QUAD DIGITS!

Two-wheeler Grand Prix racing has come a long way since 1949

- GAURAV DAVARE

Motorcycle racing at the highest level is one of the most action-packed motorsports on the planet and it’s taken quite a journey to get there. 2023 sees the 1,000th FIM Grand Prix World Championship event since it was introduced in 1949. But interestingly, it’s not the 1,000th premier class event as 48 events didn’t feature the premier class. Nevertheless, it’s been a long journey since 1948, when the Federation Internationale des Clubs Motocyclistes that we now know as the FIM decided to form a Grand Prix World Championship comprising of the 500cc class that we know as MotoGP, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and Sidecar classes. It was only fitting that the Isle of Man TT hosted the first Motorcycle Grand Prix back in 1949 with Harold Daniell on a Norton becoming the very first MotoGP race winner.