Shell and Ducati MotoGP

A short history of MotoGP

MotoGP is the premier motorcycle racing championship in the world: an 18-race series visiting 13 countries on four continents with pan-global television coverage. The world’s most skilled riders line up on the grid armed with cutting-edge motorcycle technology and prototype machinery.

Established as a world championship by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949, MotoGP is now into its 65^th year. It is the oldest motorsport championship in the world and is steeped in rich history with Grand Prix events having taken place in every corner of the world. More than 2.2 million people came through the gates of the circuits to watch MotoGP in 2010.

Formerly called ‘500 cc’, the championship underwent a change in 2002 with new technical regulations permitting the introduction of four-stroke machinery with the engine capacity increased to 990 cc, thus becoming MotoGP. In 2007 the rules were again altered, limiting engine capacity to 800 cc. In 2012, the new 1,000 cc era began.

The current MotoGP World Champion is Honda rider Marc Márquez who claimed his first MotoGP World Championship title in 2013 as a rookie. The Spaniard is the youngest ever championship winner, having secured the title at 20 years of age. The 2014 season saw Márquez repeat his title-winning form.

In 2015 the racing has been more dramatic, exciting and unexpected than it has for many seasons, with Márquez facing a strong challenge from the revived Ducati team of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone as well as the Yamaha challenge of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.

With no single team or rider dominating in terms of speed or results, Ducati’s consistency in reaching the podium in the opening rounds sets the scene for a spellbinding MotoGP title fight throughout the remainder of the season.