This weekend’s grand prix at Motegi will mark the twelfth time a MotoGP event has been held at the Japanese circuit.
Below is a brief history of the grand prix events that have taken place at the track:
2009/Japanese GP
In 2009 the Japanese Grand Prix was the second round of the year and held in April. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) won for the first time in any class at Motegi; Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) won the 250cc race and Andrea Iannone (Aprilia) in the 125cc class. Each of these riders left Japan leading the world championship standings, but none of the three went on to take the world title.
2008/Japanese GP
Valentino Rossi won his first MotoGP race at Motegi, to clinch his sixth world title in the premier-class. Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) won the 250cc race to give Dunlop their 200th consecutive 250cc GP win. Stefan Bradl (Aprilia) scored his second 125cc win of the year.
2007/Japanese GP
Loris Capirossi took the MotoGP win for the third successive year, in drying conditions, resulting in riders changing bikes during the race. Capirossi’s team mate Casey Stoner finished 6th to clinch the world title. Mika Kallio (KTM) won for the third successive year at Motegi – this time in the 250cc race. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) won the very wet 125cc race in which there were 20 crashes.
2006/Japanese GP
The three winners from 2005 all repeated their success, the only change being that this time Aoyama was riding a KTM in the 250cc class. This is the last occasion that a Japanese rider won a GP in Japan.
2005/Japanese GP
Loris Capirossi (Ducati) dominated the MotoGP class by winning from pole and setting a new lap record. This was the first win in the premier-class by a non-Japanese motorcycle in a race held in Japan. Max Biaggi finished second – the last of his 111 podium appearances in Grand Prix racing. Hiroshi Aoyama gave the home fans plenty to cheer by winning the 250cc race riding a Honda and Mika Kallio (KTM) won the 125cc race.
| 
|