MotoGP 2009 season factbox

Eurosport - Thu, 09 Apr 12:37:00 2009

The MotoGP championship starts in Qatar on Sunday with a night-time race. Check out these facts ahead of the 2009 season.

MOTORCYCLING-MotoGP-Qatar - 0

* Four riders have left the championship since 2008: France's Sylvain Guintoli, American John Hopkins, Japan's Shinya Nakano and Australian Anthony West. Four have come in: Italian Niccolo Canepa, Spain's Sete Gibernau, Finland's Mika Kallio and Japan's Yuki Takahashi.

*The average age of riders is 27 years and 32 weeks. The oldest is Gibernau at 36; the youngest is 20-year-old Canepa.

*World champion Valentino Rossi has eight world titles, six in MotoGP/500cc and one from each of 250cc and 125cc) He has a total of 97 race wins, 71 in the top category.

*Rossi's tally of wins is the second highest in grand prix racing but still well short of compatriot Giacomo Agostini's record of 122.

*American Nicky Hayden, the 2006 champion with Honda who has now switched to Ducati, will be starting his 100th grand prix this weekend.

*Last year's Qatar Grand Prix saw the youngest podium in the top category with an average age of 21 years 47 weeks.

*Ducati riders have won the season-opening race for the last three years. Australian Casey Stoner has won for the past two years in Qatar.

*There are 17 races this season and Rossi has previously won at all of the circuits involved. However he has not won after dark in Qatar, with his last victory there in 2006 when the race was held in the afternoon.

*All riders are now using Bridgestone tyres after the switch to a single supplier. Each rider has a maximum of 12 rear and eight front tyres per weekend, excluding rain tyres.

*Friday morning practice has been cancelled this season and all other sessions shortened to 45 minutes to reduce engine mileage and cut costs.

Reuters

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  1. Good luck to Nicky Hayden on the Ducati this year, you­ dont have to win the championship 1st time out just­ stuff Repsol. Also Congrats for your 100th Gp.

    From neilbennett88, on Fri 10 Apr 9:33PM

  2. I cant wait !!

    From Brett, on Fri 10 Apr 10:41AM

  3. Let the season begin! It's too bad MotoGP are­ sticking it to the fans that attend the races by­ cancelling and reducing the practice times. They­ should find other ways of reducing costs that don't­ directly affect the fans on race weekend. I was­ planning on going to Indy this year, but I refuse to­ support the series in person in my own small protest of­ the changes.

    From gegaard, on Thu 9 Apr 5:48PM
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