The 2012 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 64th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Casey Stoner started the season as the defending World Champion, while Honda was the defending Manufacturers' Champion.[1] Moto2 champion Stefan Bradl joined the MotoGP grid with LCR Honda[2] and 125cc champion Nicolás Terol entered Moto2, racing for Aspar.[3]
In the premier MotoGP class, the championship battle revolved around Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo and Honda pairing Dani Pedrosa and defending champion Stoner. Lorenzo won four of the first six races to be held in the campaign to open up an advantage over Stoner, before he was taken out of the Dutch TT on the first lap by Álvaro Bautista; Stoner won the race to eradicate the points lead.[4] In the next race, Stoner crashed out of the German Grand Prix on the final lap and allowed Pedrosa to take his first win of the season.[5] Stoner struggled in the next few races – despite a victory at the United States Grand Prix[6] – with his championship challenge ended by a qualifying crash at Indianapolis. After ankle surgery,[7] he returned to the series and won his final race of his career at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix, for the sixth successive season.[8] Pedrosa went on a run of five victories in six races, with the streak being interrupted by a first-lap crash at Misano, where he was taken out by Héctor Barberá.[9] Lorenzo finished second to Pedrosa on each occasion that he had won, and he took advantage of Pedrosa's accident to win at Misano.[10] Lorenzo ultimately won the title with a second-place finish to Stoner in Australia, after Pedrosa had crashed out of the lead early on.
In the other classes, Marc Márquez won the Moto2 championship title after a season-long battle with fellow Spanish rider Pol Espargaró; a third-place finish for Márquez at the Australian Grand Prix – despite a win for Espargaró[11] – was enough to give him his second world title before moving into the premier class for the 2013 season.[12] Márquez's result was enough to give Suter the constructors' title for the class. The inaugural Moto3 world championship title went to German rider Sandro Cortese, following his fourth victory of the season at the Malaysian Grand Prix,[13] which gave him an unassailable points lead over his two title rivals Luis Salom and Maverick Viñales in the championship race.[14] Cortese also became the first rider to win any Grand Prix title for the Austrian manufacturer KTM.[15] KTM also won the constructors' championship at the Australian Grand Prix, doing so after Cortese won the race.
Changes
Class changes
The MotoGP class changes to allow up to 1,000 cc (61 cu in) in capacity, with a limit of 4 cylinders and a maximum 81 mm (3.2 in) cylinder bore.[16]
The 2012 season will see the introduction of four-stroke bikes in the new Moto3 class.[17]
Claiming Rule Teams
In 2012 the MotoGP class saw the introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT) to allow for participation by independent teams with lower budgets. CRTs were given twelve engines per rider, six more than the other teams and more fuel – 24 litres (5.3 imperial gallons) instead of 21 litres (4.6 imperial gallons) – but were subject to a factory team buying, or "claiming", their engines for €15,000, or €20,000 with the transmission.[18] The sport's governing body received applications from sixteen new teams looking to join the MotoGP class.[19]
New entries
In June 2011, the FIM announced that six teams from Moto2 – Interwetten Paddock, Forward Racing, Marc VDS, Kiefer Racing, Speed Master and BQR-Blusens (later renamed Avintia Racing)[20] – had been granted entries to the 2012 grid;[21] two additional entries – Paul Bird Motorsport[22] and Ioda Racing[23] – announced that they had been accepted to the grid, running under CRT regulations. However, Interwetten Paddock, Marc VDS, and Kiefer Racing were absent from the revised grid released by FIM in January 2012.[24]
Grands Prix
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme released an 18-race provisional calendar on 14 September 2011.[25] Another provisional calendar was released three months later, with the Qatar Grand Prix moved forward by a week.[26]
Notes:
- ^1 — Races held at night.
- ^2 — Races held on Saturday, rather than Sunday.
