MotoGP™ Basics

To define a ‘typical’ team competing in MotoGP™ is not simple, but Grand Prix teams in the main consist of financial backers, management staff, administrative staff, press officers, a group of mechanics, and of course the riders themselves.

Teams in the MotoGP™ class are generally comprised of one or more, often two riders, and in addition to the riders' and constructors' (manufacturers) World Championships, the teams compete for a title of their own. All points scored by both riders in a team, including substitutes or replacements, but excluding wildcard entries, count towards the Teams World Championship title - which is presented each year at the end of season MotoGP™ Awards.

TEAM NAMES

The official race titles of the teams are composed of three elements: the name of the manufacturer of the motorcycle or engine, the name of the team and/or the name of one principal sponsor.

Sponsors play a key role in supporting the running of the team as they help to cover costs such as administrative fees, bike lease, insurance, travel and staff salaries. In turn the teams provide their sponsors with global media exposure and an association with one of the world’s most glamorous, popular and thrilling sports.

All teams are members of IRTA (International Road Racing Teams Association), an organisation which was formed in 1986 to represent the participants of Grand Prix with a collected voice. The organisation works alongside the FIM and Dorna (see Governing Bodies section) to maintain high standards within MotoGP™ and to improve the sport overall.

DEFINITIONS

The teams competing in MotoGP vary hugely in terms of their available budgets and their structure in terms of staff numbers, from the big name ‘factory’ teams, to the ‘satellite’ and ‘Open Class’ entries participating in the three elite classes of the MotoGP World Championship.

As the name suggests, the factory teams are those most closely linked with the manufacturer they represent. Teams such as Repsol Honda are the MotoGP™ showcases for the ‘brand’ and the ‘technology’ of the respective manufacturers. Proving your worth in races to millions of motorcycle enthusiasts across the globe cannot be bad for sales.

Private teams, meanwhile, can also have close links with the manufacturers who provide their machinery, but their levels of collaboration with the factory differ from case to case – with some teams being completely separate from factories. Some private teams lease their race bikes from the manufacturers and benefit from direct technical support and supply of parts from the factories dependent on their agreement. For the factories, feedback from these teams also plays a crucial role in their development of competitive racing machinery.

Many private teams throughout the three categories, meanwhile, are operated completely independently from the factories, but again they lease their bikes from the manufacturers - LCR Honda MotoGP™ Team do this in the MotoGP™ class.

Teams operating under ‘Open Class’ regulations are independent teams who benefit from less restrictive rules on the number of engines allowed per season and a greater fuel allowance. The machinery can vary greatly, from purpose built race bikes that resemble prototype machinery, to independent chassis with either GP-spec or highly tuned road engines. The ‘Open Class’ will however run with the spec Magneti Marelli software across all teams.

Click here to see the MotoGP™ teams.

MANUFACTURERS

The manufacturers are:

MotoGP™:

Ducati, Honda and Yamaha as Official Manufacturers. “Open class” entries include FTR, ART (Aprilia) and PBM.

Moto2™:

FTR, Motobi, Kalex, Speed Up, Suter, Tech3 and Caterham.

Moto3™:

Honda, KTM, Mahindra, Kalex, FTR and Husqvarna.