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Sports season
Mick Doohan (pictured at Phillip Island) became the 1998 500cc world champion
The 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Mick Doohan and Honda continued to dominate the 500 class with the Australian taking 8 victories and Honda winning all but one race.[ 1] Simon Crafar winning the British Grand Prix for Yamaha 's lone victory.[ 1] After being shocked by 500 class rookie Max Biaggi 's opening round victory in the Japanese Grand Prix , Doohan went on to claim his fifth world championship in as many years, finishing off the season with four consecutive wins.[ 1]
A controversial finish marked the 250 title race. Aprilia teammates Tetsuya Harada and Loris Capirossi both went into the final race in Argentina with a chance to win the title, Capirossi leading Harada by 4 points.[ 1] With one corner to go, Harada was in second, with Capirossi third, which would have given Harada the championship on tiebreak. Entering the final turn, his bike was struck from behind by Capirossi's machine, sending both riders off the track.[ 1] Valentino Rossi took the win with Capirossi recovering to finish in second and claiming the title.[ 1] Afterwards, Aprilia would release Capirossi from his contract.[ 1]
Kazuto Sakata would win his second 125 title for Aprilia after a tight battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri .[ 1]
1998 Grand Prix season calendar [ edit ]
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1998:[ 2]
†† = Saturday race
1998 Grand Prix season results [ edit ]
†† = Saturday race
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
Rider
Rounds
Repsol Honda
Honda
Honda NSR500
1
Mick Doohan
All
2
Tadayuki Okada
1–4, 7, 10–14
4
Àlex Crivillé
All
Honda NSR500V
15
Sete Gibernau
All
Suzuki Grand Prix Team
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV500 (XR88)
3
Nobuatsu Aoki
All
20
Luca Cadalora
7
25
Yukio Kagayama
2–5
27
Katsuaki Fujiwara
10–12
29
Keiichi Kitagawa
1
33
Mark Willis
13
/ Yamaha Team Rainey
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500 (OWK1)
5
Norick Abe
All
12
Jean-Michel Bayle
10–12, 14
20
Luca Cadalora
5–6
21
Kyoji Nanba
1–4, 9
Marlboro Team Kanemoto
Honda
Honda NSR500
6
Max Biaggi
All
/ / Muz Roc Rennen Sport
MuZ
MuZ 500
7
Doriano Romboni
1–2
16
Jean-Philippe Ruggia
7
20
Luca Cadalora
14
77
Eskil Suter
4–6, 8–12
Movistar Honda Pons
Honda
Honda NSR500
8
Carlos Checa
1–8, 10–14
14
Juan Borja
8
19
John Kocinski
1–7, 10–14
39
Gregorio Lavilla
9
Honda Gresini
Honda
Honda NSR500
9
Alex Barros
All
/ Team Roberts Marlboro Team Roberts
Modenas KR
Modenas KR3
10
Kenny Roberts Jr.
All
28
Ralf Waldmann
1–7, 9–14
Red Bull Yamaha WCM
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
11
Simon Crafar
All
55
Régis Laconi
1, 3–14
Shell Advance Racing
Honda
Honda NSR500V
14
Juan Borja
1–7, 10–14
18
Garry McCoy
1–10, 13
26
Bernard Garcia
11
42
Craig Connell
12, 14
42
Craig Connell
13
53
Russel Wood
2
58
Felisberto Teixeira
3
71
Juan Pablo Gianini
14
72
Fernando Cristóbal
6
72
Fernando Cristóbal
8–9
Dee Cee Jeans Racing Team
Honda
Honda NSR500V
17
Jurgen van den Goorbergh
All
Tecmas Honda Elf
Honda
Honda NSR500V
22
Sébastien Gimbert
1–6, 10–14
26
Bernard Garcia
7–9
F.C.C. TSR
Honda
Honda NSR500V
23
Matt Wait
All
Team Paton
Paton
Paton V70 C10/4
43
Paolo Tessari
11–12
63
Gianmaria Liverani
4
Yamaha Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
50
Noriyuki Haga
1
BP Yamaha Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
52
Norihiko Fujiwara
2
Team Polini Inoxmacel
Honda
Honda NSR500V
57
Fabio Carpani
All
Team Zupin
Honda
Honda NSR500V
60
Jörg Schöllhorn
9
Team Vimto Honda/Paul Bird
Honda
Honda NSR500V
68
John McGuinness
8
Team Millar Honda Britain
Honda
Honda NSR500V
88
Scott Smart
1, 3–14
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
No
Rider
Rounds