- ^3 — Only MotoGP race held.[44]
MotoGP
Participants
|
Key |
Regular Rider |
Wildcard Rider |
Replacement Rider |
|
- Notes
Rider changes
- Andrea Dovizioso will leave Repsol Honda Team to join Monster Yamaha Tech 3.[49]
- Colin Edwards will move from Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to NGM Mobile Forward Racing.[62]
- Stefan Bradl will move up from Moto2, joining LCR Honda MotoGP.[2]
- Héctor Barberá will still ride a Ducati, but he will move from Aspar Racing Team to Pramac Racing Team.[51]
- 2011 FIM Superstock 1000 Championship runner-up Danilo Petrucci will debut in MotoGP category with Came IodaRacing Project.[65]
- Randy de Puniet will exchange with Barberá, entering Power Electronics Aspar from Pramac Racing Team.[70]
- Alvaro Bautista, lost his place at the retiring Suzuki MotoGP team, will join San Carlo Honda Gresini.[56]
- Iván Silva will ride for Avintia Blusens.[20]
- Aleix Espargaró will step up from Pons Racing in Moto2 to Power Electronics Aspar.[70]
- Michele Pirro is confirmed by San Carlo Honda Gresini, promoted from Moto2 to MotoGP.[77]
- Mattia Pasini will debut from Moto2 with Speed Master.[21]
- Avintia Blusens will promote Yonny Hernández from Moto2 to MotoGP.[20]
- James Ellison will return to MotoGP from British Superbike Championship, riding for Paul Bird Motorsport.[22]
- Hiroshi Aoyama will be moved by Honda to Superbike World Championship.[81] However, the Japanese rider will replace Yonny Hernández in Valencia.
- Toni Elías will return to Moto2 from LCR Honda MotoGP.[3] During the season, Elías will replace Barberá (injured) for three round.
- On 1 September 2011, Loris Capirossi announced his retirement from racing to entry the MotoGP Safety Commission.[82]
Riders' points standings
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
- 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.
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 |
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Withdrew (WD) |
Race cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Did not participate (DNP) |
Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
Manufacturers' championship
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A 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 |
Moto2
Participants
Team |
Constructor |
Motorcycle |
No. |
Rider |
Rounds |
Came IodaRacing Project[84] |
FTR[85] |
FTR Moto M212 |
3 |
Simone Corsi[83] |
1–9, 11–18 |
GP Team Switzerland[84] |
Kalex[85] |
Kalex Moto2 |
4 |
Randy Krummenacher[83] |
1–9, 11–13, 17–18 |
20 |
Jesko Raffin[86] |
14–16 |
JiR Moto2[84] |
Motobi |
TSR TSR6 |
5 |
Johann Zarco[87] |
1–9, 11–18 |
57 |
Eric Granado[87] 1 |
6–9, 11–12, 14–18 |
Cresto Guide MZ Racing[84]
MZ Racing |
MZ FTR[85] |
MZ Moto2 |
7 |
Alexander Lundh[83] |
1 |
MZ-RE Honda[88] |
2–7 |
21 |
Markus Reiterberger[89] |
8 |
63 |
Mike Di Meglio[90] |
9, 11–12 |
Federal Oil Gresini Moto2[84]
Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 |
Moriwaki[83] |
Moriwaki MD600 |
8 |
Gino Rea[83] |
1–3 |
14 |
Ratthapark Wilairot[83] |
1–3 |
Suter[91] |
Suter MMXII |
8 |
Gino Rea[83] |
4–9, 11–18 |
14 |
Ratthapark Wilairot[83] |
4–9, 11–18 |
SAG Team[84]
Desguaces La Torre SAG |
FTR[92] |
FTR Moto M212 |
10 |
