Wikipedia

Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

The Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1990.

Belgian Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
VenueCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps (1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990)
Circuit Zolder (1980)
First race1949
Last race1990
Most wins (rider)Giacomo Agostini (8)
Most wins (manufacturer)MV Agusta (26)

History

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The first official Belgian Grand Prix was held in 1949, but non-championship races were held as far back as 1921.

Every Belgian GP was held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with the exception of the 1980 season when the round moved to the Zolder circuit due to problems with the new asphalt at Spa-Francorchamps in 1979.[1] After the problems were resolved, Spa-Francorchamps became the host again from 1981 onwards.

The last race was held in 1990, and was subject to controversy. At the time, the FIM–IRTA war was raging on, and the Belgian Grand Prix became a casualty of this. Bernie Ecclestone decided to double the ticket prices for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix compared to the 1989 Dutch TT which was held a week earlier. This was much to the anger of the Belgian fans and as a result of this, many fans stayed at home for the 1990 Belgian Grand Prix. This drop in spectators, in combination with the race being held on a Saturday rather than a Sunday (which was similar to the Dutch TT at the time), caused the Belgian GP to be scrapped from the 1991 season onwards.[2][3]

Future

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Improvements to the circuit to make it suitable for motorcycle racing were made in autumn 2021 in time for the 2022 endurance season, and the Spa 24 Hours motorcycle race debuted at Spa in June 2022. It is unknown if Spa or another Belgian circuit will apply for MotoGP.[4]

Official names and sponsors

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  • 1949–1975: Grand Prix de Belgique des Motos/Grote Prijs van Belgie voor Moto's (no official sponsor)[5]
  • 1976-1978: Grand Prix Belgique/Grote Prijs Belgie (no official sponsor)[6]
  • 1979: G.P. Moto (no official sponsor)[7]
  • 1980, 1982: Grand Prix of Belgium (no official sponsor)[8]
  • 1981: Grand Prix Moto (no official sponsor)[9]
  • 1983: GP Johnson of Belgium[10]
  • 1984–1985: Johnson GP of Belgium[11]
  • 1986: GP of Belgium (not mentioned in the name but the race was sponsored by Johnson)[12]
  • 1988: GP of Belgium Gauloises Blondes[13]
  • 1989: Belgium Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[14]
  • 1990: Belgian Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)[15]

Formerly used circuits

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  •  
    Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, used in 1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990
  •  
    Zolder, used in 1980

Winners of the Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

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Multiple winners (riders)

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# Wins Rider Wins
Category Years won
8   Giacomo Agostini 500cc 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973
6   John Surtees 500cc 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960
350cc 1956, 1958
  Ángel Nieto 125cc 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980
50cc 1972
5   Mike Hailwood 500cc 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965
350cc 1966
4   Geoff Duke 500cc 1951, 1954
350cc 1951, 1952
  Carlo Ubbiali 250cc 1956, 1960
125cc 1956, 1959
  Freddie Spencer 500cc 1982, 1984, 1985
250cc 1985
3   Umberto Masetti 500cc 1950, 1952, 1953
  Ernst Degner 125cc 1960
50cc 1962, 1965
  Phil Read 500cc 1974, 1975
250cc 1968
  Ricardo Tormo 125cc 1982
50cc 1978, 1981
  Anton Mang 250cc 1980, 1981, 1982
2   Luigi Taveri 125cc 1961, 1962
  Jim Redman 350cc 1961, 1965
  Hans-Georg Anscheidt 50cc 1967, 1968
  Jan de Vries 50cc 1971, 1973
  Barry Sheene 500cc 1977
125cc 1971
  Walter Villa 250cc 1976, 1977
  Paolo Pileri 250cc 1978
125cc 1975
  Pier Paolo Bianchi 125cc 1977, 1978
  Barry Smith 125cc 1979
50cc 1969
  Eugenio Lazzarini 125cc 1983
50cc 1977
  Stefan Dörflinger 80cc 1984
50cc 1980
  Randy Mamola 500cc 1980, 1986
  Sito Pons 250cc 1986, 1988
  Hans Spaan 125cc 1989, 1990

