Australian motorcycle Grand Prix

Summary

The Australian motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. From 1997 to the present day, it is run at the scenic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. Prior to 1997 the event was held at a number of different venues, most notably Eastern Creek west of Sydney New South Wales and Bathurst in central western New South Wales. The only rider to win the 'premier class' race at multiple venues is five-time World Champion Mick Doohan, Eastern Creek (1992, 1995) and Phillip Island (1998).

Australian Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenuePhillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (1989–1990, 1997–2019, 2022–present)
Eastern Creek Raceway (1991–1996)
First race1989
Most wins (rider)Valentino Rossi (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)Honda (39)
Eastern Creek Raceway, used from 1991 to 1996.

The race was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, both due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is contracted to host the event until 2026.[3]

Official names and sponsors edit

  • 1989: Swan Premium Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[4]
  • 1990: Drink/Drive Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[5]
  • 1991: Tooheys Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[6]
  • 1992–1994: Foster's Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[7]
  • 1995–1997: Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[8]
  • 1998–2001: Qantas Australian Grand Prix[9]
  • 2002–2003: SKYY vodka Australian Grand Prix[10]
  • 2004: Cinzano Australian Grand Prix[11]
  • 2005: Polini Australian Grand Prix[12]
  • 2006–2007: GMC Australian Grand Prix[13]
  • 2008: Australian Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[14]
  • 2009–2011: Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[15]
  • 2012: AirAsia Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[16]
  • 2013–2014: Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[17]
  • 2015: Pramac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[18]
  • 2016–2018: Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[19]
  • 2019: Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[20]
  • 2022: Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[21]
  • 2023: MotoGP Guru by Gryfyn Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix

Spectator attendance edit

2007: 50.425[22]

Winners of the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix edit

Most wins (riders) edit

# Wins Rider Wins
Category Years won
8   Valentino Rossi MotoGP 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2014
500cc 2001
250cc 1998, 1999
6   Casey Stoner MotoGP 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
4   Marc Márquez MotoGP 2015, 2017, 2019
125cc 2010
3   Loris Capirossi 500cc 1996
125cc 1990, 1991
  Ralf Waldmann 250cc 1995, 1997
125cc 1992
  Mick Doohan 500cc 1992, 1995, 1998
  Max Biaggi 500cc 2000
250cc 1994, 1996
  Marco Melandri MotoGP 2006
250cc 2002
125cc 1999
  Jorge Lorenzo MotoGP 2013
250cc 2006, 2007
  Brad Binder Moto2 2018, 2019
Moto3 2016
  Álex Rins MotoGP 2022
Moto2 2015
Moto3 2013
2   Wayne Gardner 500cc 1989, 1990
  Luca Cadalora 250cc 1991, 1992
  John Kocinski 500cc 1994
250cc 1990
  Àlex Crivillé 500cc 1997
125cc 1989
  Masao Azuma 125cc 1998, 2000
  Marco Simoncelli 250cc 2008, 2009
  Alex De Angelis Moto2 2010, 2011
  Sandro Cortese Moto3 2012
125cc 2011
  Pol Espargaró Moto2 2012, 2013
  Thomas Lüthi Moto2 2016
125cc 2005
  Miguel Oliveira Moto2 2017
Moto3 2015
  Maverick Viñales MotoGP 2018
Moto2 2014

Multiple winners (manufacturers) edit

# Wins Manufacturer Wins
Category Years won
39   Honda MotoGP 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
500cc 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001
250cc 1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005
Moto3 2017, 2019
125cc 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005
13   Aprilia 250cc 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007
125cc 1996, 1994, 2006, 2009, 2011
11   Yamaha MotoGP 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2018
500cc 1991, 1996, 2000
250cc 1990, 1993, 2000
10   KTM Moto2 2017, 2018, 2019
Moto3 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2023
6   Kalex Moto2 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2023
5   Ducati MotoGP 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2023
4   Derbi 125cc 2001, 2007, 2008, 2010
3   Gilera 250cc 2008, 2009
125cc 2002
2   Motobi Moto2 2010, 2011
  Suzuki MotoGP 2022
500cc 1993

