AirBank, ParkingGO, Flex
Hospitality Partners: Mokador, Culligan, Macelleria Belli, Ca’ dei Frati, Fabbri, Azienda Olearia del Chianti
Esports Partners: Monster Energy, Omen, Formula Medicine, Yamaha
Riders and Personal sponsors
Maverick Vinales
(ESP) born 12/01/1995 – Number: 12
Sponsor Vinales: Oakley, Monster Energy, Finetwork, Arai Helmet, Alpinestars, GoPro, Two Wheels for Life
Fabio Quartararo
(FRA) born 20/04/1999 – Number: 20
Sponsor Quartararo: Alpinestars, Oakley, Scorpion, Monster Energy
Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team
The SIC Racing Team, an acronym for the Sepang International Circuit, is the last piece added to the MotoGP grid.
The team, supported by the giant Petronas -already a sponsor for the Mercedes AMG team in Formula 1- made its debut in 2014 in Moto2 with the excellent performance of Frenchman Johann Zarco. In the following year, the SIC Racing team moved to Moto3, a category in which it will continue to run for all the years to follow.
It is only in 2019 that the Southeast Asian outfit arrives in the premier class, entrusting the two Yamaha M1 satellites to Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo. The season is an extraordinary success and ends in fourth place in the Team ranking. The debut season of the French Quartararo is particularly impressive, with seven podiums and several pole positions.
2020 is already the year of the great consecration of the Petronas Team as one of the most interesting realities of the World Championship. Quartararo dominates the opening of the season, hitting the big target at the double header in Jerez. Morbidelli, on the other hand, is the protagonist of the season finale, with a great second part of 2020 that often sees him on the highest step of the podium.
With 2021, the Malaysian team will bring home the greatest asset of MotoGP, Valentino Rossi, who leaves the factory team to join his friend Franco Morbidelli.
General Information
Manufacturer: Yamaha
Team Manager: Johan Stigefelt (SWE) – Wilco Zeelenberg (NED)
Headquarters: Sepang, Malaysia
Team Sponsors
Main Partner: Petronas
Official Sponsors: With You, Fly Me To, Visit Malaysia, Barracuda, Monitor Safe and Smart, Sepang International Circuit
Official Partners: Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta, Petronas Tutela, Petronas Primax, Essens, PBR, RCB, MRA, Sakura, Alpinestars, KYT, Sport Travel, Pole Position Travel, Fastback, Michelin, Beta
Riders and Personal sponsors
Valentino Rossi
(ITA) born 16/02/1979 – Number: 46
Sponsor: Oakley, Monster Energy, AGV Helmets, Fanatec, Ak Informatica Gaming, Dainese, Pata
Franco Morbidelli
(ITA) born 4/12/1994 – Number: 21
Sponsor: Dainese, Monster Energy, AGV, Oakley
Pramac Racing
The team from Casole D’ Elsa, which has been racing in the premier class since 2002, is known for its long-standing partnership with Ducati. In fact, since 2005 Borgo Panigale has supplied the Desmosedici with which the Pramac Racing Team riders take part in the world championship.
Truth be told, the first seasons of the Italian team are with Honda, first, the NSR500 driven by Tetsuya Harada and then the RC211V entrusted to another Japanese, Makoto Tamada.
In its 18 years of history, the Tuscan Team acts as a true “Cantera” of talents, making numerous riders grow, who will then find space and confirmation later on in official Teams. From Aleix Espargaro to Ben Spies, from Andrea Iannone to Danilo Petrucci, passing through Redding up to Pirro, there are numerous examples that testify to the goodness of the Pramac Racing program.
The last few seasons are marked by the Australian Jack Miller, who does not deny tradition and who after two good years in the Italian team is promoted to Official Ducati rider for 2021. It is therefore the turn of the French Zarco, author of good performances. previous year on the Bolognese bike, and the rookie Jorge Martin, arriving from Moto2.
General Information
Manufacturer: Ducati
Team Manager: Paolo Campinoti (ITA) – Francesco Guidotti (ITA)
Headquarters: Casole D’Elsa, Siena, Italy
Team Sponsors
Main Partner: Pramac
Main Sponsors: Fiamm, Octo
Official Sponsors: Akrapovič, Lifter, Michelin, Ixon, Confremar, Sun Energy 1, Shado, Synergie
Official Suppliers: Beta, WD-40, CNC Racing, Accossato, Afam, WRS, Flex, D’Acquasparta, PersonalTime.it, Marco Melis Eyewear, Silverbone, AON, Cecchi, Cirfood, Birra Baladin, Marcello, Azienda Olearia Chianti, Le Marchesine, Tutto Matic
Riders and Personal sponsors
Johann Zarco
(FRA) born 16/07/1990 – Number: 5
Sponsor Zarco: Red Bull, Alpinestars, Shark Helmets, April Moto, Maxxess, Bihr
Jorge Martin
(SPA) born 29/01/1998
Sponsor: Red Bull, Alpinestars, Hawkers, Karbium, Digital Kreations, AGV
Esponsorama Reale Avintia Racing
An historical name in the CEV, the Avintia Racing Team put the wheels on the asphalt for the first time in 1994, deploying riders who will then reach the maximum series of the two wheels like the German Stefan Bradl.
