Repsol Honda
Encyclopedia
Repsol Honda is the official factory team
of Repsol YPF
and the Honda Racing Corporation
in the MotoGP World Championship.
and Shinichi Itoh
riding the Honda NSR500
. Mick Doohan won the World Championship for the second time in a row in Argentina
, with one race left for the end of the season with seven race wins, Àlex Crivillé
finished the season fourth with 1 race win while Shinichi Itoh
finished fifth overall.
The team expanded to four riders in with Mick Doohan and Àlex Crivillé
riding the Honda NSR500
and Tadayuki Okada
and Shinichi Itoh
riding the Honda NSR500V
. Mick Doohan won his third World Championship with 8 race wins and Àlex Crivillé
finished runner-up with two wins. Tadayuki Okada finished seventh and Shinichi Itoh twelfth.
The four rider line-up continued in with Michael Doohan
, Àlex Crivillé
and Tadayuki Okada
on the Honda NSR500
and Takuma Aoki
on the Honda NSR500V
. Repsol Honda won all 15 races of the season with Mick Doohan winning 12 races, and breaking Giacomo Agostini
's record for victories in one season, on his way to his fourth World Championship. Tadayuki Okada
finished runner-up with a race win. Àlex Crivillé
finished fourth with 2 wins but had to miss five races after a serious crash in Assen. Takuma Aoki
finished fifth overall. Repsol Honda riders took all of the podium positions at four events, Japan
, Spain
, Germany
and Indonesia.
For Michael Doohan
, Àlex Crivillé
and Tadayuki Okada
continued with the team riding the Honda NSR500
and Sete Gibernau
joined them riding the Honda NSR500V
. Michael Doohan
continued to dominate the championship with 8 wins and was crowned World Champion for the fifth time in Australia
, in front of his home fans and with one race left in the season. Àlex Crivillé
finished third overall with 2 wins Tadayuki Okada
had to miss three races after breaking his wrist during practice of the Italian Grand Prix
and finished eighth overall. Sete Gibernau, finished eleventh.
The team line-up remained the same for with Michael Doohan
, Àlex Crivillé
and Tadayuki Okada
continued with the team riding the Honda NSR500
and Sete Gibernau
riding the Honda NSR500V
. During qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix
, five-times World Champion Michael Doohan
had a serious crash and was forced to miss the rest of the season and to finally announce his retirement as a rider. Àlex Crivillé
went on to win six races and clinch the World Championship in Brazil
with one race left in the season. Tadayuki Okada
finished third overall with three race wins. Sete Gibernau
, who was given the Honda NSR500
after Doohan's injury, finished fifth overall. The team managed an all Repsol Honda riders podium at Catalunya
with Crivillé first, Okada second and Sete Gibernau third.
Àlex Crivillé
Tadayuki Okada
and Sete Gibernau
remained with the team for all on Honda NSR500
motorcycles. was a difficult year for the Repsol Honda Team. Àlex Crivillé
only got one win and finished ninth overall.Tadayuki Okada
finished eleventh and Sete Gibernau
fifteenth.
In Àlex Crivillé
was joined by Tohru Ukawa
. The season was not much better than . Àlex Crivillé
could only manage 2 podiums and finished the season eighth. Tohru Ukawa
finished tenth with a single podium finish.
In , the debut year of the new MotoGP class, Valentino Rossi
joined the team alongside Tohru Ukawa
riding the new Honda RC211V
, the only two riders to use the new motorcycle until near the end of the season when Alex Barros
and Daijiro Kato
were also given the RC211V. Valentino Rossi
dominated the season and with eleven race wins become World Champion with four races left for the end of the season. Tohru Ukawa
with one victory and eight podium finishes, finished third overall.
2002 AMA Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden
joined Valentino Rossi
in .Valentino Rossi
with nine wins and finishing on the podium at all the races, became World Champion for the third time in a row with two races left in the season. Nicky Hayden
finished fifth overall with two podium finishes.
Following Valentino Rossi
's departure, Grand Prix
veteran Alex Barros
joined Nicky Hayden
in . Alex Barros
finished the season fourth and Nicky Hayden
fifth. Both riders got podium finishes but no race wins.
