Manufacturer
The motorcycle brands participating in MotoGP™. In the premier class of MotoGP the manufacturers taking part are Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM and Yamaha. They compete for the Constructors’ World Championship title.
Marshals
Marshals are positioned around the track ready to indicate specific messages to the riders, by waving various coloured flags. In addition to flag marshals, there are other marshals at trackside who assist the riders if they crash or have a technical problem with their bikes.
MSMA
The MSMA is the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association. The Grand Prix Commission, comprises members of the FIM, Dorna Sports (organiser and rights holder of MotoGP), IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association) and the MSMA.
MotoE™
The FIM MotoE World Championship is the electric competition in the MotoGP paddock. In 2025, the seventh season of MotoE sees 18 riders do battle in 14 races, at seven rounds, on the fastest electric racing motorcycle in the world, the Ducati V21L.
MotoGP
MotoGP™ is the world’s premier motorcycle racing championship. We call it the most exciting sport on Earth. This is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), with the full title of MotoGP™ being the FIM Grand Prix World Championship. MotoGP™ is also the name of the premier class of racing in the World Championship.
Moto2™
The intermediate class of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship is Moto2. In 2010 Moto2 replaced the 250cc category as the intermediate class of the World Championship, with the history of the category dating back to 1949. Moto2™ now features 765cc four-stroke motorcycles powered by Triumph.
Moto3™
The entry class of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship, in which the riders compete on bikes with 250cc four-stroke engines. Also referred to as the smaller or lightweight class, in 2012 Moto3 replaced the former the 125cc category - which had been part of the FIM Grand Prix World Championship since its formation in 1949.
MotoGP™ Legends
The MotoGP™ Legends are the greatest riders to have participated in the World Championship since it commenced in 1949. This is MotoGP’s Hall of Fame, with the list of MotoGP Legends including such illustrious names as Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi, some of the most successful MotoGP riders ever. Other top MotoGP™ legends include Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Freddie Spencer, Kenny Roberts, Barry Sheene, Geoff Duke, John Surtees and more.
MotoGP rules
The rules of MotoGP are officially called the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations. For a full explanation of how the rules work, check out our ‘What are the MotoGP™ Rules? – A complete overview’ article.
MotoGP standings
The MotoGP standings refer to the current or final rankings in a MotoGP season, with the riders ranked by the number of total points they have earned at each Grand Prix. The combined results from every Grand Prix are totalled up in the MotoGP standings and the rider who earns the most points over the course of the year is crowned MotoGP™ World Champion.
MotoGP Ticket Store
Fans can get official MotoGP tickets and VIP passes from the MotoGP™ Ticket Store. Tickets and VIP passes for every Grand Prix on the World Championship calendar are available from the MotoGP™ Ticket Store, which offers online customer support and secured payments.
MotoGP VideoPass
With the MotoGP™ VideoPass fans can subscribe to watch all the on-track action from every Grand Prix on the MotoGP calendar live. The VideoPass offers fans unrivaled access to interviews and features as well as every second of action LIVE and OnDemand. In addition to all the live content, latest news features and analysis, MotoGP™ VideoPass subscribers get access to exclusive documentaries and thousands of hours of OnDemand coverage of MotoGP™ races dating back to 1992.
Official tyre supplier
The Official tyre supplier in the premier class in MotoGP is Michelin, whilst for Moto2 and Moto3 the official supplier is Pirelli.
Official Tests
A number of Official Tests are held before, during and after the MotoGP™ season, allowing the manufacturers and teams to test new parts and new set-ups on their bikes. There are specific rules which apply to testing to make it as fair as possible for all competing manufacturers to compete on a level playing field. There are also restrictions on private tests at MotoGP™ circuits with current MotoGP™ riders, which the teams and manufacturers must abide by unless they have concessions.
Overtake
To overtake another rider means to pass or move ahead of them during the race. The frequent and highly skilled overtaking in Grand Prix racing is a key factor which makes the most exciting sport on earth.
Paddock
The term paddock refers to the exclusive denominated area at each Grand Prix circuit adjacent to the pit boxes, where the team trucks, riders' motorhomes, team hospitality structures, suppliers’ facilities, organisers’ offices and technical team units are located. The term also has a wider significance, referring to the community of traveling professionals who work in MotoGP.
Parc fermé
Literally meaning ‘closed park’ (or ‘closed off area’) in French, parc fermé is a secure zone at each MotoGP circuit where bikes are ridden back to at the end of qualifying and races. Previously, all bikes were ridden back to parc fermé at the end of races ahead of technical inspections. Now, parc fermé is the area where the top three in qualifying or in a Sprint or race gather. In this area fans will see riders celebrating with their team after qualifying if they have secured a spot on the front row of the grid and after the MotoGP Sprint and races if they have won or finished on the podium. When riders speak to the media immediately after qualifying and races, their first interviews take place in parc fermé, meaning it is a familiar area for MotoGP fans.
