French motorcycle Grand Prix explained

Race Title:French Grand Prix
Series Long:Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Venue:Le Mans (1969–1970, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989–1990, 1994–1995, 2000–present)
Paul Ricard (1973, 1975, 1977, 1980–1981, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1996–1999)
Magny-Cours (1992)
Nogaro (1978, 1982)
Clermont-Ferrand (1959–1964, 1966–1967, 1972, 1974)
Rouen-Les-Essarts (1953, 1965)
Reims-Gueux (1954–1955)
Albi (1951)
First Race:1951
Most Wins Rider:Giacomo Agostini (7)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Honda (52)

The French motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.

The Grand Prix was held on different circuits in its history: on the Charade Circuit (Puy-de-Dôme) between 1959 and 1967, Le Mans circuit on numerous occasions since 1969, alternating with the Paul Ricard Circuit at Le Castellet, used it for the first time in 1973, the Circuit Paul Armagnac in Nogaro in 1978 and 1982 and the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours once in 1992. Since 2000 the race has been held at Le Mans on the Bugatti Circuit.

The event is due to take place at the Bugatti Circuit until at least 2026.[1]

Official names and sponsors

Winners of the French motorcycle Grand Prix

Multiple winners (riders)

  1. Wins
RiderWins
CategoryYears won
7 Giacomo Agostini500cc1969, 1970, 1972, 1975
350cc1972, 1973, 1974
6 Jorge LorenzoMotoGP2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
250cc2007
5 Ángel Nieto125cc1980, 1981, 1984
80cc1985
50cc1970
4 Phil Read500cc1974
250cc1964, 1965, 1972
Freddie Spencer500cc1983, 1984, 1985
250cc1985
Mick Doohan500cc1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
Valentino RossiMotoGP2002, 2005, 2008
125cc1997
Dani PedrosaMotoGP2013
250cc2004, 2005
125cc2003
Thomas LüthiMoto22012, 2015
125cc2005, 2006
Marc MárquezMotoGP2014, 2018, 2019
Moto22011
3 Geoff Duke500cc1953, 1955
350cc1951
John Surtees500cc1959, 1960
350cc1959
Hugh Anderson125cc1963, 1965
50cc1964
Kent Andersson125cc1973, 1974, 1975
Barry Sheene500cc1976, 1977, 1979
Eddie Lawson500cc1986, 1988, 1989
Àlex Crivillé500cc1998, 1999, 2000
Maverick ViñalesMotoGP2017
Moto32013
125cc2011
2 Pierre Monneret500cc1954
350cc1954
Gary Hocking500cc1961
350cc1960
Tom Phillis250cc1961
125cc1961
Mike Hailwood350cc1966
250cc1966
Bill Ivy250cc1967
125cc1967
Jarno Saarinen500cc1973
250cc1973
Johnny Cecotto350cc1975
250cc1975
Walter Villa350cc1976
250cc1976
Gregg Hansford350cc1978
250cc1978
Pier Paolo Bianchi125cc1977, 1978
Jon Ekerold350cc1980
250cc1977
Kenny Roberts500cc1978, 1980
Kork Ballington250cc1979, 1980
Anton Mang250cc1981, 1984
Jorge Martínez125cc1988, 1989
Carlos Cardús250cc1989, 1990
Ezio Gianola125cc1985, 1992
Loris Reggiani250cc1991, 1992
Wayne Rainey500cc1991, 1992
Loris Capirossi250cc1994
125cc1991
Tetsuya Harada250cc1997, 1998
Tohru Ukawa250cc1999, 2000
Max Biaggi500cc2001
250cc1996
Sete GibernauMotoGP2003, 2004
Toni ElíasMoto22010
250cc2003
Jack MillerMotoGP2021
Moto32014
Nicholas SpinelliMotoE2024 Race 1, 2024 Race 2