The adventure in the MotoGP starts in 2009 with Aprilia motorcycles in the 125 class. The results are growing and in 2011 the team won four category wins with the young Maverick Vinales.
In the meantime, the team is preparing to debut in MotoGP too. In 2012, two CRTs are entrusted to Hernandez and Silva, who will score 44 points in the world championship. The team will no longer leave the premier class, adding to alternate years also some entries in Moto2 and Moto3, the latter given in 2019 to Abruzzese Stefano Nepa.
The transition to Ducati motorcycles for the highest class took place in 2015 while Barbera, Loris Baz, Mike di Meglio and Simeon alternated in the saddle. For 2019 the Desmosedici is ridden by the Spaniard Rabat and the Czech Republic rider Karel Abraham, but the team’s performances are modest and only worth an eleventh place in the team standings.
General Information
Manufacturer: Ducati
Team Manager: Agustin Escobar (SPA)
Headquarters: Madrid – Spain
Team Sponsors
Main Partners: Reale Seguros, Avintia Grupo
Main Sponsors: Air Europa, Rabat
Official Sponsors: Motul, Juan Nrake Systems, Galfer, Dani, Blumaq, Transatolin
Official Suppliers: AuTomas, Michelin, Akrapovič, ITR Racing Parts, Regina Chain, PBR, Beta, Titan Redmeier, 6teen Valves Logistics, IPMASD Hospitality Solutions, Speed Fiber, Domino, Littium, Mugen Race, Rizoma,Esfera Racing
Riders and Personal sponsors
Enea Bastianini
(ITA) born 30/12/1997
Sponsor Bastianini: Suomy, Alpinestars, Empresa Creativa, Terranova, Paolucci
Luca Marini
(SPA) born 10/08/1997 – Number: 10
Sponsor: AGV, Dainese, Oakley
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
With the pragmatism of the Austrians, KTM takes its name from the acronym of its first administrator, Ernst Kronreif, of its founder, Hans Trukenpolz, and from the place where the first office was built, Mattighofen. In 1934, in the heart of Upper Austria, the KTM Workshop was born, and soon it began to produce the first scooters and motorcycles of small capacity.
Over the years, the projects linked to the off-road world are particularly brilliant: rally, hard enduro and cross are categories in which the Austrian company will obtain numerous international successes. As an example, 19 editions of the Dakar won consecutively thanks to the technical masterpiece represented by the KTM 450 Rally.
On the asphalt, KTM has been present since 2003 where they played a first-rate role in the smallest of classes, winning three world titles, the last of which with South African Brad Binder.
However, the most important step came in 2014, when at the end of the MotoGP season the Mattighofen company announced its entry into the premier class starting from 2017. The KTM Factory Racing Team was born, a complete extension of the brand supported by another Austrian excellence, the Red Bull energy drink.
For the first two years, Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro are the riders on the RC16, with the Spaniard conquering a nice third place in the 2018 Valencia Grand Prix. In the following year, KTM calls the French Zarco to his court, back from an excellent season in Yamaha Tech 3. However, also, in this case, it is Espargaro who has the better of his teammate, with a solid season that will be worth the eleventh place in the riders classification.
For the 2021 MotoGP Binder remains in the team, but flanked by Portuguese sensation Miguel Oliveira, promoted from Team Tech3.
General information
Manufacturer: KTM
Team Manager: Mike Leitner (AUT)
Headquarters: Mattighofen, Innviertel, Austria
Team Sponsors
Main Partner: Red Bull
Official Sponsors: Akrapovic, Motorex, Michelin, WP, Pankl
Riders and Personal sponsors
Brad Binder
(SAF) born 11/08/1995 – Number: 33
Sponsor Binder: Red Bull, HJC Helmets, Ixon, TCX Boots., Pole Position Travel, Blaauwberg Beach Hotel, Ride Fast Magazine, Smashton Industries, Sakart Design
Miguel Oliveira
(POR) Born 4/1/1995 – Number: 88
Sponsor Oliveira: Red Bull, Dainese, Hyundai, Rudy Project, NHK Helmets, Bike Sul, Cofidis, Meo
Red Bull KTM Tech 3
The history of Tech3 begins in 1989 when in the South of France Hervè Poncharal and some friends and colleagues decide to create a professional team to participate in the MotoGP races. We have to wait until 2000 before another Frenchman, Olivier Jacque, achieves world champion success for the team, beating the other Tech3 rider, Shinya Nakano, at the photo finish in Australia. It is not only the first world title for the team, but also one of the most beautiful finals of a world championship, with the two teammates fighting for the laurel on the edge of thousandths.
