Moto3 – The history they don't teach in schools
THRILL ZONE
Posted on: 25 April, 2017
There’s a different kind of thrill associated with being the rookie that the world’s watching out for – and we’re just getting started in the MotoGPTM World Championship Series. All eyes are glued on us as we take the hole-shot through this legendary sport of speed.
We take on the absolute best in the world in the Moto3 class of the World Championship. So what is Moto3? Let us go back in time to the first ever flag off before we go full throttle into the history of Moto3.
The MotoGPTM World Championship was established way back in 1949 by the FIM - Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. The oldest motorsport in the world is divided into three classes, all four-stroke engines – 1000cc (MotoGP), 600cc (Moto2) and 250cc (Moto3) class.
MotoGP is a category by itself where the best in the world challenge the limits of speed on some of the fastest bikes ever built. Powered by incredible 1000cc engines, these bikes are tuned and refined only for the racetrack so it is pretty much impossible to own one, unless you have an expertise in MotoGP. These bikes are purpose-built, not for purchase by general public and not permitted to be legally ridden on public roads.
Extreme History
Now that we have your attention, let’s lean in to motorcycle road-racing history.
It all started in 1949, when the maximum power a bike could produce was 500cc. With all the action happening, Europe couldn’t contain the racing thrill all by itself, so in 1961 the first Grand Prix outside Europe was hosted in Argentina. The Japanese Grand Prix in 1962 brought the extreme racing to Asia and in 1964, it took over North America with the United States Grand Prix.
You get the picture – extreme racing was taking over the world. What was going on with the extreme machines that made it all happen?
Extreme Machines
The veterans of this sport - Honda, MV Agusta, Yamaha and Suzuki – have pretty much led the manufacturing game for a good part of the century now. The World Championship has grown exponentially for a good part of the last century, and it has been overwhelming at times. With certain crashes, injuries and new introductions like the push start to bikes being eliminated and the division of the bikes into categories, the World Championship has evolved and soared to newer heights every few years.
Today, while the MotoGP (1000cc) class and Moto3 (250cc) class allow various manufacturers to supply the bikes, Honda is the sole engine supplier in the Moto2 (600cc) class. Moto2 replaced the former 250cc two-stroke class and Moto3 replaced the former 125cc class.
Extreme Racing
The 2011 Qatar GP witnessed our World Championship debut with our 125cc two-stroke racing bike. Our inaugural season ended well with Danny Webb bagging our first-ever pole position in the last race, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain.
The World Championship evolved in 2012 – we were now competing in the Moto3 (250cc) class. The race picked up pace and we’ve held our own since then. It’s been seven years since we started and we’ve bagged many podiums, victories, completed our first 100 Grand Prix races. Young riders like Pecco have reached unsurpassed heights racing on our 250cc racing bike - the Mahindra MGP3O. Read about the Italian wonder kid here.
Right from its inception, the World Championship has grown tremendously. Travelling around the world and making it to nearly every continent, MotoGP has a global fan base.
MotoGPTM Championship is a sensation worldwide
Rookie No More
2017 marks our 7th year in the World Championship and we’re already making the racing world stop and take notice of what extreme passion can achieve. We will continue to push the edge of excitement with this extreme sport. We are passioneers.
We are passioneers. The 2017 season is in gear already, brush up on your Moto3 glossary here.
Mahindra Racing was the first and only Indian constructor and competitor in the Moto3 World Championship between 2011 and 2017.
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