The 2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 59th F.I.MRoad 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 800cc motorcycles have less power than their 990cc counterparts, their ability to brake later and carry more speed through turns due to their lighter weight allowed them to break lap records in pre-season testing.[1]
Casey Stoner won the MotoGP title, winning 10 of the 18 races to finish with a lead of 125 points over second placed Dani Pedrosa. Jorge Lorenzo won his second 250cc title, and Gábor Talmácsi won the 125cc title.
Stoner had a breakthrough season on the Ducati, the team winning its first world title on the Grand Prix scene. It was also the first time since 1973 that the premiere category had not been won by a Japanese constructor. The new 800 cc Ducati engine had a significant advantage over the other manufacturers in straightline speed but was tricky to ride through corners for Stoner's experienced teammate Loris Capirossi. Stoner was in strong contention early on but Valentino Rossi was very close for a long period of the season, before Stoner started to pull away at mid-season and sealed his title with several races to go, with Rossi's title challenge fading.
Up to the end of 2006, speculation suggested that Honda would have the advantage of the new 800cc engines, as they could modify their existing engines easier than other manufacturers. In practice, Honda suffered the most from the regulation change, with only Dani Pedrosa and Marco Melandri making any impression on the leaders. Stoner scored a string of wins for Ducati, Suzuki saw Chris Vermeulen take their 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.[2] Pressure from top riders and declining viewership led Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta to propose a single-tire manufacturer for MotoGP.[3] 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 FIATYamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo used Michelins.
As of 2019[update], this was the only time since the introduction of MotoGP regulations that a rider and team from a non-Japanese manufacturer have won the season.
2007 Grand Prix season calendar
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 2007:[4][5]
The Spanish and Qatar Grand Prix swapped places, with Qatar hosting the opening round instead of Spain.
The Dutch TT and British Grand Prix swapped places, with Britain hosting the eighth round while the Netherlands hosted the ninth round.
Only the MotoGP class raced during the United States Grand Prix because of a Californian law on air pollution, preventing the 125 and 250cc classes from racing.
On 15 March 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.[6]
During practice for the Chinese GP, Olivier Jacque injured his arm in a crash and withdrew from the event. He missed his home race, at Le Mans, and was replaced by Fonsi Nieto.[7][8]
Team Roberts announced they expanded to a second bike from the Mugello race onwards, which was ridden by Kurtis Roberts.[9]
During the first practice session at the US GP, Alex Hofmann broke a bone and sustained 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 any MotoGP bike or Bridgestone tyres. Hofmann was also sidelined from Czech GP, where Iván 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.
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.[14]
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 2006. He was not replaced for the event.[15]
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 Tizón was sacked by his team and replaced by Efrén Vázquez.[16]
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.
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 Kev Coghlan, who had been originally on the 250cc entry list prior to the withdrawal of his team, Winona Racing.[17]
Starting from the French GP, Scot Racing Team was officially called Kopron Team Scot.
KTM