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

  1. Wins
ManufacturerWins
CategoryYears won
52 HondaMotoGP2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019
500cc1983, 1984, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
350cc1966
250cc1961, 1962, 1966, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006
Moto32017, 2019
125cc1961, 1962, 1964, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
50cc1965
40 YamahaMotoGP2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017
500cc1973, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2001
350cc1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980
250cc1964, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
125cc1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975
17 Aprilia250cc1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008
125cc1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011
12 MV Agusta500cc1959, 1960, 1961, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974
350cc1959, 1960, 1972, 1973
125cc1955
11 Suzuki500cc1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1990, 2007
125cc1963, 1965, 1970
50cc1964, 1967
KalexMoto22013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
9 DucatiMotoGP2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
MotoE2023 Race 1, 2023 Race 2, 2024 Race 1, 2024 Race 2
8 KTMMoto32013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023
7 Derbi125cc1988, 1989, 2000, 2008, 2010
80cc1985
50cc1970
6 Kawasaki350cc1978, 1982
250cc1978, 1979, 1980, 1981
Gilera500cc1951, 1953, 1954, 1955
250cc2009
125cc2001
5 Kreidler50cc1962, 1963, 1969, 1976, 1979
4 Morbidelli125cc1972, 1977, 1982, 1983
Garelli125cc1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
3 Moto Guzzi350cc1953, 1955
250cc1951
Minarelli125cc1978, 1980, 1981
2 Harley-Davidson350cc1976
250cc1976
SuterMoto22011, 2012

