The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was first organised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in 1949 and has since been administrated by commercial rights owners Dorna Sports under the supervision of the FIM since 1992. It is the oldest motorsport World Championship in existence.

As the world’s premier motorcycling championship, the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix or MotoGP crosses more than a dozen countries every calendar season. Drawing the participation of the world’s top motorcycle manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, Kawasaki, Aprilia and KTM, the championship is the pinnacle of 2-wheel racing attracting the world’s elite crop of riders.

The motorcycles used in the MotoGP are purpose-built racing prototypes that cannot be used on public roads and are not unavailable in the market for purchase by the public.

MotoGP began a new era in 2002 with revised regulations allowing for the participation of four-stroke engine bikes. For the 2007 season the adaptation of MotoGP bikes from 990cc engine capacity to 800cc resulted in an even more exciting spectacle, with higher corner speeds and even more competitive races, a format that continues until today.

In 2008, the MotoGP created a first when it hosted the first ever night-time Grand Prix. The floodlight system at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar made it a superb start to the season.

A typical Grand Prix weekend involves three main race categories:

• MotoGP – the ultimate stage to test the finest racing talents on two wheels with a maximum engine displacement capacity at 800cc (four-stroke engines). The minimum age for riders is 18.
• 250cc – known as the intermediate category using bikes with a maximum engine displacement capacity at 250cc twin cylinder engines. The minimum age for riders is 16.
• 125cc – offers young riders the opportunity to make their first step into GP racing on single cylinder engine bikes with a maximum engine displacement capacity of 125cc. The maximum age of a rider is 28 (25 for wild-card riders or newly contracted riders debuting in the category) and minimum age is 15.

2009 FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix (MotoGP)^†
Team: FIAT YAMAHA TEAM

For information on the Fiat Yamaha team visit the team's new website at www.FiatYamahaTeam.it or the official website at http://www.yamaha-racing.com/Racing/
For information on the MotoGP, visit the official website at www.motogp.com or the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme website at www.fim.ch