Marco Colandrea[93] |
1–9, 11–14, 16–17 |
28 |
Román Ramos[94] |
18 |
31 |
Kohta Nozane[95] |
15 |
47 |
Ángel Rodríguez[96] |
1–3 |
Bimota[91] |
Bimota HB4 |
4–6 |
23 |
Marcel Schrötter[97] |
11–18 |
50 |
Damian Cudlin[98] |
7–8 |
55 |
Massimo Roccoli[90] |
9 |
Kiefer Racing[84] |
IAMT |
IAMT Moto2 |
11 |
Kevin Wahr[89] |
8 |
Kalex[99] |
Kalex Moto2 |
63 |
Mike Di Meglio[100] |
13–18 |
76 |
Max Neukirchner[99] |
1–9, 11–12 |
Interwetten-Paddock[83] |
Suter[83] |
Suter MMXII |
12 |
Thomas Lüthi[83] |
1–9, 11–18 |
NGM Mobile Forward Racing[84] |
Suter |
Suter MMXII |
15 |
Alex de Angelis[101] |
1–6 |
72 |
Yuki Takahashi[102] |
1–6 |
FTR[98] |
FTR Moto M212 |
15 |
Alex de Angelis[101] |
7–9, 11–17 |
54 |
Mattia Pasini[94] |
18 |
72 |
Yuki Takahashi[102] |
7–9, 11–18 |
TSR Galicia School |
Kalex |
Kalex Moto2 |
17 |
Dani Rivas[94] |
18 |
Mapfre Aspar Team Moto2[84] |
Suter[3] |
Suter MMXII |
18 |
Nicolás Terol[3] |
1–9, 11–18 |
24 |
Toni Elías[3] |
1–9 |
81 |
Jordi Torres[97] |
11–18 |
Tech 3 Racing[84] |
Tech 3 |
Tech 3 Mistral 610 |
19 |
Xavier Siméon[103] |
1–4, 6–9, 11–18 |
38 |
Bradley Smith[103] |
1–9, 11–18 |
81 |
Jordi Torres[104] |
5 |
Andreozzi Reparto Corse |
FTR |
FTR Moto M210 |
22 |
Alessandro Andreozzi[105] |
6 |
Speed Master[84]
S/Master Speed Up[84] |
Speed Up[85] |
Speed Up S12 |
22 |
Alessandro Andreozzi[89] |
8–9, 11–18 |
29 |
Andrea Iannone[78] |
1–9, 11–18 |
63 |
Mike Di Meglio[83] |
1–7 |
Italtrans Racing Team[84] |
Kalex[106] |
Kalex Moto2 |
24 |
Toni Elías[95] |
15–18 |
30 |
Takaaki Nakagami[107] |
1–9, 11–18 |
71 |
Claudio Corti[107] |
1–9, 11–14 |
Marc VDS Racing Team[84] |
Kalex[108] |
Kalex Moto2 |
36 |
Mika Kallio[109] |
1–9, 11–18 |
45 |
Scott Redding[110] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Pons 40 HP Tuenti[84]
Tuenti Móvil HP 40 |
Kalex[85] |
Kalex Moto2 |
40 |
Pol Espargaró[111] |
1–9, 11–18 |
49 |
Axel Pons[111] |
1–9, 11–18 |
80 |
Esteve Rabat[111] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Technomag-CIP[84] |
Suter[112] |
Suter MMXII |
44 |
Roberto Rolfo[112] |
1–9, 11–12 |
75 |
Tomoyoshi Koyama[100] |
13–18 |
77 |
Dominique Aegerter[112] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Blusens Avintia[20][84] |
FTR[83] |
FTR Moto M212 |
60 |
Julián Simón[20] |
1 |
Suter[88] |
Suter MMXII |
2–9, 11–18 |
QMMF Racing Team[84] |
Moriwaki[83] |
Moriwaki MD600 |
82 |
Elena Rosell[83] |
1–9, 11 |
95 |
Anthony West[113] |
1–8 |
96 |
Nasser Al Malki[85] |
1 |
Speed Up[114] |
Speed Up S12 |
82 |
Elena Rosell |
12–18 |
95 |
Anthony West[114] |
9, 11–17 |
97 |
Rafid Topan Sucipto[94] |
18 |
Arguiñano Racing Team[83] |
AJR[85] |
AJR EVO 2012 |
84 |
Steven Odendaal[100] |
13–14 |
88 |
Ricard Cardús[115] |
1–9, 11–12, 15–18 |
Petronas Raceline Malaysia |
FTR |
FTR Moto M212 |
86 |
Hafizh Syahrin[116] |
16 |
Targo Bank CNS Motorsport |
Suter |
Suter MMXII |
92 |
Álex Mariñelarena[86] |
14 |
Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol[84] |
Suter[83] |
Suter MMXII |
93 |
Marc Márquez[117] |
1–9, 11–18 |
|
Key |
Regular Rider |
Wildcard Rider |
Replacement Rider |
|
Notes:
- ^1 — Eric Granado will only be competing from the British Grand Prix onwards, after he reaches the age of 16 which is the minimum age to compete in the championship.