Castrol 250 Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
4
Stefano Perugini
All
Benetton Honda
Honda
Honda NSR250
5
Tohru Ukawa
All
F.C.C. TSR
Honda
Honda NSR250
6
Haruchika Aoki
All
Team Semprucci Biesse Group
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
7
Takeshi Tsujimura
All
Antena 3 Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
8
Luis D'Antin
All
17
José Luis Cardoso
All
92
David García
12
QUB Team Optimum
TSR–Honda
Honda NSR250
9
Jeremy McWilliams
All
Docshop Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
11
Jürgen Fuchs
1–9
15
Martin Craggill
13
34
Marcellino Lucchi
10–11
45
Diego Giugovaz
12, 14
85
Mathias Neukirchen
9
Team Rizla Suzuki
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV250
12
Noriyasu Numata
All
16
Johan Stigefelt
All
OXS Matteoni Racing
ERP Honda
Honda NSR250
14
Davide Bulega
5–14
Honda
1–4
49
Filippo Cotti
11
Edo Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
18
Osamu Miyazaki
1–5, 7, 10–14
21
Franco Battaini
1–6, 10–14
33
Jamie Robinson
8–9
47
Ivan Clementi
6–9
Chesterfield Elf Tech 3
Honda
Honda NSR250
19
Olivier Jacque
1–7, 10–14
20
William Costes
1–9
22
Matthieu Lagrive
10–14
68
Julien Allemand
8–9
Padgetts HRC Shop
TSR–Honda
Honda NSR250
24
Jason Vincent
1–13
Honda
82
Woolsey Coulter
8
82
Woolsey Coulter
14
Penguin Racing
ERP–Honda
Honda NSR250
25
Yasumasa Hatakeyama
4–9
Honda
1–3, 10–14
PR2 Mitsubishi Elaion
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
27
Sebastián Porto
All
40
Gary May
8
41
Federico Gartner
1–7, 9–14
Aprilia Grand Prix Racing Team
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
31
Tetsuya Harada
All
34
Marcellino Lucchi
3–4, 12
65
Loris Capirossi
All
Scuderia AGV Carrizosa
TSR–Honda
Honda NSR250
37
Luca Boscoscuro
All
44
Roberto Rolfo
All
Strugnell Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
42
William Strugnell
13
Team Taylor Racing
Honda
Honda NSR250
43
David Horton
13
Team Italia
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
45
Diego Giugovaz
11
Nastro Azzurro Aprilia
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
46
Valentino Rossi
All
Team RCGM
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
48
Igor Antonelli
11
BP Yamaha Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
50
Shinya Nakano
1, 13
Y.E.S.S. Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
51
Naoki Matsudo
1
Team Suzuki All Japan
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV250
52
Choujun Kameya
1
55
Yukio Kagayama
1
Team Kotake
Honda
Honda NSR250
53
Makoto Tamada
1
Castrol Honda
Honda
Honda NSR250
54
Daijiro Kato
1
Petronas Sprinta Team TVK
Honda
Honda NSR250
56
Shahrol Yuzy
2
SBK Sport
Honda
Honda NSR250
58
Eustaquio Gavira
3, 12
59
Ismael Bonilla
3, 6
60
Agustín Escobar
3
Equipo Competition M-3
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
61
Manuel Luque
3
Brunskill Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
62
Adam Brunskill
13
Allect Racing
Honda
Honda NSR250
63
Craig Frederickson
13
Rgv Spares
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
64
Shaun Geronimi
13
Racing Factory
Honda
Honda NSR250
66
Alex Hofmann
9
Equipe de France
Honda
Honda NSR250
67
Matthieu Lagrive
5
68
Julien Allemand
5
69
Vincent Philippe
5
F.P. Racing
Honda
Honda NSR250
70
Franck Poulle
5
Aprilia France
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
71
Hervé Mora
5
Team Sotano
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
72
José David de Gea
6
Hernandez Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
73
Alex Debón
6
Team Chupa Chups
Honda
Honda NSR250
74
Lucas Oliver Bultó
12
93
Iván Silva
12
MRTT Team Bolwerk
Honda
Honda NSR250
75
Maurice Bolwerk
7
Dee Cee Jeans Racing Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
76
Jarno Janssen
7
Racing Team Twello
Honda
Honda NSR250
77
André Romein
7
Johan Jong Brandbom Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
78
Rudie Markink
7
Schoenkaper O.Z.