For Max Biaggi
joined Nicky Hayden
as the team's line-up. Nicky Hayden
got his first MotoGP win in his home race, the United States Grand Prix
, he finished third overall. Max Biaggi
was fifth with four podiums.
For , Nicky Hayden
was joined by 250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa
. Nicky Hayden
led the championship for most of the season but at the Portuguese Grand Prix
, teammate Dani Pedrosa
recklessly crashed into him. Both riders were out of the race and Valentino Rossi
took the championship lead with one race left to go. In the last race of the season, Rossi fell off his motorcycle on lap 5 trying to make up for a poor start. Hayden had a conservative race finishing a safe 3rd and thus became World Champion. He got 2 race wins and six other podium finishes. Dani Pedrosa
finished fifth with two race wins and 5 other podium finishes.
The same line-up remained for . The team used the new 800cc Honda RC212V
. The new motorcycle did not have the expected success right away but later in the season the motorycle was improved. Dani Pedrosa
got 2 race wins and finished the season runner up. Nicky Hayden
could only manage podium finishes and finished the season eighth overall.
For , Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden
made up the rider line-up, with Mike Leitner and Pete Benson as Pedrosa and Hayden's chief mechanics, respectively, and Kazuhiko Yamano as team manager. During the season Pedrosa switched to Bridgestone
tires and a wall was placed between the garages of Pedrosa and Hayden to prevent observation of tire data. A wall between the same team's garages was first instituted by Rossi at the beginning of the season between himself and his teammate on Michelins, Jorge Lorenzo
.
For , Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso
are the team riders.
For , the HRC Team Director is Kazuhiko Yamano, overseeing all operations including the factory teams and satellite teams. Toshiyuki Yamaji replaces Yamano as Team Manager and will direct the entire Repsol Honda team. Alberto Puig
is the Pedrosa Team Manager and Gianni Berti is the Dovizioso Team Manager. Shinichi Kokubu is the Grand Prix Technical Director, overseeing the six RC212V machines in MotoGP.
For , Shuhei Nakamoto
is HRC Vice President and directs all MotoGP teams. Shinichi Kokubu is Technical Director, and Livio Suppo is HRC Communication and Marketing Director. Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso, Casey Stoner
are the team riders.
Factory-backed
Factory-backed is a term commonly used in motorsports to describe a sponsored racing team, car, motorcycle or driver that competes with official sanction and financial support, or "backing" from a manufacturer. As motorsports competition is an expensive endeavor, some degree of factory support is...
of Repsol YPF
Repsol YPF
Repsol YPF, S.A. is an integrated Spanish oil and gas company with operations in 29 countries...
and the Honda Racing Corporation
Honda Racing Corporation
Honda Racing Corporation is a division of the Honda Motor Company formed in 1982. The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high potential racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of leading edge...
in the MotoGP World Championship.
History
In the team entered a 3 rider lineup with Mick Doohan, Àlex CrivilléAlex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
and Shinichi Itoh
Shinichi Itoh
born in Kakuda, Miyagi, Japan) is a retired professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has raced extensively in Japanese and International championships. Ito has competed in the All Japan Road Race Championship, and won the Japanese 500 cc Championship, and is also 3 times Japanese...
riding the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
. Mick Doohan won the World Championship for the second time in a row in Argentina
1995 Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1995 Argentine motorcycle Grand Prix was the penultimate round of the 1995 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on September 24, 1995 at the Autódromo Oscar Alfredo Gálvez in Buenos Aires.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:...
, with one race left for the end of the season with seven race wins, Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
finished the season fourth with 1 race win while Shinichi Itoh
Shinichi Itoh
born in Kakuda, Miyagi, Japan) is a retired professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has raced extensively in Japanese and International championships. Ito has competed in the All Japan Road Race Championship, and won the Japanese 500 cc Championship, and is also 3 times Japanese...
finished fifth overall.
The team expanded to four riders in with Mick Doohan and Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
riding the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
and Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
and Shinichi Itoh
Shinichi Itoh
born in Kakuda, Miyagi, Japan) is a retired professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He has raced extensively in Japanese and International championships. Ito has competed in the All Japan Road Race Championship, and won the Japanese 500 cc Championship, and is also 3 times Japanese...
riding the Honda NSR500V
Honda NSR500V
The Honda NSR500V is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was designed and manufactured by HRC and debuted in 1996 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class...
