As we celebrate the 75 years of competition that have brought us to 2024, we are delving into some of the facts and statistics – continuing to focus on the factories. Check them out and then head to our new 75th anniversary page to enjoy some of the best content from then and now, with much more to be added throughout the season.
The manufacturers are an essential part of what makes MotoGP what it is, and each of them already has a long legacy, even those whose debut in MotoGP is still fresh in memory.
When the first Motorcycle World Championship started in 1949, it was Norton who won the first 500cc GP and AJS who claimed the first 500cc crown. In the 350cc class, the first winning factory in a GP was Velocette, and that was also the first race counting for the World Championship, on June 13, 1949. The same factory also claimed the crown.
In the 250cc class, meanwhile, Moto Guzzi won the first race and the first title, and in the 125cc class, it was Mondial who won the first race – later in the season – and the Championship.
Now, the grid is quite different. From the constructors who have been racing for decades to the factories that are newer on the MotoGP grid – but are making waves – here is a look at our fabulous five constructors who will make more history in 2024:
Aprilia
The first race for Aprilia was in 1985, in the 250cc class, with rider Loris Reggiani. The first victory came two years later, in the same class, with Reggiani winning the 1987 San Marino GP. In 1992, the Noale factory was celebrating its first rider’s crown with Alessandro Gramigni winning the 1992 125cc Championship.
In 1995, the Noale factory added its first constructors’ crown, reaching the top in the 250cc class.
The first victory in the premier class recently happened, with Aleix Espargaró conquering the thrilling win at the 2022 Argentine GP – and since then, he has already won two more. Will Aprilia add more distinctions to its MotoGP legacy in 2024?
Ducati
Did you know that Ducati’s first Grand Prix was actually in 1956? Sandro Artusi raced in the Nations GP in the 125cc class. And their first victory in any class was at the 1958 Belgian GP, with Alberto Gandossi winning in the 125cc class.
For the premier category, the story moves to the beginning of an era that all fans know. Loris Capirossi achieved the factory’s first victory in the premier class when he won in Catalunya in 2003, and Casey Stoner claimed his first MotoGP riders’ championship in 2007. In the same year, they also secured their first constructors’ championship in MotoGP.
In 2022, Pecco Bagnaia became the second MotoGP world champion with the factory, and his defense of the crown in 2023 means he is the first to achieve consecutive championships for Ducati.
Honda
The factory with the most victories was also the first on our grid to claim a win. After participating in their first GP race in 1959 in the 125cc class, Honda won in 1961 when Tom Phillis climbed to the top step in the 125cc class. The year 1961 became even more significant for the factory, as they not only won their first riders’ championship but also the first two: Mike Hailwood claimed the 250cc crown and Tom Phillis won the 125cc world championship. Honda also secured their first constructors’ titles in that era in the 125cc and 250cc classes to complete an incredible year.
In 1966, Jim Redman achieved his first victory in the premier class at the West German GP.
Honda is the factory with the highest number of victories in Grand Prix races to date. They have an impressive total of 821 wins accumulated in all classes, of which 313 are in the premier class.
KTM
The Austrian factory entered the Grand Prix racing in 2003, participating in the 125cc class at the Japanese GP. In a pattern that would become even more familiar, it didn’t take long for them to win, claiming victory at the Malaysian GP in 2004 in the 125cc class with none other than Casey Stoner.
Their first constructors’ title was won in 2005 in the 125cc class, and when it became Moto3 in 2012, KTM made their own history in the new era, with Sandro Cortese winning the Championship and securing the first riders’ crown for the Austrian factory.
Their first victory in the premier class was also the first victory for a South African rider in the premier class, with rookie Brad Binder stealing the show in Brno in 2020.
Yamaha
Yamaha is another brand with a long history in the sport. Their first race was the 1961 French GP, with Fumio Ito in the 250cc class. The first victory came shortly after with a win at the 1963 Belgian GP, again with Fumio Ito in the 250cc class.
The next milestone was the first riders’ championship in 1964, when Phil Read claimed the 250cc crown, and the Iwata brand also secured their first constructors’ world championship in the same year and class.
Their first victory in the premier class came at the 1972 Spanish GP, with Chas Mortimer at the helm.
Now, the countdown is on for the first race of a record-breaking 2024 calendar, with more history waiting to be made. So make sure to tune in to the QatarGP from March 8th to 10th!
Source: MotoGP