Honda
Honda NSR250
79
Henk van der Lagemaat
7
Aprilia UK / Blacks Bikeshop
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
80
Paul Jones
8
Honda Britain / QUB Team Optimum
Honda
Honda NSR250
81
Callum Ramsay
8
Team Colin Appleyard Racing
Honda
Honda NSR250
83
Shane Norval
8
Team Klingels
Honda
Honda NSR250
84
Mike Baldinger
9
RS Rallye Sport Gmbh
Honda
Honda NSR250
86
Markus Ober
9
Imt Racing Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
87
Adrian Schmidt
9
Slovnaft Sport Moto Team
ERP–Honda
Honda NSR250
88
Vladimír Častka
10
Klub Racing Team Znojmo
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
89
Radomil Rous
10
Moto Racing Club Ostrava
Honda
Honda NSR250
90
Lukáš Vavrečka
10
Muller Maler Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
91
Lars Langer
10
Costa Azamar
Honda
Honda NSR250
94
David Ortega
12
Mitsubishi Mondial
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
95
Matías Ríos
14
Pablo Lessio Competicion
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
96
Leandro Mulet
14
Honda Castrol Gregorio
Honda
Honda NSR250
97
Diego Ruabén
14
Recouso Oscar
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
98
Gabriel Borgmann
14
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
No
Rider
Rounds
Givi Honda LCR
Honda
Honda RS125R
2
Noboru Ueda
1–5, 12–14
10
Lucio Cecchinello
All
52
Hiroyuki Kikuchi
6–10
Team UGT 3000
Honda
Honda RS125R
3
Tomomi Manako
All
39
Jaroslav Huleš
All
UGT 3000
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
4
Kazuto Sakata
All
Honda
Honda RS125R
9
Frédéric Petit
All
85
Klaus Nöhles
9
Docshop Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
5
Masaki Tokudome
All
Via Digital Team
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
7
Emilio Alzamora
All
29
Ángel Nieto Jr.
All
60
Fonsi Nieto
3, 6, 12
79
Pablo Nieto
12
Team Polini Inoxmacel
Honda
Honda RS125R
8
Gianluigi Scalvini
All
15
Roberto Locatelli
All
49
Andrea Zappa
11
70
Adrián Araujo
12
Team Valencia Aspar
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
11
Jose Ramon Ramirez
1–3
59
Jerónimo Vidal
3
59
Jerónimo Vidal
4–11, 13–14
73
Iván Martínez
6
73
Iván Martínez
12
Benetton Matteoni OXS Matteoni
Honda
Honda RS125R
13
Marco Melandri
All
32
Mirko Giansanti
All
55
Manuel Poggiali
11
Scuderia Alfa Nolan
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
14
Federico Cerroni
6–12, 14
18
Paolo Tessari
1–5
24
Alessandro Romagnoli
13
Team Semprucci Biesse Group
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
16
Christian Manna
1–11, 14
19
Andrea Ballerini
12–13
62
Yoshiaki Katoh
All
Team Yamaha Kurz Aral
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
17
Juan Enrique Maturana
All
41
Youichi Ui
All
Team Pileri
Honda
Honda RS125R
19
Andrea Ballerini
1–3
65
Andrea Iommi
4–14
Mac Motors Liegeois Competicion
Honda
Honda RS125R
20
Masao Azuma
All
SCRAB Compétition
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
21
Arnaud Vincent
All
Marlboro Team ADAC
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
22
Steve Jenkner
All
Motoracing Team
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
23
Gino Borsoi
All
Vasco Rossi Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
26
Ivan Goi
All
Fairbarin Cranes–Black Mamba
Honda
Honda RS125R
42
Chedryian Bresland
13
Teknic Motorcycle Clothing
Honda
Honda RS125R
43
Peter Galvin
13
Southern Cross Sports
Honda
Honda RS125R
44
Judd Greedy
13
Team Taylor Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
45
Jay Taylor
13
Christopher West Plumbing
Honda
Honda RS125R
46
Anthony West
13
Team Italia
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
47
Riccardo Chiarello
11
Team RS
Honda
Honda RS125R
48
Max Sabbatani
11
M'Project
Honda
Honda RS125R
50
Yuzo Fujioka
1
J. Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
51
Takashi Akita
1
Tube Riders & Ablecom
Honda
Honda RS125R
52
Hiroyuki Kikuchi
1
S.P. Tadao Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
53
Nobuyuki Osaki
1
Castrol Team Harc Pro
Honda
Honda RS125R
54