. Mick Doohan won his third World Championship with 8 race wins and Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
finished runner-up with two wins. Tadayuki Okada finished seventh and Shinichi Itoh twelfth.
The four rider line-up continued in with Michael Doohan
Michael Doohan
Michael "Mick" Doohan AM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion, who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more.-Biography:Originally from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Doohan attended St...
, Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
and Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
on the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
and Takuma Aoki
Takuma Aoki
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. He began his Grand Prix career in 1993. From to , Aoki competed in the World Superbike Championship, winning one race in that series. He returned to Grand Prix racing with Honda in 1997, enjoying his best season when he finished fifth in the...
on the Honda NSR500V
Honda NSR500V
The Honda NSR500V is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was designed and manufactured by HRC and debuted in 1996 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class...
. Repsol Honda won all 15 races of the season with Mick Doohan winning 12 races, and breaking Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
's record for victories in one season, on his way to his fourth World Championship. Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
finished runner-up with a race win. Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
finished fourth with 2 wins but had to miss five races after a serious crash in Assen. Takuma Aoki
Takuma Aoki
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan. He began his Grand Prix career in 1993. From to , Aoki competed in the World Superbike Championship, winning one race in that series. He returned to Grand Prix racing with Honda in 1997, enjoying his best season when he finished fifth in the...
finished fifth overall. Repsol Honda riders took all of the podium positions at four events, Japan
1997 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1997 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix was the second round of the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on April 20, 1997 at the Suzuka Circuit.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
, Spain
1997 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1997 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 4, 1997 at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
, Germany
1997 German motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1997 German motorcycle Grand Prix was the ninth round of the 1997 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on July 20, 1997 at the Nürburgring.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
and Indonesia.
For Michael Doohan
Michael Doohan
Michael "Mick" Doohan AM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion, who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more.-Biography:Originally from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Doohan attended St...
, Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
and Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
continued with the team riding the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
and Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
joined them riding the Honda NSR500V
Honda NSR500V
The Honda NSR500V is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was designed and manufactured by HRC and debuted in 1996 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class...
. Michael Doohan
Michael Doohan
Michael "Mick" Doohan AM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion, who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more.-Biography:Originally from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Doohan attended St...
continued to dominate the championship with 8 wins and was crowned World Champion for the fifth time in Australia
1998 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1998 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the thirteenth round of the 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 5 October 1998 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:...
, in front of his home fans and with one race left in the season. Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
finished third overall with 2 wins Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
had to miss three races after breaking his wrist during practice of the Italian Grand Prix
1998 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1998 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth race of the 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 15, 1998 at the Mugello Circuit.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
and finished eighth overall. Sete Gibernau, finished eleventh.
The team line-up remained the same for with Michael Doohan
Michael Doohan
Michael "Mick" Doohan AM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion, who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more.-Biography:Originally from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Doohan attended St...
, Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
and Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
continued with the team riding the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
and Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
riding the Honda NSR500V
Honda NSR500V
The Honda NSR500V is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was designed and manufactured by HRC and debuted in 1996 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class...
. During qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix
1999 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1999 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 9, 1999 at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
, five-times World Champion Michael Doohan
Michael Doohan
Michael "Mick" Doohan AM is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion, who won five consecutive 500 cc World Championships. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more.-Biography:Originally from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Doohan attended St...
had a serious crash and was forced to miss the rest of the season and to finally announce his retirement as a rider. Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
went on to win six races and clinch the World Championship in Brazil
1999 Brazilian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1999 Rio de Janeiro motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifteenth round of the 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on October 24, 1999 at the Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:...
with one race left in the season. Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
finished third overall with three race wins. Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
, who was given the Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
after Doohan's injury, finished fifth overall. The team managed an all Repsol Honda riders podium at Catalunya
1999 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1999 Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixth round of the 1999 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on June 20, 1999 at the Circuit de Catalunya.-500cc classification:-250cc classification:-125cc classification:...
with Crivillé first, Okada second and Sete Gibernau third.
Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
and Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
remained with the team for all on Honda NSR500
Honda NSR500
thumb|right|Shinichi Itoh, riding his Honda NSR500 in the Japanese Grand Prix 1993The Honda NSR500 is a race motorcycle from the Honda NSR series. It was created by HRC and debuted in 1984 for the Grand Prix motorcycle racing's 500 cc class. Honda won ten 500cc World Championships with the...
motorcycles. was a difficult year for the Repsol Honda Team. Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
only got one win and finished ninth overall.Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki Okada
Tadayuki 'Taddy' Okada is a retired Japanese professional Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was runner-up in the 1994 250cc and in the 1997 500cc World Championship.-Early career:...
finished eleventh and Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
fifteenth.
In Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
was joined by Tohru Ukawa
Tohru Ukawa
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan.Ukawa began his Grand Prix career in 1994, racing in the 250cc world championships. He finished second to Valentino Rossi in the 1999 World Championship...
. The season was not much better than . Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
could only manage 2 podiums and finished the season eighth. Tohru Ukawa
Tohru Ukawa
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan.Ukawa began his Grand Prix career in 1994, racing in the 250cc world championships. He finished second to Valentino Rossi in the 1999 World Championship...
finished tenth with a single podium finish.
In , the debut year of the new MotoGP class, Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
joined the team alongside Tohru Ukawa
Tohru Ukawa
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan.Ukawa began his Grand Prix career in 1994, racing in the 250cc world championships. He finished second to Valentino Rossi in the 1999 World Championship...
riding the new Honda RC211V
Honda RC211V
The Honda RC211V was developed in 2001 by HRC to replace the Honda NSR500 because regulations for the World Championship motorcycle road racing class were changed drastically for the 2002 season. Two-stroke engines were as before limited to and 4 cylinders, but four-stroke engines were allowed...
, the only two riders to use the new motorcycle until near the end of the season when Alex Barros
Alex Barros
Alex Barros is a Brazilian motorcycle road racer. After a long career in MotoGP, for 2006 he moved to the Superbike World Championship...
and Daijiro Kato
Daijiro Kato
was a Japanese Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and the 2001 World Champion in the 250cc class.-Biography:Kato was born in Saitama, and started racing miniature bikes at an early age, becoming a four-time national champion in the Japanese pocket-bike championship.He began road racing in 1992, and...
were also given the RC211V. Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
dominated the season and with eleven race wins become World Champion with four races left for the end of the season. Tohru Ukawa
Tohru Ukawa
is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Japan.Ukawa began his Grand Prix career in 1994, racing in the 250cc world championships. He finished second to Valentino Rossi in the 1999 World Championship...
with one victory and eight podium finishes, finished third overall.
2002 AMA Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
joined Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
in .Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
with nine wins and finishing on the podium at all the races, became World Champion for the third time in a row with two races left in the season. Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
finished fifth overall with two podium finishes.
Following Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
's departure, Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
veteran Alex Barros
Alex Barros
Alex Barros is a Brazilian motorcycle road racer. After a long career in MotoGP, for 2006 he moved to the Superbike World Championship...
joined Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
in . Alex Barros
Alex Barros
Alex Barros is a Brazilian motorcycle road racer. After a long career in MotoGP, for 2006 he moved to the Superbike World Championship...
finished the season fourth and Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
fifth. Both riders got podium finishes but no race wins.
For Max Biaggi
Max Biaggi
Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi is an Italian motorcycle racer and winner of the 2010 World Superbike Championship. Throughout this racing career, he has won the 250cc World Championship four times, and finished as runner-up in both the 500cc and MotoGP championships...
joined Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
as the team's line-up. Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
got his first MotoGP win in his home race, the United States Grand Prix
2005 United States motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2005 United States motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighth round of the 2005 MotoGP Championship. It took place on the weekend of 8 -July 10, 2005 at Laguna Seca. Only MotoGP class raced here because of the Californian law on air pollution, which forbids 2-stroke engines in the state.-MotoGP...
, he finished third overall. Max Biaggi
Max Biaggi
Massimiliano "Max" Biaggi is an Italian motorcycle racer and winner of the 2010 World Superbike Championship. Throughout this racing career, he has won the 250cc World Championship four times, and finished as runner-up in both the 500cc and MotoGP championships...
was fifth with four podiums.
For , Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
was joined by 250cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa
Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix...
. Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
led the championship for most of the season but at the Portuguese Grand Prix
2006 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix
__FORCETOC__The 2006 Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth race of the 2006 Motorcycle Grand Prix season. It took place on the weekend of 13 –October 15, 2006 at the Estoril circuit.-Moto GP Classification:-250cc Classification:...
, teammate Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa
Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix...
recklessly crashed into him. Both riders were out of the race and Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi, , is an Italian professional motorcycle racer and multiple MotoGP World Champion. He is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, with nine Grand Prix World Championships to his name – seven of which are in the premier class.Following his father, Graziano Rossi,...
took the championship lead with one race left to go. In the last race of the season, Rossi fell off his motorcycle on lap 5 trying to make up for a poor start. Hayden had a conservative race finishing a safe 3rd and thus became World Champion. He got 2 race wins and six other podium finishes. Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa
Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix...
finished fifth with two race wins and 5 other podium finishes.
The same line-up remained for . The team used the new 800cc Honda RC212V
Honda RC212V
The Honda RC212V is a road racing motorcycle developed to race in the MotoGP series. Officially introduced on 30 October 2006 as the RC211V replacement in the MotoGP series, it was developed by Honda Racing Corporation throughout 2006 and began officially racing in the 2007 season.The model name...
. The new motorcycle did not have the expected success right away but later in the season the motorycle was improved. Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa
Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix...
got 2 race wins and finished the season runner up. Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
could only manage podium finishes and finished the season eighth overall.
For , Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden
Nicky Hayden
Nicholas "Nicky" Patrick Hayden , nicknamed the The Kentucky Kid, is an American professional motorcycle racer, who won the MotoGP World Championship in 2006.-Beginnings and AMA Championship:...
made up the rider line-up, with Mike Leitner and Pete Benson as Pedrosa and Hayden's chief mechanics, respectively, and Kazuhiko Yamano as team manager. During the season Pedrosa switched to Bridgestone
Bridgestone
The is a multinational rubber conglomerate founded in 1931 by in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese....
tires and a wall was placed between the garages of Pedrosa and Hayden to prevent observation of tire data. A wall between the same team's garages was first instituted by Rossi at the beginning of the season between himself and his teammate on Michelins, Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo Guerrero , is a Spanish professional motorcycle road racer. He is the 2006 and 2007 250cc World Champion, and the MotoGP World Champion...
.
For , Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso
Andrea Dovizioso
Andrea Dovizioso is a professional motorcycle road racer. He won the 125cc World Championship in 2004.-125cc:...
are the team riders.
For , the HRC Team Director is Kazuhiko Yamano, overseeing all operations including the factory teams and satellite teams. Toshiyuki Yamaji replaces Yamano as Team Manager and will direct the entire Repsol Honda team. Alberto Puig
Alberto Puig
Alberto Puig is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer from Spain.Puig had his best year in 1994, when he finished in fifth place in the 500cc class. In 1995, Puig became the first Spanish competitor to win his home nation's 500cc Grand Prix when he won the 1995 Spanish Grand Prix...
is the Pedrosa Team Manager and Gianni Berti is the Dovizioso Team Manager. Shinichi Kokubu is the Grand Prix Technical Director, overseeing the six RC212V machines in MotoGP.
For , Shuhei Nakamoto
Shuhei Nakamoto
Shuhei Nakamoto is the vice-president of Honda Racing Corporation.-Career:Nakamoto joined the Honda Racing Corporation in 1983 and his initial work was based around the corporation's motorcycle racing operations at Honda Racing Corporation...
is HRC Vice President and directs all MotoGP teams. Shinichi Kokubu is Technical Director, and Livio Suppo is HRC Communication and Marketing Director. Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso, Casey Stoner
Casey Stoner
Casey Stoner is an Australian professional motorcycle racer. Born in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia and raised in Southport, Queensland, Stoner raced from a young age and moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a racing career...
are the team riders.
External links
- http://www.repsolypf.com/es_es/competicion/motociclismo/portada/ Official Repsol website for motorcycle grand prix teams
- http://world.honda.com/MotoGP Official Honda website for motorcycle grand prix teams