The team enters the 500 class the following year, the last one before the advent of the current MotoGP. The affiliation with Yamaha becomes stronger and stronger, to the point that Tech3 is positioning itself with increasing authority as a real satellite team of the triple-tuning fork manufacturer, putting in several seasons of excellent results.
The years 2012 and 2013 in particular were brilliant, when the team can count on riders of the highest caliber such as Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso and secure third place in the team world championship. The Provence team will no longer repeat such a collective performance and will have to wait for the arrival of another Frenchman – Johann Zarco – to steadily climb onto the podium in the premier class. Zarco collects two excellent years in 2017 and 2018, finishing sixth overall in the world championship and showing surprising speed and pace.
However, it is in 2019 that Tech3 takes arguably the most important leap in its history. After 20 years of collaboration with Yamaha, the team from beyond the Alps decides to sign a two-year contract with KTM, entrusting the two RC16s to Syharin and Oliveira. It is the beginning of a new era for Poncharal and for Tech3 which, with the support of Red Bull just like the “works” Team, relies on Spaniard Leucona and confirmed Oliveira for the 2020 World Championship. Danilo Petrucci from Ducati will step in for 2021, replacing Miguel Oliveira.
General Information
Manufacturer: KTM
Team Manager: Herve Poncharal (FRA)
Headquarters: Bormes-Les-Mimosas, Provence-Alpes-Côte D’Azur, France
Team Sponsors
Main partners: Red Bull, Elf
Official sponsors: Michelin, Capit, Akrapovič, WP, Pankl
Official Suppliers: Blinker, Bihr, Caffè Giacomelli, Alpinestars, Grandstand Motor Sports, Binocle Eyewear
Riders and Riders’ Sponsors
Iker Lecuona
(SPA) born 6/1/2000 – Number: 27
Sponsor: Red Bull, Alpinestars, Shark Helmets, Bering Moto, Riders Management, Conor Bikes, KSB Sport, Two Wheels For Life
Danilo Petrucci
(ITA) born 24/10/1990 – Number: 9
Sponsor: X-Lite, Rev’It, Forma, Actimel
Repsol Honda team
If one were to tell Honda’s passion for racing with an anecdote, it would be enough to remember that the founders, in 1938, decided to equip a racing car with the engine of an 8-cylinder 8-liter airplane.
Stories aside, it is difficult to separate, right from the start, the motorcycle competitions from the name of the Tokyo manufacturer: 55 overall world titles, 21 only in the top class. The list of champions and icons of sport riding Japanese prototypes is endless: from Freddie Spencer to Mick Doohan, from Valentino Rossi to Casey Stoner, from Nicky Hayden to the undisputed domination of Marc Marquez, capable of winning 6 world championships on the RC213V .
What is most impressive, probably, is the incredible perseverance of the Japanese group in bringing highly competitive and reliable projects to the track, placed in the hands of a first-rate Factory team. A clear example of such accuracy in planning and methodical execution is certainly the partnership with the historic sponsor Repsol, the Iberian brand of oils and fuels that has accompanied the HRC team for more than twenty-six years.
It is Valentino Rossi who leads Honda into the new era of MotoGP: the Italian, last winner of the 500 and first world champion in the new MotoGP class, will bring the title to Honda until 2003, before passing – surprisingly – to the less competitive in appearance -Yamaha.
After Hayden’s exploit in 2006, Honda will have to wait five years before Stoner, on the RC212V, will bring the world championship back to Tokyo in 2011. The Australian rides an impressive season, which shows with magnificent eloquence the hugepower of the technical vehicle combined with the talent of the Australian. 16 podiums out of 17 races, 10 first places in a season in which Honda also deploys a third bike, that of Andrea Dovizioso, alongside Stoner and Pedrosa.
The modern era, from 2013 to today, is all under the sign of the Spaniard Marc Marquez, who has imposed his domination on the class with 6 victories in the last 7 years of competition.
However, 2020 is a difficult year for the Wing. At the first race of the season, Marquez falls to the ground and breaks his shoulder: it is the beginning of a long and not always linear ordeal that will keep the Spanish champion off the track for the whole year, replaced by the faithful test rider Bradl, who, however, cannot live up to Japanese initial expectations. The winter between 2020 and 2021 will bring advice and, hopefully, good news.