Riders' points standings
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A 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 |
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Withdrew (WD) |
Race cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Did not participate (DNP) |
Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
Manufacturers' championship
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A 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 |
Moto3
Participants
Team |
Constructor |
Motorcycle |
No. |
Rider |
Rounds |
Ioda Team Italia
IodaRacing Project[119] |
Ioda[118] |
Ioda TR002 |
3 |
Luigi Morciano[65] |
1–9, 11–14, 18 |
80 |
Armando Pontone[120] |
3, 11–18 |
94 |
Jonas Folger[121] |
1, 4–9 |
Team Italia FMI[119] |
FTR-Honda[122] |
FTR M312 |
5 |
Romano Fenati[118] |
1–9, 11–18 |
19 |
Alessandro Tonucci[65] |
1–9, 11–18 |
TT Motion Events Racing[119] |
KTM[118] |
TBA |
6 |
Joan Olivé[120] |
3, 12 |
31 |
Niklas Ajo[118] |
1–2, 4–9, 11, 13–18 |
JHK T-shirt Laglisse
JHK Laglisse[123] |
Honda[123] |
Honda NSF250R |
7 |
Efrén Vázquez[123] |
1 |
26 |
Adrián Martín[124] |
1 |
FTR-Honda[125] |
FTR M312 |
7 |
Efrén Vázquez[123] |
2–9, 11–18 |
26 |
Adrián Martín[124] |
2–9, 11–18 |
Caretta Technology[119] |
Honda[118] |
Honda NSF250R |
8 |
Jack Miller[118] |
1–2, 4–9, 11, 13–18 |
10 |
Alexis Masbou[118] |
1–9, 11–12 |
71 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi |
12–13 |
73 |
Manuel Tatasciore[120] |
3 |
KRP-Honda[126] |
KRP M3-01 |
17 |
John McPhee[127] |
14–18 |
Cresto Guide MZ Racing[119]
MZ Racing |
MZ-RE Honda[118] |
TBA |
9 |
Toni Finsterbusch[122] |
1 |
MZ FTR[128] |
2 |
Honda[129] |
TBA |
3–4, 6–9, 11–12 |
Racing Team Germany[119] |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
9 |
Toni Finsterbusch[130] |
13–18 |
FTR-Honda[122] |
FTR M312 |
96 |
Louis Rossi[118] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Red Bull KTM Ajo[119] |
KTM[131] |
TBA |
11 |
Sandro Cortese[132] |
1–9, 11–18 |
52 |
Danny Kent[133] |
1–9, 11–18 |
61 |
Arthur Sissis[133] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Ambrogio Next Racing[134] |
Suter-Honda[135] |
Suter MMX3 |
12 |
Álex Márquez[136] |
11–18 |
15 |
Simone Grotzkyj[134] |
4–9 |
30 |
Giulian Pedone[137] |
4–9, 11–18 |
Oral[137] |
Oral M3 |
15 |
Simone Grotzkyj[134] |
1–3 |
30 |
Giulian Pedone[137] |
2–3 |
Estrella Galicia 0,0[119] |
Suter-Honda[118] |
Suter MMX3 |
12 |
Álex Márquez[128] |
2–3, 5 |
42 |
Álex Rins[138] |
1–9, 11–18 |
44 |
Miguel Oliveira[138] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Racing Steps Foundation KRP |
KRP-Honda |
KRP M3-01 |
17 |
John McPhee[139] |
5–6, 12 |
79 |
Fraser Rogers[140] |
6 |
Mahindra Racing[119] |
Mahindra[141] |
Mahindra MGP3O |
20 |
Riccardo Moretti[142] |
9, 11–12, 15–17 |
77 |
Marcel Schrötter[143] |
1–8 |
95 |
Miroslav Popov |
12–14, 18 |
99 |
Danny Webb[143] |
1–9, 11, 13–18 |
Andalucia JHK Laglisse[122] |
FTR-Honda[122] |
FTR M312 |
21 |
Iván Moreno[122] |
1–9 |
23 |
Alberto Moncayo[136] |
11–17 |
55 |
Héctor Faubel[144] |
18 |
Dutch Racing Team |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
22 |
Bryan Schouten[145] |
7 |
Bankia Aspar Team[119]
