The
2009 Grand Prix
motorcycle racing season is the 61st
F.I.M.
Road Racing World Championship
season.
Preseason
Cost-cutting measures
As announced during 2008, MotoGP class switched to a single-tyre
manufacturer. The move was made to try to improve safety by
reducing cornering speeds, and in a marginal way for cost reasons;
the winner was decided by bid.
Michelin,
one of the two tyre suppliers in 2008, decided not to bid for the
supply, effectively declaring
Bridgestone the winner, which was confirmed on
October 18, 2008. Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier from
2009 to 2011. Only race spec tyres will be provided to the teams,
eliminating qualifying tyres, in use until 2008.
Other cost-cutting manoeuvers were made during the winter prior to
the season, to try to contain the rising costs of the sport,
especially during a period of
economic
downturn.
FIM was
especially concerned, fearing that defections among private and
factory teams could leave the grid with 14 bikes only.
After negotiations between FIM,
Dorna
and MSMA (the manufacturers' association), new measures were
adopted. The Friday morning free practice session was eliminated,
limiting the Friday practice time to a single 45-minute session
(later brought to a 1-hour session from the French GP onwards); a
limit of 5 engines was imposed for the last 7 races, with a 10
point penalty for each additional engine used; ceramic composite
materials for brakes were banned; electronic assistance was reduced
with the ban of electronic controlled suspensions and launch
control systems; Monday tests will be cancelled except for
Catalunya and Brno, where only test riders will be allowed to take
part.
Kawasaki withdrawal and return
With a somewhat unexpected announcement,
Kawasaki made public its intention
to withdraw from MotoGP immediately on January 9, 2009, citing the
global economic downturn as the main cause of the decision.Initial
negotiations between
Dorna and Kawasaki
aimed to run the two bikes with the private
Aspar team, but after
further talks, on February 26, 2009 Kawasaki announced its decision
to remain in the category, running a single bike team with
Marco Melandri, effectively leaving
John Hopkins without a
contract. The team will run under the
Hayate Racing banner, as announced on
March 1, 2009.
Grands Prix
The 2009 revised race schedule was released on October 24, 2008. A
Hungarian round was originally scheduled for September 20, 2009 but
the organizers asked Dorna to postpone the event to 2010 due to
delays in the construction of the
Balatonring circuit.
Due to adverse weather conditions, the Qatar MotoGP race was
postponed until April 13.
- ‡ = Night Race
Standings
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. Rider has to
finish the race to earn points.
| Position |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
6th |
7th |
8th |
9th |
10th |
11th |
12th |
13th |
14th |
15th |
| Points |
25 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Riders' standings
- Riders marked with light blue background are eligible for
Rookie of the Year awards.
- Rounds marked with light blue background were under wet race
conditions.
MotoGP
|
Bold - Pole
Italics - Fastest Lap |
250cc
|
|
Bold - Pole
Italics - Fastest Lap |
250cc wildcard and replacement riders results
| Rider |
Results |
| Ángel Rodríguez |
Ret in France |
| Iván Maestro |
Ret in Spain |
| Daniel Arcas |
20th in Italy |
| Joakim Stensmö |
19th in Germany |
| Robin Halen |
DNQ in Germany, DNQ in Great Britain |
| Marcel Becker |
DNQ in Germany |
| Ralf Waldmann |
Ret in Great Britain |
| Luke Mossey |
18th in Great Britain |
| Alex Kenshington |
DNQ in Great Britain |
| Barrett Long |
18th in Indianapolis |
| Adam Roberts |
19th in Indianapolis |
| Christopher Moretti |
19th in Portugal |
| William
Dunlop |
18th in Valencia |
|
125cc
|
|
Bold - Pole
Italics - Fastest Lap |
† Half-points awarded in Qatar, as the riders did not complete the
sufficient distance for full points.
