What is Moto GP?
Moto GP, or Moto Grand Prix, is the oldest road racing championship in the world. Its first formal event took place in 1949, under the guidance of FIM (International Federation of Motorcyclists).
Initially, the racing events were mainly held in Europe and dominated by European motorcycle manufacturers. With the growth of the Japanese motorbike industry in the 1960s, motorbike brands like Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha also began to participate in the races.
The French term ‘Grand Prix’ means ‘Grand Prize’. Nowadays, it is used to talk about the World Championships of Drivers, which includes automobiles (such as Formula 1) and motorcycles (such as Moto GP).
How are the Moto GP races conducted?
The Moto Grand Prix has four main classes – MotoGP, Moto3, Moto2, and MotoE. Each class involves the use of different types of motorbikes. For instance, MotoE is a new class that only uses electric bikes. MotoGP is known to feature the best riders and motorbikes in the world.
The racing event hosts 11 teams of two riders each. While some teams are sponsored by big factories like Yamaha, other teams use a mix of old and new factory equipment.
Moto GP has 24 races, each lasting between 40-45 minutes. The championship gives more importance to individual rankings over team rankings. At the end of the event, it comes out with a list of the top 15 riders.
What is India’s association with Moto GP?
Recently, the FIM and commercial partner Dorna Sports have decided to host the Moto GP world championship in India for seven years, starting in 2023.
The championship will take place at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), Greater Noida. India hosted the Formula 1 races at the same venue between 2011 and 2013.
How will hosting the Moto GP event benefit India?
Motorbike riders from 19 countries will be participating in the race. The event will see many international motorsport fans coming to India. All this will help boost tourism in our country.
The Moto GP event will also create many jobs. For instance, more than 5000 people will be needed to organise one weekend of this tournament.
If we successfully host the Moto GP world championship, it might encourage other racing tournaments to choose India as their future venue.
