Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix

The Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix (Arabic: جائزة قطر الكبرى للدراجات النارية) is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.

Qatar Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueLusail International Circuit (2004–present)
First race2004
Most wins (rider)Jorge Lorenzo (6)
Most wins (manufacturer)Aprilia (12)
Riders of the 2010 Grand Prix at Losail.

The Lusail race track in Qatar represents the debut race of each MotoGP season. In 2008, the track held the first night event in MotoGP history. The 2008 night event, aside from drawing boosted viewing which also coincided with the race being moved to the opening spot on the calendar, was initiated with the intent of increasing equipment performance: the day-time heat in Qatar has been hazardous to the conditions of tires and expensive, customized parts on the multimillion-dollar motorcycles. Rider safety notwithstanding, the extreme heat could be a critical variable contributing to defeat. Qatar's Grand Prix is the only event in the entire MotoGP calendar to be held at night.

The 2020 MotoGP race was scheduled to open the season before being cancelled due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. The Moto2 and Moto3 classes proceeded as planned.[1]

The event is due to take place at the Lusail International Circuit until at least 2031.[2]

Official names and sponsors

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  • 2004–2005: Marlboro Grand Prix of Qatar
  • 2006–2016: Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar[3]
  • 2017–2018, 2022: Grand Prix of Qatar (no official sponsor)[4]
  • 2019: VisitQatar Grand Prix[5]
  • 2020: QNB Grand Prix of Qatar
  • 2021: Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar[6]
  • 2023–present: Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar[7]

Criticism

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The race has been argued to be an example of sportswashing.[8]

Winners

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Multiple winners (riders)

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# Wins Rider Wins
Category Years won
6   Jorge Lorenzo MotoGP 2012, 2013, 2016
250cc 2006, 2007
125cc 2004
5   Casey Stoner MotoGP 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
250cc 2005
4   Valentino Rossi MotoGP 2005, 2006, 2010, 2015
3   Maverick Viñales MotoGP 2017, 2021
Moto3 2012
2   Nicolás Terol 125cc 2010, 2011
  Marc Márquez MotoGP 2014
Moto2 2012
  Andrea Dovizioso MotoGP 2018, 2019
  Jaume Masià Moto3 2021, 2023
  Francesco Bagnaia MotoGP 2024
Moto2 2018

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

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# Wins Manufacturer Wins
Category Years won
12   Aprilia 250cc 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
125cc 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
11   Kalex Moto2 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
10   Honda MotoGP 2004, 2011, 2014
Moto3 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023
9   Yamaha MotoGP 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021
8   Ducati MotoGP 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
5   KTM Moto3 2013, 2014, 2020, 2021
125cc 2005
2   Suter Moto2 2010, 2012
  Boscoscuro Moto2 2023, 2024

By year

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Year Track Moto3 Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2024 Losail/Lusail   David Alonso CFMoto   Alonso López Boscoscuro   Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Report
2023   Jaume Masià Honda   Fermín Aldeguer Boscoscuro   Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati Report
2022   Andrea Migno Honda   Celestino Vietti Kalex   Enea Bastianini Ducati Report
2021   Jaume Masià KTM   Sam Lowes Kalex   Maverick Viñales Yamaha Report
2020   Albert Arenas KTM   Tetsuta Nagashima Kalex Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns Report
2019   Kaito Toba Honda   Lorenzo Baldassarri Kalex   Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Report
2018   Jorge Martín Honda   Francesco Bagnaia Kalex   Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Report
2017   Joan Mir Honda   Franco Morbidelli Kalex   Maverick Viñales Yamaha Report
2016   Niccolò Antonelli Honda   Thomas Lüthi Kalex   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2015   Alexis Masbou Honda   Jonas Folger Kalex   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2014   Jack Miller KTM   Esteve Rabat Kalex   Marc Márquez Honda Report
2013   Luis Salom KTM   Pol Espargaró Kalex   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
2012   Maverick Viñales FTR Honda   Marc Márquez Suter   Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Report
Year Track 125cc Moto2 MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2011 Losail   Nicolás Terol Aprilia   Stefan Bradl Kalex   Casey Stoner Honda Report
2010   Nicolás Terol Aprilia   Shoya Tomizawa Suter   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc MotoGP Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
2009 Losail   Andrea Iannone Aprilia   Héctor Barberá Aprilia   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2008   Sergio Gadea Aprilia   Mattia Pasini Aprilia   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2007   Héctor Faubel Aprilia   Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia   Casey Stoner Ducati Report
2006   Álvaro Bautista Aprilia   Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2005   Gábor Talmácsi KTM   Casey Stoner Aprilia   Valentino Rossi Yamaha Report
2004   Jorge Lorenzo Derbi   Sebastián Porto Aprilia   Sete Gibernau Honda Report

References

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  1. ^ "MOTOGP CLASS CANCELLED AT THE GRAND PRIX OF QATAR". FIM-live.com. 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  2. ^ "MotoGP to race at Losail International Circuit until 2031". MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  3. ^ "2006 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  4. ^ "2017 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  5. ^ "2019 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  6. ^ "2021 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  7. ^ "2023 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  8. ^ "2016 Qatar MotoGP Wednesday Round Up: Oppressive Regimes, Muzzled Speech, and Unknown Quantities | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks". motomatters.com. Retrieved 2021-03-09.

25°29′24″N 51°27′15″E / 25.49000°N 51.45417°E / 25.49000; 51.45417