Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

Motorcycle race held in Belgium

Motor race

Belgian Grand Prix

Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Venue| Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps (1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990)
Circuit Zolder (1980)
First race| 1949
Last race| 1990
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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, used in 1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990

* Zolder, used in 1980

## Winners of the Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

[edit]

### Multiple winners (riders)

[edit]

# 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)

[edit]

# 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* "Grand Prix of Belgium" (in French). Racing Memory. Retrieved 2008-04-06.

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