Mapfre Aspar Team Moto3[146] |
Kalex-KTM[147] |
TBA |
23 |
Alberto Moncayo[147] |
1–9 |
29 |
Luca Amato[148] |
14–18 |
55 |
Héctor Faubel[147] |
1–9, 11–13 |
94 |
Jonas Folger[136] |
11–18 |
Blusens Avintia[20][119] |
FTR-Honda[118] |
FTR M312 |
25 |
Maverick Viñales[149] |
1–9, 11–18 |
San Carlo Gresini Moto3[119] |
Honda[150] |
Honda NSF250R |
27 |
Niccolò Antonelli[150] |
1 |
FTR-Honda[128] |
FTR M312 |
2–9, 11–18 |
Wild Wolf BST |
FTR-Honda |
FTR M312 |
28 |
Josep Rodríguez[128] |
2 |
58 |
Juan Francisco Guevara[127] |
14, 18 |
Ongetta-Centro Seta[119]
Redox-Ongetta-Centro Seta |
FTR-Honda[122] |
FTR M312 |
28 |
Josep Rodríguez[130] |
13 |
32 |
Isaac Viñales[151] |
1–9, 11–12, 14–18 |
84 |
Jakub Kornfeil[118] |
1–9, 11–18 |
Moto FGR[119] |
FGR-Honda[118] |
FGR 250 GP |
28 |
Josep Rodríguez[152] |
15–18 |
53 |
Jasper Iwema[153] |
1–9, 11–14 |
Team Imperiali Racing |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
33 |
Stefano Valtulini[130] |
13 |
Fastline GP Racing |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
36 |
Sam Clarke[154] |
17 |
RW Racing GP[119] |
Kalex-KTM[155] |
TBA |
39 |
Luis Salom[155] |
1–9, 11–18 |
41 |
Brad Binder[155] |
1–9, 11–18 |
MIR Racing |
Honda |
MIR Racing Moto3 |
40 |
Julián Miralles[145] |
7 |
Freudenberg Racing Team |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
43 |
Luca Grünwald[146] |
8, 12 |
Bradol Larresport |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
49 |
Jorge Navarro[127] |
14 |
Technomag-CIP-TSR[119] |
TSR-Honda[118] |
TSR TSR3 |
51 |
Kenta Fujii[156] |
1–9, 11–18 |
89 |
Alan Techer[157] |
1–9, 11–18 |
AirAsia-SIC-Ajo[119] |
KTM[118] |
TBA |
63 |
Zulfahmi Khairuddin[118] |
1–9, 11–18 |
HP Moto Kalex |
Kalex-KTM |
TBA |
65 |
Philipp Öttl[144] |
18 |
Racing Team Gabrielli |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
71 |
Michael Ruben Rinaldi[142] |
9 |
Elle 2 Ciatti |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
74 |
Kevin Calia[142] |
9, 13 |
K1 Racing |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
75 |
Lincoln Gilding[154] |
17 |
Project μ 7C Harc |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
81 |
Hyuga Watanabe[152] |
15 |
18 Garage Racing Team |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
82 |
Yuudai Kamei[152] |
15 |
Thomas Sabo GP Team |
Honda |
Honda NSF250R |
86 |
Kevin Hanus[128] |
3–4, 8 |
|
Key |
Regular Rider |
Wildcard Rider |
Replacement Rider |
|
Riders' points standings
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A 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 |
|
Colour |
Result |
Gold |
Winner |
Silver |
2nd place |
Bronze |
3rd place |
Green |
Points finish |
Blue |
Non-points finish |
Non-classified finish (NC) |
Purple |
Retired (Ret) |
Red |
Did not qualify (DNQ) |
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
Black |
Disqualified (DSQ) |
White |
Did not start (DNS) |
Withdrew (WD) |
Race cancelled (C) |
Blank |
Did not participate (DNP) |
Excluded (EX) |
Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap
|
Manufacturers' championship
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A 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 |
References
External links