Penalties
To ensure fair and safe racing, the riders face different penalties of varying severity, should they infringe on the Sporting Regulations of MotoGP. The penalties penalties that can be applied to riders by the FIM MotoGP Stewards can include Warnings, Fines, Change of position, Long Lap Penalty(ies), Ride through, Time penalty, Lap time cancelled penalty, Grid penalty and Disqualification.
Pit Lane
The pit lane refers to the area in front of the team pit boxes (garages). Riders use the pit lane to pit out (leave the garage) and pit in (return to the garage). On the opposite side of the pit lane to the pit boxes is the pit wall, adjacent to the start-finish straight. On the pit wall the teams use pit boards to communicate messages to riders during sessions and races. Those working in pit lane must follow a specific pit lane safety protocol and the maximum speed limit for riders in pit lane is 60km/h.
Pole position
The first position on the starting grid for a Grand Prix and Tissot Sprint. The pole position and the rest of the grid positions are contested in the qualifying (Q1 and Q2) sessions.
Points system
The points system in MotoGP rewards the best performing riders in each MotoGP Sprint and Grand Prix. The points from every Grand Prix are totalled up in the MotoGP standings and the rider who earns the most points over the course of the year is crowned MotoGP World Champion. In each Sunday race the first 15 riders to cross the finish line earn points for their championship tally, with the race winner earning the maximum 25 points, the second place finisher earning 20 points and the third place finisher getting 16 points. Meanwhile, in the MotoGP™ Sprint the scoring system is different, with the first nine riders earning points. The Sprint winner gets 12 points, the rider in second place earns nine points and the third place finisher gets seven. Therefore, in MotoGP™ a rider can earn a maximum haul of 37 points from each Grand Prix. For our full guide check out this article on the MotoGP™ points system.
Production bike
As opposed to the prototype bikes used in MotoGP which are only built for racing, production bikes are used in many racing series, such as WorldSBK. The bikes fans see in WorldSBK are based on standard road models, with certain modifications permitted for racing. Those modifications relate to brakes, engine management, engine parts, exhaust systems and suspension upgrades, though ultimately WorldSBK riders race on production-based machines that fans can compare to their own road models.
Prototype
The bikes used in MotoGP are prototypes, which means that they are constructed solely for the purpose of racing, much like the cars in Formula 1. MotoGP prototypes are not produced to be purchased for use by the general public, whereas the production bikes used in WorkdSBK are based on models which manufacturers sell for road use.
Qualifying
The term used to describe the sessions in which the riders contest the positions on the starting grid for the race and Tissot Sprint. Check out our full explainer on How MotoGP™ qualifying works.
Q1 & Q2
Direct entry to Q2 (Qualifying 2 in which the top 12 grid positions are contested) is contested in Practice on Friday afternoons. The ten top ranked riders in Practice go straight into Q2 Those outside the top 10 in the Friday afternoon Practice go into Q1, from which only the top two riders then make it through to Q2.
Race Direction
Race Direction is a panel of officials who oversee every session and race at each Grand Prix. The panel is led by Mike Webb, who is the MotoGP™ Race Director and Race Direction Chairman. The job of Race Direction is to run the races and ensure the safety of the event, for example red flagging a race if it becomes too wet and it's deemed dangerous. Race Direction liaises closely with the FIM MotoGP™ Stewards, who have responsibility for managing disciplinary and arbitration matters, such as warnings and penalties.
Racing line
The racing line is the optimal path around a circuit for the fastest lap time. Preferred racing lines per rider can vary slightly due to differences in bike performance and riding style.
Rear end / rear wheel
The posterior part of the bike in MotoGP™ is referred to as the rear end. The rear wheel is a key component of the rear end, in addition to the rear tyre, rear fairing, exhaust system, rear brakes and rear shock (suspension).
Rookie
A rookie in any class of the MotoGP™ World Championship is a rider competing in that category for the first time on a full-time basis. Sometimes ‘rookies’ have already featured in the class on an ad hoc basis as a substitute or wild card, so their status as a rookie only becomes official when they are contracted to ride for a full season as a debutant in the respective category. If they've already done five or more events in one year of the same class, they can't be a rookie thereafter.
Rookie of the Year
At the end of each season of the World Championship the highest placed debutant rider in the final standings of MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 is named as the rookie of the year in their respective class. There's a full trophy for this!
Ride Through
Used as a penalty for riders who infringe the rules, a Ride Through is an enforced ride along the pit lane at a reduced speed during a race. Riding through the pit lane whilst adhering to the pit lane speed limit (60 km/h) significantly increases a rider’s lap time compared to a normal track lap and means they lose ground (and usually a lot of positions) in the race. A Ride Through is a fairly serious penalty.
Ride height device
This term refers to the device used to lower the bike for when riders accelerate particularly hard, usually in a low gear and most commonly on race starts or when exiting slow corners. Ride height devices basically "plant" the rear tyre down by lowering the rear suspension and, by lowering the bike's centre of gravity, aim to keep the front wheel on the ground, avoiding unwanted wheelies which are inefficient.