About MotoGP

Teams/Manufacturers

To define a typical team competing in MotoGP is not simple, but Grand Prix teams in the main consist of financial backers, management staff, administrative staff, press officers, a group of mechanics, and of course the riders themselves.

Teams in the MotoGP class are generally comprised of two riders and in addition to the riders' and constructors' (manufacturers) World Championships, the teams compete for a title of their own. All points scored by both riders in a team, including substitutes or replacements, but excluding wildcard entries, count towards the Teams World Championship title - which is presented each year at the end of season MotoGP Awards and which in 2007 went to the Ducati Marlboro Team.

Team Names

The official race titles of the teams are composed of three elements: the name of the manufacturer of the motorcycle or engine, the name of the team and/or the name of one principal sponsor. Hence names such as Rizla Suzuki MotoGP, Alice Team or Team San Carlo Honda Gresini.

Sponsors play a key role in supporting the running of the team as they help to cover costs such as administrative fees, bike lease, insurance, travel and staff salaries. In turn the teams provide their sponsors with global media exposure and an association with one of the world’s most glamorous, popular and thrilling sports.

All teams are members of IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association), an organisation which was formed in 1986 to represent the participants of Grand Prix with a collected voice. The organisation works alongside the FIM and Dorna (see Governing Bodies section) to maintain high standards within MotoGP and to improve the sport overall.

Definitions

The teams competing in MotoGP vary hugely in terms of their available budgets and their structure in terms of staff numbers, from the big name factory teams, to the satellite or private teams participating in the three elite classes of the MotoGP World Championship.

As the name suggests, the factory teams are those most closely linked with the manufacturer they represent. Teams such as Repsol Honda, for whom 2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden and his talented Spanish team-mate Dani Pedrosa ride, and Fiat Yamaha, represented by global sporting icon Valentino Rossi and his colleague Jorge Lorenzo, are the MotoGP showcases for the brand and the technology of the respective manufacturers. Proving your worth to millions of motorcycle enthusiasts across the globe cannot be bad for sales.

Private teams, meanwhile, can also have close links with the manufacturers who provide their machinery, but their levels of collaboration with the factory differ from case to case – with some teams being completely separate from factories.

Some private teams lease their race bikes from the manufacturers and benefit from direct technical support and supply of parts from the factories dependent on their agreement. Alice Team (Ducati) is an example of a satellite team with these kind of arrangements. For the factories, feedback from these teams also plays a crucial role in their development of competitive racing machinery.

Many private teams throughout the three categories, meanwhile, are operated completely independently from the factories but again they lease their bikes from the manufacturers - LCR Honda MotoGP Team and JiR Team Scot do this in the MotoGP class.

The Michel Metraux Cup is awarded to the highest-placed privateer riders in the 250cc and 125cc class standings at the end of each season.

All teams have a selected tyre supplier and more information on how they choose their rubbers can be found in the tyres section.

Number of teams

There are currently 10 teams participating in the MotoGP World Championship, 16 in the 250cc class and 19 in the 125cc category.

Manufacturers

MotoGP:

  • Ducati
  • Honda
  • Kawasaki
  • Suzuki
  • Yamaha

250cc:

  • Aprilia
  • Gilera
  • Honda
  • KTM
  • Yamaha

125cc:

  • Aprilia
  • Derbi
  • Honda
  • KTM
  • Loncin