Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

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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)

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

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

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

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


Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_motorcycle_Grand_Prix
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