125cc wildcard and replacement riders results
| Rider |
Results |
| Yuuichi Yanagisawa |
24th in Japan |
| Hiroomi Iwata |
27th in Japan |
| Satoru Kamada |
28th in Japan |
| Yuki Oogane |
29th in Japan |
| Yuma Yahagi |
Ret in Japan |
| Alberto Moncayo |
22nd in Spain, 19th in Catalunya, 18th in Portugal, 19th in
Valencia |
| Borja Maestro |
26th in Spain |
| Jordi Dalmau |
27th in Spain, 25th in Catalunya, 18th in Portugal |
| Eduard Lopez |
28th in Spain |
| Ornella Ongaro |
DNQ in France |
| Sturla Fagerhaug |
Ret in France, 22nd in Catalunya, 19th in Portugal, Ret in
Valencia |
| Steven Le Coquen |
Ret in France |
| Cyril Carrillo |
Ret in France |
| Luigi Morciano |
17th in Italy, 22nd in Czech Republic, 19th in San Marino |
| Davide Stirpe |
21st in Italy |
| Gennaro Sabatino |
24th in Italy |
| Alessandro Tonucci |
26th in Italy, 23rd in Czech Republic, 29th in San Marino |
| Johnny Rosell |
23rd in Catalunya, 20th in Portugal |
| Roy Pouw |
DNQ in Netherlands |
| Michael van der Mark |
18th in Netherlands |
| Karel Pések |
22nd in Netherlands, Ret in Great Britain, 27th in Czech
Republic |
| Pepijn Bijsterbosch |
24th in Netherlands |
| Toni Finsterbusch |
21st in Germany |
|
| Rider |
Results |
| Damien Raemy |
22nd in Germany |
| Eeki Kuparinen |
Ret in Germany |
| Paul Jordan |
16th in Great Britain |
| James Lodge |
Ret in Great Britain |
| Timothy Hastings |
Ret in Great Britain |
| Ivan Visak |
28th in Czech Republic |
| Ladislav Chmelik |
29th in Czech Republic |
| Ben Young |
Ret in Indianapolis |
| Miles Thornton |
Ret in Indianapolis |
| Gabriele Ferro |
25th in San Marino |
| Jakub Jantulik |
26th in San Marino, 21st in Portugal |
| Quentin Jacquet |
23rd in Portugal, DNS in Australia, 22nd in Malaysia, DNQ in
Valencia |
| Brad Gross |
24th in Australia |
| Andrew Lawson |
27th in Australia |
| Levi Day |
28th in Australia |
| Nicky Diles |
Ret in Australia |
| Dylan Mavin |
DNS in Australia |
| Elly Ilias |
16th in Malaysia |
| Muhammad Zulfahmi |
20th in Malaysia |
| Blake Leigh-Smith |
21st in Malaysia |
| Ivan Maestro |
Ret in Valencia |
| Joan Perello |
DNS in Valencia |
|
Manufacturers' standings
MotoGP manufacturers standings
† Following
Loris Capirossi's engine
change, Suzuki was given a ten point penalty in the constructors'
championship at the
Australian Grand Prix
because of the the new for 2009 MotoGP engine change limit rule
which restricts each rider to five engines for the final seven
rounds.
250cc manufacturers standings
125cc manufacturers standings
† Half-points awarded in Qatar, as the riders did not complete the
sufficient distance for full points.
Participants
All entries taken from the official MotoGP site.
MotoGP participants
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
^All entries use
Bridgestone
tires.
Note 1:
Mika Kallio replaced
Casey Stoner in
Czech GP,
Indianapolis GP and
San
Marino GP.
Note 2:
Michel Fabrizio replaced
Mika Kallio in
Czech GP.
Note 3:
Aleix Espargaró
replaced
Mika Kallio in
Indianapolis GP and
San
Marino GP. He also replaced
Niccolo
Canepa in
Malaysian GP and
Valencian
GP.
250cc participants
|
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
- With the exception of Japanese wildcard riders, who use
Bridgestone, all entries use Dunlop tyres.
125cc participants
|
|
| Key |
| Regular Rider |
| Wildcard Rider |
| Replacement Rider |
|
References