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

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# Wins Manufacturer Wins
Category Years won
26   MV Agusta 500cc 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975
350cc 1956, 1958
250cc 1956, 1957, 1960
125cc 1956, 1959
17   Honda 500cc 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989
250cc 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989
125cc 1961, 1962, 1989, 1990
50cc 1964
14   Suzuki 500cc 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
125cc 1963, 1971
50cc 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971
  Yamaha 500cc 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990
250cc 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1990
6   Gilera 500cc 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957
  Kreidler 50cc 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980
  Derbi 125cc 1970, 1972, 1974, 1988
50cc 1969, 1972
5   Kawasaki 250cc 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
125cc 1969
4   Moto Guzzi 350cc 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957
  Morbidelli 250cc 1978
125cc 1975, 1977, 1979
3   Norton 500cc 1951
350cc 1951, 1952
  Bultaco 125cc 1976
50cc 1978, 1981
2   Velocette 350cc 1949, 1950
  MZ 250cc 1971
125cc 1960
  Harley-Davidson 250cc 1976, 1977
  Minarelli 125cc 1978, 1980
  Garelli 125cc 1983, 1985

By year

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A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.

Year Track 125cc 250cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1990 Spa-Francorchamps   Hans Spaan Honda   John Kocinski Yamaha   Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report
Year Track 80cc 125cc 250cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1989 Spa-Francorchamps   Hans Spaan Honda   Jacques Cornu Honda   Eddie Lawson Honda Report
1988   Jorge Martínez Derbi   Sito Pons Honda   Wayne Gardner Yamaha Report
1986   Domenico Brigaglia Ducados-MBA   Sito Pons Honda   Randy Mamola Yamaha Report
1985   Fausto Gresini Garelli   Freddie Spencer Honda   Freddie Spencer Honda Report
1984   Stefan Dörflinger Zündapp   Manfred Herweh Real-Rotax   Freddie Spencer Honda Report
Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1983 Spa-Francorchamps   Eugenio Lazzarini Garelli   Didier de Radiguès Chevallier-Yamaha   Kenny Roberts Yamaha Report
Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1982 Spa-Francorchamps   Ricardo Tormo Sanvenero   Anton Mang Kawasaki   Freddie Spencer Honda Report
1981   Ricardo Tormo Bultaco   Anton Mang Kawasaki   Marco Lucchinelli Suzuki Report
1980 Zolder   Stefan Dörflinger Kreidler   Ángel Nieto Minarelli   Anton Mang Kawasaki   Randy Mamola Suzuki Report
1979 Spa-Francorchamps   Henk van Kessel Sparta   Barry Smith Morbidelli   Edi Stöllinger Kawasaki   Dennis Ireland Suzuki Report
1978   Ricardo Tormo Bultaco   Pier Paolo Bianchi Minarelli   Paolo Pileri Morbidelli   Wil Hartog Suzuki Report
1977   Eugenio Lazzarini Kreidler   Pier Paolo Bianchi Morbidelli   Walter Villa Harley-Davidson   Barry Sheene Suzuki Report
1976   Herbert Rittberger Kreidler   Ángel Nieto Bultaco   Walter Villa Harley-Davidson   John Williams Suzuki Report
1975   Julien van Zeebroeck Kreidler   Paolo Pileri Morbidelli   Johnny Cecotto Yamaha   Phil Read MV Agusta Report
1974   Gerhard Thurow Kreidler   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Kent Andersson Yamaha   Phil Read MV Agusta Report
1973   Jan de Vries Kreidler   Jos Schurgers Bridgestone   Teuvo Länsivuori Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1972   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Jarno Saarinen Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1971   Jan de Vries Suzuki   Barry Sheene Suzuki   Silvio Grassetti MZ   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1970   Aalt Toersen Jamathi   Ángel Nieto Derbi   Rod Gould Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1969   Barry Smith Derbi   Dave Simmonds Kawasaki   Santiago Herrero Ossa   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1968   Hans-Georg Anscheidt Suzuki   Phil Read Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1967   Hans-Georg Anscheidt Suzuki   Bill Ivy Yamaha   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1966   Mike Hailwood Honda   Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report
1965   Ernst Degner Suzuki   Jim Redman Honda   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1964   Ralph Bryans Honda   Mike Duff Yamaha   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1963   Isao Morishita Suzuki   Bert Schneider Suzuki   Fumio Ito Yamaha   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
1962   Ernst Degner Suzuki   Luigi Taveri Honda   Bob McIntyre Honda   Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report