By year edit

Year Track Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2023 Phillip Island   Deniz Öncü KTM   Tony Arbolino Kalex   Johann Zarco Ducati Report
2022   Izan Guevara Gas Gas   Alonso López Boscoscuro   Álex Rins Suzuki Report
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020
2019   Lorenzo Dalla Porta Honda   Brad Binder KTM   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2018   Albert Arenas KTM   Brad Binder KTM   Maverick Viñales Yamaha Report
2017   Joan Mir Honda   Miguel Oliveira KTM   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2016   Brad Binder KTM   Thomas Lüthi Kalex   Cal Crutchlow Honda Report
2015   Miguel Oliveira KTM   Álex Rins Kalex   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2014   Jack Miller KTM   Maverick Viñales Kalex   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2013   Álex Rins KTM   Pol Espargaró Kalex   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2012   Sandro Cortese KTM   Pol Espargaró Kalex   Casey Stoner Honda Report
Year Track 125cc Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2011 Phillip Island   Sandro Cortese Aprilia   Alex de Angelis Motobi   Casey Stoner Honda Report
2010   Marc Márquez Derbi   Alex de Angelis Motobi   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2009 Phillip Island   Julián Simón Aprilia   Marco Simoncelli Gilera   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2008   Mike di Meglio Derbi   Marco Simoncelli Gilera   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2007   Lukáš Pešek Derbi   Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2006   Álvaro Bautista Aprilia   Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia   Marco Melandri Honda Report
2005   Thomas Lüthi Honda   Daniel Pedrosa Honda   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2004   Andrea Dovizioso Honda   Sebastián Porto Aprilia   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2003   Andrea Ballerini Honda   Roberto Rolfo Honda   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
2002   Manuel Poggiali Gilera   Marco Melandri Aprilia   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2001 Phillip Island   Youichi Ui Derbi   Daijiro Kato Honda   Valentino Rossi Honda Report
2000   Masao Azuma Honda   Olivier Jacque Yamaha   Max Biaggi Yamaha Report
1999   Marco Melandri Honda   Valentino Rossi Aprilia   Tadayuki Okada Honda Report
1998   Masao Azuma Honda   Valentino Rossi Aprilia   Mick Doohan Honda Report
1997   Noboru Ueda Honda   Ralf Waldmann Honda   Àlex Crivillé Honda Report
1996 Eastern Creek   Garry McCoy Aprilia   Max Biaggi Aprilia   Loris Capirossi Yamaha Report
1995   Haruchika Aoki Honda   Ralf Waldmann Honda   Mick Doohan Honda Report
1994   Kazuto Sakata Aprilia   Max Biaggi Aprilia   John Kocinski Cagiva Report
1993   Dirk Raudies Honda   Tetsuya Harada Yamaha   Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Report
1992   Ralf Waldmann Honda   Luca Cadalora Honda   Mick Doohan Honda Report
1991   Loris Capirossi Honda   Luca Cadalora Honda   Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report
1990 Phillip Island   Loris Capirossi Honda   John Kocinski Yamaha   Wayne Gardner Honda Report
1989   Àlex Crivillé JJ Cobas   Sito Pons Honda   Wayne Gardner Honda Report
Year Track Rider Bike
1988 Bathurst Mick Doohan Yamaha FZR750
1987 Winton Kevin Magee Yamaha FZR750
1986 Bathurst Malcolm Campbell[23] Honda NR750
1983 Andrew Johnson Honda RS500
1978 Hideo Kanaya[24] Yamaha 750
1976 Sandown Warren Willing Yamaha 750
1968 Bathurst Ron Toombs[25] Henderson Matchless G50
1967 Ron Toombs[25] Henderson Matchless G50
1966 Ron Toombs[25] Henderson Matchless G50
1957 Bandiana Jack Forrest BMW
1952 Bathurst Harry Hinton[26]
1946 Ron Kessing[27] Velocette 495
1940 Bat Byrnes[27] Norton
1937 Vale Stuart Williams[27] Velocette 495
1933 George Hannaford[28] Rudge
1924 Goulburn Dave Brewster Indian Chief
1915 Yetholme James Mellor[29] Matchless
1914 Edgar Meller[30] 2 3/4 TT Douglas

Riots at Bathurst edit

The Bathurst motorcycle race riots, or Easter Motorcycle riots were a series of disturbances between 1980 and 1985 involving motorsport spectators and the New South Wales Police Force Tactical Response Group during the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix.

Following the 1985 race meeting, the Bathurst Regional Council placed a total ban on spectators taking their own alcohol into events at the Mount Panorama Circuit. This ban has subsequently been revoked. The council also put a limit on the number of drinks spectators could purchase per day from the outlets at the track. This also had a flow on effect for the circuits other annual event, the Bathurst 1000 touring car race held on the October long weekend, though traditionally the Bathurst 1000 crowd was much better behaved.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 British and Australian Grands Prix cancelled". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Australian Formula One Grand Prix and MotoGP cancelled for 2021". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Phillip Island secures MotoGP and WorldSBK contract for another decade". amcn.com.au. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  4. ^ "1989 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  5. ^ "1990 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  6. ^ "1991 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  7. ^ "1992 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  8. ^ "1995 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  9. ^ "1998 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  10. ^ "2002 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  11. ^ "2004 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  12. ^ "2005 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  13. ^ "2006 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  14. ^ "2008 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  15. ^ "2009 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  16. ^ "2012 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  17. ^ "2013 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  18. ^ "2015 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  19. ^ "2016 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  20. ^ "2019 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  21. ^ "2022 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  22. ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Malcolm Campbell". Speedcafe. Where Are They Now?. Speedcafe.com Australia. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  24. ^ Hailwood Humbled. Motorcycle News, 5 April 1978, p.3. Accessed 21 January 2022
  25. ^ a b c "1965 Henderson Matchless Mk1". Motorcycling Australia. Motorcycling Australia Museum. Motorcycling Australia. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  26. ^ "Laurie Boulter's 1936 Ariel Red Hunter". Motorcycling Australia. Motorcycling Australia Museum. Motorcycling Australia. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  27. ^ a b c "1936 495cc ex-works Velocette". Motorcycling Australia. Motorcycling Australia Museum. Motorcycling Australia. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  28. ^ "The Vale Circuit – Pre-Panorama Bathurst". Australian Motorcycle News. 9 November 2018.
  29. ^ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117550258 J. Mellor's Grand Prix Won Through Snow at Yetholme Saturday Referee and the Arrow, Trove Website Retrieved 2015-07-13))
  30. ^ http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15536246?searchTerm=Meller%20Grand%20Prix&searchLimits= Motor Cycling Grand Prix Race Won by E. Meller Sydney Morning Herald, Trove Website, Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 2013-11-26))