By year

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

YearTrackMotoEMoto3Moto2MotoGPReport
Race 1Race 2
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2024Le Mans Nicholas SpinelliDucati Nicholas SpinelliDucati David AlonsoCFMoto Sergio GarcíaBoscoscuro Jorge MartínDucatiReport
2023 Jordi TorresDucati Matteo FerrariDucati Daniel HolgadoKTM Tony ArbolinoKalex Marco BezzecchiDucatiReport
2022 Mattia CasadeiEnergica Dominique AegerterEnergica Jaume MasiàKTM Augusto FernándezKalex Enea BastianiniDucatiReport
2021 Eric GranadoEnergica Sergio GarcíaGas Gas Raúl FernándezKalex Jack MillerDucatiReport
2020 Jordi TorresEnergica Niki Tuuli Celestino Vietti Sam Lowes Danilo PetrucciDucatiReport
YearTrack Moto3Moto2MotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2019Le Mans John McPheeHonda Álex MárquezKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2018 Albert ArenasKTM Francesco BagnaiaKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2017 Joan MirHonda Franco MorbidelliKalex Maverick ViñalesYamahaReport
2016 Brad BinderKTM Álex RinsKalex Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
2015 Romano FenatiKTM Thomas LüthiKalex Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
2014 Jack MillerKTM Mika KallioKalex Marc MárquezHondaReport
2013 Maverick ViñalesKTM Scott ReddingKalex Dani PedrosaHondaReport
2012 Louis RossiFTR Honda Thomas LüthiSuter Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
YearTrack 125ccMoto2MotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2011Le Mans Maverick ViñalesAprilia Marc MárquezSuter Casey StonerHondaReport
2010 Pol EspargaróDerbi Toni ElíasMoriwaki Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
YearTrack 125cc250ccMotoGPReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2009Le Mans Julián SimónAprilia Marco SimoncelliGilera Jorge LorenzoYamahaReport
2008 Mike Di MeglioDerbi Alex DebónAprilia Valentino RossiYamahaReport
2007 Sergio GadeaAprilia Jorge LorenzoAprilia Chris VermeulenSuzukiReport
2006 Thomas LüthiHonda Yuki TakahashiHonda Marco MelandriHondaReport
2005 Thomas LüthiHonda Daniel PedrosaHonda Valentino RossiYamahaReport
2004 Andrea DoviziosoHonda Daniel PedrosaHonda Sete GibernauHondaReport
2003 Daniel PedrosaHonda Toni ElíasAprilia Sete GibernauHondaReport
2002 Lucio CecchinelloAprilia Fonsi NietoAprilia Valentino RossiHondaReport
YearTrack 125cc250cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
2001Le Mans Manuel PoggialiGilera Daijiro KatoHonda Max BiaggiYamahaReport
2000 Youichi UiDerbi Tohru UkawaHonda Àlex CrivilléHondaReport
1999Paul Ricard Roberto LocatelliAprilia Tohru UkawaHonda Àlex CrivilléHondaReport
1998 Kazuto SakataAprilia Tetsuya HaradaAprilia Àlex CrivilléHondaReport
1997 Valentino RossiAprilia Tetsuya HaradaAprilia Mick DoohanHondaReport
1996 Stefano PeruginiAprilia Max BiaggiAprilia Mick DoohanHondaReport
1995Le Mans Haruchika AokiHonda Ralf WaldmannHonda Mick DoohanHondaReport
1994 Noboru UedaHonda Loris CapirossiHonda Mick DoohanHondaReport
1992Magny-Cours Ezio GianolaHonda Loris ReggianiAprilia Wayne RaineyYamahaReport
1991Paul Ricard Loris CapirossiHonda Loris ReggianiAprilia Wayne RaineyYamahaReport
1990Le Mans Hans SpaanHonda Carlos CardúsHonda Kevin SchwantzSuzukiReport
YearTrack 80cc125cc250cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
1989Le Mans Jorge MartínezDerbi Carlos CardúsHonda Eddie LawsonHondaReport
1988Paul Ricard Jorge MartínezDerbi Jacques CornuHonda Eddie LawsonYamahaReport
1987Le Mans Fausto GresiniGarelli Reinhold RothHonda Randy MamolaYamahaReport
1986Paul Ricard Luca CadaloraGarelli Carlos LavadoYamaha Eddie LawsonYamahaReport
1985Le Mans Ángel NietoDerbi Ezio GianolaGarelli Freddie SpencerHonda Freddie SpencerHondaReport
1984Paul Ricard Ángel NietoGarelli Anton MangYamaha Freddie SpencerHondaReport
YearTrack 50cc125cc250cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
1983Le Mans Stefan DörflingerKrauser Ricardo TormoMorbidelli MBA Alan CarterYamaha Freddie SpencerHondaReport
YearTrack 50cc125cc250cc350cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
1982Nogaro Jean-Claude SeliniMorbidelli MBA Jean-Louis TournadreYamaha Jean-François BaldéKawasaki Michel FrutschiSanveneroReport
1981Paul Ricard Ángel NietoMinarelli Anton MangKawasaki Marco LucchinelliSuzukiReport
1980 Ángel NietoMinarelli Kork BallingtonKawasaki Jon EkeroldYamaha Kenny RobertsYamahaReport
1979Le Mans Eugenio LazzariniKreidler Guy BertinMotobécane Kork BallingtonKawasaki Patrick FernandezYamaha Barry SheeneSuzukiReport
1978Nogaro Pier Paolo BianchiMinarelli Gregg HansfordKawasaki Gregg HansfordKawasaki Kenny RobertsYamahaReport