Year Track 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1961 Spa-Francorchamps   Luigi Taveri Honda   Jim Redman Honda   Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report
1960   Ernst Degner MZ   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1959   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1958   Alberto Gandossi Ducati   John Surtees MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1957   Tarquinio Provini FB-Mondial   John Hartle MV Agusta   Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi   Libero Liberati Gilera Report
1956   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta   John Surtees MV Agusta Report
1955   Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi   Giuseppe Colnago Gilera Report
1954   Ken Kavanagh Moto Guzzi   Geoff Duke Gilera Report
1953   Fergus Anderson Moto Guzzi   Umberto Masetti Gilera Report
1952   Geoff Duke Norton   Umberto Masetti Gilera Report
1951   Geoff Duke Norton   Geoff Duke Norton Report
1950   Bob Foster Velocette   Umberto Masetti Gilera Report
1949   Freddie Frith Velocette   Bill Doran AJS Report
1948   Bob Foster Velocette   Johnny Lockett Norton Report
1947   Bruno Francisci Moto Guzzi   Ken Bills Norton   Harold Daniell Norton Report
Year Track 175cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1939 Spa-Francorchamps   Ewald Kluge DKW   Ted Mellors Velocette   Georg Meier BMW Report
1938   Léon Neumann DKW   Ewald Kluge DKW   John White Norton   Georg Meier BMW Report
1937   Bernhard Petruschke DKW   Walfried Winkler DKW   John White Norton   Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report
1936 Floreffe   Jean Térigi MM   Arthur Geiß DKW   Ted Mellors Velocette   Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report
1935 Spa-Francorchamps   Maurice van Geert Rush-Python   Arthur Geiß DKW   John White Norton   Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report
1934   Yvan Goor Benelli   Henry Tyrell-Smith Rudge   Jimmie Simpson Norton   Wal Handley Norton Report
1933   Yvan Goor Benelli   Wal Handley Moto Guzzi   Jimmie Guthrie Norton   Tim Hunt Norton Report
1932   Eric Fernihough Excelsior   Ted Mellors New Imperial   Jimmie Simpson Norton   Stanley Woods Norton Report
1931   Eric Fernihough Excelsior   Ted Mellors New Imperial   Jimmie Guthrie Norton   Stanley Woods Norton Report
1930   Yvan Goor DKW   Syd Crabtree Excelsior   Ernie Nott Rudge   Henry Tyrell-Smith Rudge Report
1929   Bert Kershaw James   Jock Porter New Gerrard   Wal Handley Motosacoche   Charlie Dodson Sunbeam Report
1928   Arthur Geiß DKW   Syd Crabtree Excelsior   J. Treborg La Mondiale-Blackburne   Charlie Dodson Sunbeam Report
1927   Arthur Geiß DKW   Syd Crabtree Crabtree-JAP   Jimmie Simpson AJS   Stanley Woods Norton Report
1926   René Milhoux Ready-Blackburne   Jock Porter New Gerrard   Frank Longman AJS   Jimmie Simpson AJS Report
1925   Norbert Vanneste Ready-Blackburne   Jock Porter New Gerrard   Wal Handley Rex-Acme   Alec Bennett Norton Report
1924   Geoff Davison Levis   Bert Taylor PA-Blackburne   Paddy Johnston PA-Blackburne   Alec Bennett Norton Report
1923 Dinant-Feschaux   Wal Handley Rex-Acme   Jean Huynen FN   Freddie Dixon Indian Report
1922 Spa-Francorchamps   Geoff Davison Levis   E. Remington Rush-Blackburne   Gaston Antoine Triumph Report
1921   René Kieken Gillet   Hubert Hassall Norton Report

References

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  1. ^ "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1980". Archive.today. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Bernie Ecclestone en de Motorsport". Demotorsite.be. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Grand Prix uitslagen en bijzonderheden 1991". Archive.today. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  4. ^ Herrero, Daniel (5 September 2019). "Spa aiming to finalise gravel trap design this year". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. ^ "1949 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  6. ^ "1976 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  7. ^ "1979 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  8. ^ "1980 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  9. ^ "1981 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  10. ^ "1983 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  11. ^ "1984 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  12. ^ "1986 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  13. ^ "1988 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  14. ^ "1989 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  15. ^ "1990 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.

Sources

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50°59′22″N 5°15′25″E / 50.98944°N 5.25694°E / 50.98944; 5.25694

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