Looking at the History of MotoGP amid COVID-19
The fate of MotoGP 2020 is uncertain amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Dorna, as the organizer of MotoGP, as well as the racers, the racing teams and fans still hope that MotoGP 2020 can be held even if only for a few series.
A picture taken on March 6, 2020 shows garages closed at the Losail International Circuit after cancelling the Qatar MotoGP race. - This weekend\'s season-opening MotoGP in Qatar was cancelled because of the spread of the coronavirus, although the Moto2 and Moto3 races will go ahead as planned as riders were already in the country for testing.
Since the world-class motorcycle racing championship was held in 1949, delays have typically occurred only because of circuit condition problems caused by bad weather. Now, the delay is being caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Referring to MotoGP statistics, during the course of 70 years of the championship, MotoGP has given birth to dozens of racing legends, and dozens of motorcycle brands have won in various classes and produced a number of legendary circuits. Not only Japanese-made motorcycles have won the championship of "the kings", as European motorbikes have also produced legends and dominated.
MotoGP is often called the class of "the kings" because its racers are generally the winners and champions of lower classes, such as Moto2, Moto3, GP250 and GP125. In fact, the "kings" of MotoGP were often world champions many times in their respective classes.
Periodization of MotoGP
The statistics published by MotoGP on the motogp.com page illustrate that this championship can be divided into six championship eras based on the period and engine capacity of the championship. There is also a difference in engine type, with 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines.
The first era was 1949-1961 when there were four classes: 125 cc, 250 cc, 350 cc and 500 cc with 2-stroke engines. In this era a number of European manufacturers dominated the race, for example, the MV Agusta motorcycle from Italy dominated the 1952-1961 race. In those years, other European motorcycles also took turns winning the series, namely Gilera, Benelli, Moto Guzzi, Mondial, Velocette, AJS, Norton and NSU.
The racers who dominated the championship in this era were Bill Lomas, Bob Foster, Bruno Ruffo, Carlo Ubbiali, Cecyl Stanford, Dario Ambrosini, Garry Hocking, Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Werner Haas and several other riders.
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A mechanic walks down the pit lane of Losail International Circuit after cancelling the Qatar MotoGP race on March 6, 2020. - This weekend\'s season-opening MotoGP in Qatar was cancelled because of the spread of the coronavirus, although the Moto2 and Moto3 races will go ahead as planned as riders were already in the country for testing.
Among the names of the racers, two riders from England, namely Geoff Duke with Norton and Gilera motorbikes and John Surtees with MV Agusta motorbikes, were the two big names that dominated almost every class in the championships. Another racer, Italian Carlo Ubbiali, also became a racing legend with the MV Agusta motorcycle.
The second era in 1962-1983 saw competition in similar classes, but there was an additional class, namely the 50 cc class. Even though the capacity was only 50 cc, it was hoped that this class could be a training ground for for the racers.
In this era, Japanese manufacturers began to defeat European manufacturers with the entry of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Also in this era, there was a racing legend who repeatedly climbed the podium and who was undefeated, Giacomo Agostini from Italy. He became world champion consecutively from 1966 to 1975 in two classes at once, namely 350 cc and 500 cc.
In this era, Japanese manufacturers began to defeat European manufacturers with the entry of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki.
Giacomo Agostini won 122 Grand Prix series and 15 world titles in all classes. The last few years, the legend "grandpa" Giacomo Agostini was seen stopping by at the paddock of Valentino Rossi when the MotoGP race took place.
During this period, other big names that emerged as legends were Angel Nieto (Spain), Mike Hailwood (England), Phil Read (England), Jim Redman (Rhodesia, Africa), Kenny Roberts (United States), Walter Villa (Italy), Ricardo Tormo (Spain), Hans-Georg Anscheidt (Germany), Pierpaolo Bianchi (Italy), Anton Mang (Germany), Kork Ballington (South Africa) and several other riders.
Japanese and European manufacturers took turns winning the GP500 world championship in this era. However, the dominance of the MV Agusta motorcycle, which won the world champion 13 times in this era, proved that European manufacturers could not be underestimated.
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A track marshal (R) pushes the bike of Pramac Racing\'s Australian rider Jack Miller after crashing during the last day of the pre-season MotoGP winter test at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang on February 9, 2020.
Meanwhile, Japanese manufacturers won the world championship several times, with Suzuki winning four times in this period, Yamaha won four times and Honda only once. In the 250 cc class, American manufacturer Harley-Davidson won three times as the world champion in 1974-1976 and once in the 350 cc class, all through the same driver, Walter Villa of Italy.
In the third era, 1984-1989, the 350 cc and 50 cc classes were removed. But there was a new class, the 80 cc class. So in this era, there were classes of 80 cc, 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc. The names of MotoGP legends in this era are mostly the owners of today\'s racing teams.
The legends of that era include Jorge Martinez (now the owner of the Aspar team), Fausto Gresini (owner of the Gresini team) and Sito Pons (owner of the Pons team). There were also legends Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer and Wayne Gardner.
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In the premier class, Honda and Yamaha manufacturers competed in this era, while in the 125 cc and 250 cc classes, a notable motorbike brand that competed was Garelli. All three were from
Italy. Other emerging brands in the competition were motorcycle manufacturers JJ Cobas from Spain and Krauser and Zundapp, both from Germany.