Kazuhiro Takao
1
RRC Prakash RAO
Honda
Honda RS125R
56
Magilai Meganathan
2
Echo Team Berner
Honda
Honda RS125R
58
Álvaro Molina
3, 6, 12
Team Esparragoso IGM
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
61
Vicente Esparragoso
3
Ricci Corse
Honda
Honda RS125R
63
Marco Tresoldi
4, 11
Ciarom–MotoSprint
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
64
Claudio Cipriani
4
Honda France
Honda
Honda RS125R
67
Randy de Puniet
5
Ipone Dussauge Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
68
Nicolas Dussauge
5
Team RMS
Honda
Honda RS125R
69
Jimmy Petit
5
Team TMR
Honda
Honda RS125R
71
Josep Sardà
6, 12
Team TJT
Honda
Honda RS125R
72
Sebastián Perelló
6
Ep Bos Electro Elburg
EGA Honda
Honda RS125R
74
Hans Koopman
7
Team Kroegman
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
75
Wim Kroegman
7
Le Coq Fight Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
76
Harold de Haan
7
R.T.D. Dooderman Dakdekkers
Honda
Honda RS125R
77
Ronnie Timmer
7
Luvro Ramaker Toyota Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
78
Wilhelm van Leeuwen
7
Honda Britain
Honda
Honda RS125R
80
Leon Haslam
8
L Rumney/Garstang Cleaning
Honda
Honda RS125R
81
Chris Palmer
8
Racing Lines/Clive Horton
Honda
Honda RS125R
82
John Pearson
8
Ulster Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
83
David Mateer
8
Agip Esch Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
84
Reinhard Stolz
9
Yamaha Loffler Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
86
Oliver Perschke
9
Hein Gericke Castrol Jr Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
87
Dirk Heidolf
9
Motorrad B.U.S. Levior Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ125
88
Maik Stief
9
Repsol Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
89
Igor Kaláb
10
Wernberger - Team Hanusch
Honda
Honda RS125R
90
Jakub Smrž
10
91
Martin Psotný
10
Delta Uamk Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
92
Michal Březina
10
Telemark Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
93
Bohuslav Seifert
10
Matsuo Daido Yuasa–tam
Honda
Honda RS125R
94
Cristiano Vieira
14
Amauri–Revista Moto!
Honda
Honda RS125R
95
César Barros
14
Motosistem 1
Honda
Honda RS125R
97
Silvio Cesar
14
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
[ 3] [ 4]
Scoring system
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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
Riders marked with light blue background were eligible for Rookie of the Year award.
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
Second place
Bronze
Third place
Green
Points classification
Blue
Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired, not classified (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 practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Bold – Pole positionItalics – Fastest lap
[ 5]
Scoring system
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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
Riders marked with light blue background were eligible for Rookie of the Year award.
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
Second place
Bronze
Third place
Green
Points classification
Blue
Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired, not classified (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 practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Bold – Pole positionItalics – Fastest lap
[ 6]
Scoring system
Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had 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
Riders marked with light blue background were eligible for Rookie of the Year award.
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
Second place
Bronze
Third place
Green
Points classification
Blue
Non-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple
Retired, not classified (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 practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)
Bold – Pole positionItalics – Fastest lap
Manufacturers' standings[ edit ]
[ 7]
[ 8]
[ 9]