In the meantime, for the MotoGP 2021 Honda have chosen Pol Espargaro to support Marquez, in the expectation and in the hope that the latter will be in the fight, maybe from the start.
General Information
Manufacturer: Honda
Team Manager: Alberto Puig (SPA)
Headquarters: Aalst, Belgio
Team Sponsors
Title Partner: Repsol
Sponsors And Partners: Red Bull, Astra Honda Motor, Honda Vietnam, Estrella Galicia 0,0, Pull & Bear, Alpinestars, Asics, Goshi, GP Racing Apparel, Iveco, Michelin, NGK Spark Plugs, Oakley, Puig, PWR, RK Japan, RCB, SC-Project, Shindengen, Snap-on, Uchino, GS Yuasa, Yutaka Giken
Suppliers: Asano, Eikoh Design & Creation, Endurance Racing, Techtuit Group, Gikenseiki, Hidaka, Koganei Seiki, Pearl Giken, Samsung, Sasaki, Sekidai, Shinseikiko, Sprint Filter, Tokorozawa Alloy Foundry, Uchida
Rider and Riders’sponsors
Marc Marquez
(SPA) born 17/02/1993 – Number 93
Sponsor Marquez: Alpinestars, Red Bull, Shoei, Pull & Bear, Shooter Bikes, Dave Design, Oakley, Specialized, Estrella Galicia 0,0, Dazn
Pol Espargaro
(SPA) born 10/6/1991 – Number: 44
Sponsor Espargaro: Red Bull, Dainese, AGV
Team Suzuki Ecstar
Suzuki is undoubtedly one of the great queens of speed: it was 1960 when – on Dutch soil – the house from Hamamatsu fielded its motorcycles for the first time in a World Championship race. On the other hand, the palmares speaks for itself: 6 world titles in the higher class, 17 total titles in all categories.
It was none other than Barry Sheene, an extraordinary British talent and true icon of “cool” motorcycling, who brought the first world title to the Japanese manufacturer in 1976, repeating the following year. Yamaha’s return to official competitions in the same year, however, deals a severe blow to Suzuki, who will have to reorganize the team and wait for a couple of Italians, Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini to win the 1981 and 1982 titles. The last World Championships arrive in Hamamatsu via the United States, under the aegis of Kevin Schwantz in 1993 and Kenny Roberts Jr in 2000.
These are the years of the transition from 500 to MotoGP and the new GSV-R does not adapt well to the new category. For the next decade Suzuki struggles to find continuity and – with the exception of a good first place for Chris Vermeulen in 2007 in France – fails to be competitive.
At the end of 2011, the Japanese company abandons the top class of motorcycle racing.
We have to wait almost five years for Suzuki to reappear in the MotoGP world championship, thanks to a new technical project, the Suzuki GSX-RR, and a new staff. The first season is encouraging, but it is in the second that the Hamamatsu begins to show all its strength again, finishing fourth in the championship and seizing the success in the Silverstone race with Spaniard Maverick Vinales.
In 2017 Davide Brivio chooses Andrea Iannone and the young Alex Rins to ride the two prototypes, but injuries and little continuity do not bring the desired results. Nonetheless, the pair is also confirmed for 2018, showing greater solidity and reaching the podium on 8 occasions. It will be necessary to wait until 2019 to return to the top step of the podium. Alex Rins will do it himself with two majestic victories in Texas and England, which will guarantee him an excellent fourth place in the drivers’ championship.
2020 is the year of Suzuki’s triumph, thanks to the World Title won by Joan Mir: his was an intelligent, reasoned and very talented championship. Rins is also doing well, together with his partner is also confirmed for 2021.
General Information
Manufacturer: Suzuki
Team Manager: Davide Brivio (ITA)
Headquarters: Hamamatsu – Giappone
Team Sponsors
Main sponsor: Ecstar
Official Sponsors: Motul, Akrapovič, Michelin, NGK Spark Plugs, Carbon Tras, 2D, Beta, Taichi, DID Chain
Riders and Riders’ Sponsors
Joan Mir
(SPA) born 01/09/1997 – Number: 36
Sponsors: Monster Energy, AGV Helmets, Dainese, Oakley, Otso Sport, Estrella Galicia 0,0
Alex Rins
(SPA) born 08/12/1995 – Number: 42
Sponsors: Nolan, Alpinestars, Monster Energy, Diesel, Dazn, GoPro, Estrella Galicia 0,0, Gobik Wear, Giant Bikes, Hawkers Motorsport