The fourth era saw motorcycle racing develop stability in 1990-2001. There were three classes: 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc. In this era, motorcycle racing entered the modern era, both in terms of the implementation and distribution of broadcasts that were increasingly widespread throughout the world.
Italy\'s rider Valentino Rossi of the Movistar Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team steers his bike during first practice at Sepang International Circuit ahead of the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. (
MotoGP fans in Indonesia also began to get closer to this race after RCTI, ANTV, TV7 and Trans7 televisions broadcasted GP500 or MotoGP live. Big name Valentino Rossi from Italy made his debut in this era.
Racing legends that emerged in this era include Loris Capirossi, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Mick Doohan. Valentino Rossi is still actively participating in races today. There is also Max Biaggi who made a name for himself.
4-stroke engine
The fifth era is the transition era or combined era, because from 2002-2011, 2-stroke engines (125 cc and 250 cc) were being used while the start of 4-stroke engine (1,000 cc MotoGP) races began. In 2010, the Moto2 class with a 600 cc 4-stroke engine began to replace the 250 cc class.
In 2002, MotoGP entered the era of 4-stroke engine, having put 4-stroke 1,000 cc engines and 500 cc 2-stroke engines in the same race. This was interesting because it was a test of which engine was better. It turned out that the 4-stroke 1,000 cc engine dominated the championship.
The decision to switch to a 4-stroke engine was aimed at supporting the reduction of air pollution or carbon dioxide emissions because there is more smoke from 2-stroke engines compared to 4-stroke engines.
MotoGP in the period of 2002-2011 also saw changes in regulation. In 2002-2006, MotoGP used a 1,000 cc engine. In 2007-2011, MotoGP regulations changed, using an 800 cc engine.
A video grab shows Moto GP racers, pictured as they participate in a virtual race event at a digital rendering of the Autodromo del Mugello circuit, played on the official MotoGP 19 videogame from developer Milestone, March 29, 2020. Picture taken March 29, 2020.
Aprilia became a manufacturer that often became the champion in the 125 cc and 250 cc classes, with tight competition from Honda. Meanwhile, in that class, Derbi and Gilera occasionally stole world championship victories.
The year 2007 saw for the first time Ducati, an Italian manufacturer, become a MotoGP world champion in the hands of Casey Stoner. Since then, Ducati has struggled to repeat success. However, Casey Stoner returned as champion with Repsol Honda in 2011.
The names of the legends that dominated this era include Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo. All three have retired as MotoGP racers, but they occasionally act as tester racers. The legends who died in this era were Marco Simoncelli, who died in the Sepang MotoGP championship in 2011, and Nicky Hayden, who died in 2017 after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle near Rimini, Italy.
The sixth era, 2012-2020, has seen the official use of 4-stroke engines in all classes by bringing the engine back to 1,000 cc capacity. The 125 cc class was replaced by the Moto3 (250 cc 4-stroke engine), while the 250 cc class was replaced by the Moto2 (600 cc 4-stroke engine).
Marc Marquez\'s achievements have not been able to match the achievements of Valentino Rossi.
The 600 cc Moto2 class has been contested since 2010-2018 with Honda-branded engines on all riders, but the frame can be from other manufacturers. Entering 2019, Moto2 regulations have changed, namely with the 765 cc Triumph motorcycle engine. However, the chassis and frame of the motorcycle can use other brands.
In this era, Marc Marquez, as a rookie rider who had just entered the MotoGP class, immediately became world champion. He continued a run of championship victories until 2019, save in 2015 when Jorge Lorenzo won it all.
Marc Marquez has won six MotoGP championships overall since 2013, a Moto2 championship and a GP125cc championship. Marc Marquez\'s achievements have not been able to match the achievements of Valentino Rossi with seven MotoGP world championships, one 250 cc championship and one 125 cc championship.
A circuit for the 2021 MotoGP race in the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, Kuta, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, is still under construction on Jan. 28.
The fate of MotoGP 2020
MotoGP 2020 has been delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The inaugural series, which was supposed to be held by the Spanish Jerez on May 3, 2020, was postponed.
According to the latest development on Thursday (07/04/2020), Dorna as the MotoGP organizer announced the postponement of the Catalunya MotoGP series in Spain and Mugello in Italy after five previous series were postponed, namely those in the United States, Argentina, Thailand, Spain and France.
Dorna will announce a revised calendar as soon as possible by looking at the developments of the coronavirus outbreak. It is likely that the series in Europe between May and September 2020 will be postponed.
Qatar as the opening series only held Moto2 and Moto3 races on March 8, 2020. This is because all Moto2 and Moto3 riders along with crew and motorbikes had been in Qatar the previous week to undergo preseason 2020 tests.
While waiting for the fate of future events during the pandemic, on Sunday (29/3/22020) MotoGP held a virtual race or MotoGP eSport event using a virtual Mugello circuit.
The participants were eight MotoGP riders: Marc Marquez, Alex Marquez, Maverick Vinales, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Francesco Bagnaia, Joan Mir, Iker Lecuona and Miguel Oliveira.
The race was won by Alex Marquez, the younger brother and teammate of MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez.
With the uncertain conditions due to COVID-19, MotoGP will certainly prioritize the safety of the fans. Crew members and racing teams of diverse backgrounds will certainly be anxious if the MotoGP event is forced to continue under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All hope that this outbreak will soon end so that it does not cause material losses to organizers, racers, teams, television broadcasting rights holders, sponsors and prospective audience that will come to the circuit. (LITBANG KOMPAS)
