2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

MotoGP season
Previous = 2006
Current = 2007
Next = 2008

The 2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 59th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. The 2007 season was significant as it introduced a new regulation which specifies that competitors in the MotoGP class can use up to 800 cc motorcycles; between 2002 and 2006, competitors had been allowed to use 990 cc motorcycles. While the 800 cc motorcycles have less power, their ability to brake later and carry more speed through turns allowed them to break lap records in pre-season testing [ [http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~Pedrosa-puts-Honda-on-top--Hopkins-hurt-~cid~6~id~143298.htm Pedrosa puts Honda on top, Hopkins hurt.] "Crash.net", 2007-02-16.] .

Up to the end of 2006, speculation suggested that Honda would have the advantage, as they could modify their existing engines to 800cc specification easier than other manufactuers. In practice, Honda suffered the most from the regulation change, with only Dani Pedrosa and Marco Melandri making any impression on the leaders. Casey Stoner scored a string of wins for Ducati, Suzuki saw Chris Vermeulen's first win since the advent of four-stroke regulations and John Hopkins' posted his first podium finish. The Kawasaki team also made progress with improved results.

In addition to the capacity reduction, MotoGP teams were also restricted to 31 tires per race weekend per rider. This change seemed to have favored the Bridgestone's wider performance range over the more temperature- and track-specific Michelins.cite news |last=Noyes |first=Dennis |title=MOTOGP: MotoGP Boss Calls Current Tire Rules 'an Error' (Part II) |language=English |publisher=SpeedTV.com |date=2007-08-28 |url=http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/39796/ |accessdate=2008-03-06] Pressure from top riders and declining viewership led Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta to propose a single-tire manufacturer for MotoGP.cite news |last=Noyes |first=Dennis |title=MOTOGP: Dorna Pressures Bridgestone to Supply Rossi, or Else! |language=English |publisher=SpeedTV.com |date=2007-10-19 |url=http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp_dorna_pressures_bridgestone_to_supply_rossi_or_else |accessdate=2008-03-06] In the end, rules were amended to allow 9 more tires per weekend per rider, and Valentino Rossi switched to Bridgestone for the 2008 season while his FIAT Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo used Michelins.

Grands Prix

250cc

250cc wildcard riders results

125cc

125cc wildcard riders results

Manufacturers standings

* Each manufacturer gets the same amount of points as their best placed rider in each Grand Prix.

MotoGP manufacturers standings

Mid-season changes

*On March 15, 2007, Mario Illien of Ilmor announced that the team would be taking a break from the Moto GP series as a result of funding issues. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/57335 Ilmor pull out of MotoGP temporarily] autosport.com, accessed 15/03/2007]
*During practice for the Chinese GP, Olivier Jacque injured his arm in a practice crash and withdrew from the event. He missed his home race, at Le Mans, and was replaced by Fonsi Nieto. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58497 Jacque pulls out of Chinese GP] ] [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58831 Kawasaki confirm Jacque will miss France] ]
*Team Roberts announced that they would expand to a second bike from the Mugello race onwards, which will be ridden by Kurtis Roberts. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59261 Roberts confirm second bike for Mugello] ]
*Kenny Roberts, Jr. withdrew from the series in June. In those rounds the sole KR212V was ridden by his brother Kurtis. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59959 Roberts Jr won't ride at Donington] ]
*On June 21, it was announced that Anthony West would be replacing Olivier Jacque at Kawasaki for the remainder of the season. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/59998 West secures Kawasaki ride] ]
*During practice for the Dutch TT, Toni Elías broke his left femur. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/60211 Elias breaks leg in practice crash] ] He was replaced by Michel Fabrizio at the German Grand Prix and Miguel Duhamel at the United States Grand Prix. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/60520 Fabrizio and Duhamel to replace Elias] ]
*During the first practice session at the US GP, Alex Hofmann broking a bone and sustaining a soft tissue injury in his left hand in a collision with Sylvain Guintoli and he was unable to compete during the remainder of the weekend. Chaz Davies was invited to take his ride for the remainder of the weekend despite having no experience on the any MotoGP bike or on Bridgestone tyres. Hofmann was also sidelined from Czech GP, where Ivan Silva replaced him.
*Shinichi Itoh rode as a replacement rider on a Pramac d'Antin Ducati after Alex Hofmann was released from the team following the Portuguese Grand Prix.

250cc participants

Mid-season changes

*Roberto Locatelli was seriously injured in a practise session crash at the Spanish GP weekend. Gilera didn't replace him and Locatelli returned to the series in the French GP. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58001 Locatelli targets Mugello return] ]
*As a result of a crash in qualifying in China, Yuki Takahashi broke his left arm and missed the French GP, which he won in 2005. He was not replaced for the event. [http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58862 Takahashi to miss Le Mans] ]
*Starting from the French GP, Humangest Racing was officially called Kopron Team Scot.
*Following Anthony West's step up to the Moto GP class with Kawasaki, Dan Linfoot was signed to replace him from the Donington Park round. Also, Arturo Tizon was sacked by his team and replaced by Efren Vazquez. [http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21062007/58/british-gp-250s-linfoot-signs-sicilia-deal.html 250s Linfoot signs Sicilia deal] ]
*Federico Sandi replaced Dan Linfoot from Australian GP onwards.
*Taro Sekiguchi missed couple of rounds after being injured in Czech Republic Grand Prix. Having had lots of injuries during last couple of seasons, he decided to change his race number in his return, in the Australian Grand Prix.

125cc participants

Mid-season changes

*Fontana Racing was called Skilled Racing Team before the season started following the withdrawal of their sponsor ISPA for Team Sicilia.
*Stefano Musco missed the Qatar & Spanish GPs through injury and was replaced by Dino Lombardi. Later Lombardi replaced Musco on regular basis.
*Mike Di Meglio sustained a broken collarbone in a crash in qualifying for the Spanish GP and was told by doctors to allow more time to recover. He was replaced at the Turkish GP by Kevin Coghlan, who had been originally on the 250cc entry list prior to the withdrawal of his team, Winona Racing. [http://www.eurosport.com/motorcycling/turkish-gp/2007/sport_sto1154499.shtml 125s: Coghlan to race in Turkey] ]
*Starting from the French GP, Scot Racing Team was officially called Kopron Team Scot.
*At the British GP, Enrique Jerez replaced Dino Lombardi.
*From Portuguese GP onwards, Stefan Bradl replaced Hugo van den Berg on regular basis.
*Following Federico Sandi's move to 250cc class, Ferruccio Lamborghini replaced him in Skilled Racing Team, starting from Australian Grand Prix.
*Glenn Scott replaced Stefano Bianco in Australian Grand Prix.

References