The MotoGP™ World Championship is getting faster and faster and the numbers speak for themselves. Andrea Dovizioso’s (Ducati Team) speed of 356.5km/h during Sunday's Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley is a milestone in motorcycle racing history, with the continuing evolution of the bikes allowing for greater top speeds to be reached.
“It always makes you dream and it’s special to reach such great numbers,” declared Dovizioso on Friday, before going even quicker in the race. “However, sincerely, it’s not an important aspect of being a rider, the feeling doesn’t change much if you’re going 346km/h or 357km/h.”
The second fastest speed in history was Andrea Iannone’s (354.9km/h) back in 2016, also on board a Desmosedici machine. Last year, Ducati’s test rider Michele Pirro peaked at 354.7km/h, putting himself third fastest on record, with all of these speeds being attained at the Autodromo del Mugello.
The fastest speed recorded outside of the Italian track is the fourth in the record books, set by Danilo Petrucci (351.9km/h) at the Losail International Circuit. Andrea Iannone has also recorded the fifth fastest time ever set, which was 351.2km/h, also set in Qatar.