1977Paul Ricard Pier Paolo BianchiMorbidelli Jon EkeroldYamaha Takazumi KatayamaYamaha Barry SheeneSuzukiReport
1976Le Mans Herbert RittbergerKreidler Walter VillaHarley-Davidson Walter VillaHarley-Davidson Barry SheeneSuzukiReport
1975Paul Ricard Kent AnderssonYamaha Johnny CecottoYamaha Johnny CecottoYamaha Giacomo AgostiniYamahaReport
1974Clermont-Ferrand Henk van KesselVan Veen Kreidler Kent AnderssonYamaha Giacomo AgostiniYamaha Phil ReadMV AgustaReport
1973Paul Ricard Kent AnderssonYamaha Jarno SaarinenYamaha Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta Jarno SaarinenYamahaReport
1972Clermont-Ferrand Gilberto ParlottiMorbidelli Phil ReadYamaha Giacomo AgostiniMV Agusta Giacomo AgostiniMV AgustaReport
1970Le Mans Ángel NietoDerbi Dieter BraunSuzuki Rodney GouldYamaha Giacomo AgostiniMV AgustaReport
1969 Aalt ToersenKreidler Jean AuréalYamaha Santiago HerreroOssa Giacomo AgostiniMV AgustaReport
1967Clermont-Ferrand Yoshimi KatayamaSuzuki Bill IvyYamaha Bill IvyYamahaReport
1966 Mike HailwoodHonda Mike HailwoodHondaReport
1965Rouen Ralph BryansHonda Hugh AndersonSuzuki Phil ReadYamahaReport
1964Clermont-Ferrand Hugh AndersonSuzuki Luigi TaveriHonda Phil ReadYamahaReport
1963 Hans-Georg AnscheidtKreidler Hugh AndersonSuzukiReport
1962 Jan HubertsKreidler Kunimitsu TakahashiHonda Jim RedmanHondaReport
YearTrack 125cc250cc350cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
1961Clermont-Ferrand Tom PhillisHonda Tom PhillisHonda Gary HockingMV AgustaReport
1960 Gary HockingMV Agusta John SurteesMV AgustaReport
1959 John SurteesMV Agusta John SurteesMV AgustaReport
1958Pau Jacques Collot Jacques CollotReport
1955Reims Carlo UbbialiMV Agusta Duilio AgostiniMoto Guzzi Geoff DukeGileraReport
1954 Werner HaasNSU Pierre MonneretAJS Pierre MonneretGileraReport
1953Rouen Fergus AndersonMoto Guzzi Geoff DukeGileraReport
YearTrack 175cc250cc350cc500ccReport
RiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer
1952Albi Georges Burgraff Fergus Anderson Jack Brett Jack BrettReport
1951Albi Bruno RuffoMoto Guzzi Geoff DukeNorton Alfredo MilaniGileraReport
Year Track 175cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
1949Saint-Gaudens Fergus Anderson David Whitworth Leslie GrahamReport
1939Reims Ewald Kluge Heiner Fleischmann John WhiteReport
1938 Ewald Kluge Roger Loyer Georges CordeyReport
1937Montlhéry "Dickwell" Roger Loyer Ted Mellors Ted MellorsReport
1936Saint-Gaudens Henry Nougier Georges Monneret Ted Mellors Ragnar SunnqvistReport
1935Montlhéry Jean Térigi Ove Lambert-Meuller Carl Bagenholm René MilhouxReport
1933Dieppe Eric Fernihough Charlie Manders Jimmie Simpson Tim HuntReport
1932Reims Eric Fernihough Leo Davenport Jimmie Simpson Stanley WoodsReport
1931Montlhéry Eric Fernihough Graham Walker Ernie Nott Tim HuntReport
1930Pau Eric Fernihough Ted Mellors Freddie Hicks Stanley WoodsReport
1929Le Mans Albert Sourdot Syd Crabtree Freddie Hicks Charlie DodsonReport
1928Bordeaux Marcel Jolly Syd Crabtree Stanley WoodsReport
1927Saint-Gaudens Albert Sourdot Syd Crabtree Frank Longman Joe CraigReport
1926Strasbourg Lucien Lemasson Syd Crabtree Jean Roland Alec BennettReport
1925Montlhéry Albert Sourdot Jean Roland J. Stevens Jimmie SimpsonReport
1924Lyon Albert Sourdot Paul Meunier Frank Longman Alec BennettReport
1923Tours Geoff Davison Frank Longman Jim WhalleyReport
1922Strasbourg Geoff Davison Erminio Visioli Alec BennettReport
1921Le Mans "Vernisse" Paul Meunier Alec BennettReport
1920 Marcel Mourier Kenelm Bartlett Georges JollyReport

Notes and References

  1. News: French GP held at Le Mans until 2026. 19 May 2018. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 3 September 2022.
  2. Web site: 1972 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  3. Web site: 1970 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  4. Web site: 1975 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  5. Web site: 2000 500cc Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  6. Web site: 2003 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  7. Web site: 2005 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  8. Web site: 2006 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  9. Web site: 2011 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  10. Web site: 2017 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  11. Web site: 2019 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.
  12. Web site: 2021 MotoGP Class (FIM Grand Prix World Championship) Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project. www.progcovers.com.