2018 MotoGP World Championship

The 2018 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 70th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Marc Márquez entered the season as the reigning champion, with Repsol Honda Team being the reigning team champions and Honda the reigning constructors' champions.

2018 F.I.M. Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

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2017

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2019

2018 Moto2 World Championship
2018 Moto3 World Championship

Marc Márquez was the 2018 MotoGP Champion.

Originally scheduled for 19 races, the season was reduced by one Grand Prix due to the cancellation of the 26 August Silverstone event due to unsafe track conditions involving standing water after a rider vote.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Marc Márquez clinched the championship trophy on 21 October 2018 after sixteen rounds, winning three consecutive races during spring, another three consecutive races during autumn and nine overall. Andrea Dovizioso finished in second and Valentino Rossi ended up in third, the former with four wins, while Rossi did not record a race win. Jorge Lorenzo with three wins and a win apiece for Cal Crutchlow and Maverick Viñales were the other race winners. Yamaha suffered their worst winless streak in their history with no wins for 25 races, which lasted from the 2017 German Grand Prix until Viñales won the Australian Grand Prix. KTM got their first podium finish at the Valencian Grand Prix with Pol Espargaró, finishing in third.

Teams and riders

Team Constructor Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia RS-GP 41 Aleix Espargaró[6] All 45 Scott Redding[7] All Ducati Team Ducati Desmosedici GP18 04 Andrea Dovizioso[8] All 99 Jorge Lorenzo[9] 1–16, 18–19[N 1] 19 Álvaro Bautista[10] 17 51 Michele Pirro[11] 18[N 1] 51 Michele Pirro 6, 13, 19 Alma Pramac Racing 9 Danilo Petrucci[12] All Desmosedici GP17 43 Jack Miller[13][14] All Ángel Nieto Team[15] 19 Álvaro Bautista[16] 1–16, 18–19 17 Karel Abraham[17][10] 17 Desmosedici GP16 1–16, 18–19 7 Mike Jones[10] 17 Reale Avintia Racing[18] Desmosedici GP17 53 Tito Rabat[19] 1–12 10 Xavier Siméon[20] 13–19 Desmosedici GP16 1–12 23 Christophe Ponsson[21] 13 81 Jordi Torres[22] 14–19 EG 0,0 Marc VDS[23] Honda RC213V 12 Thomas Lüthi[24] All 21 Franco Morbidelli[25] All[N 2] 6 Stefan Bradl[26] 9[N 2] LCR Honda Idemitsu LCR Honda Castrol 30 Takaaki Nakagami[27] All 35 Cal Crutchlow[28] 1–17 6 Stefan Bradl[29] 18–19 Repsol Honda Team 26 Dani Pedrosa[30] All 93 Marc Márquez[31] All HRC Honda Team 6 Stefan Bradl 10, 13 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM RC16 38 Bradley Smith[32] All 44 Pol Espargaró[32] 1–10, 13–19 76 Loris Baz[33] 12 36 Mika Kallio 4, 7, 9 Team Suzuki Ecstar Suzuki GSX-RR 29 Andrea Iannone[34] All 42 Álex Rins[35] All 50 Sylvain Guintoli 7, 10, 16 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha YZR-M1 5 Johann Zarco[36] All 55 Hafizh Syahrin[37] All Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 25 Maverick Viñales[38] All 46 Valentino Rossi[39] All Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing 89 Katsuyuki Nakasuga 16

Key Regular rider Replacement rider Wildcard rider

All teams used series-specified Michelin tyres.^[40]

Team changes

• LCR Honda expanded to enter a second bike for the first time since 2015.^[27]
• Aspar Team raced under the name of "Ángel Nieto Team" from 2018 in honor of the late Ángel Nieto.^[15]

Rider changes

• Sam Lowes was released from his contract with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini one year before it expired.^[41] Lowes returned to the Moto2 category.
• Thomas Lüthi moved up to MotoGP, making his début with EG 0,0 Marc VDS after competing in the intermediate class for eleven seasons.^[24]
• 2017 Moto2 champion Franco Morbidelli was promoted to MotoGP, making his début with EG 0,0 Marc VDS.^[25]
• Tito Rabat returned to Reale Avintia Racing, after leaving EG 0,0 Marc VDS. He was partnered by Xavier Siméon who moved up to the premier class. Rabat previously competed with Avintia Racing under the name By Queroseno Racing (BQR) between the 2005 125cc and the 2011 Moto2 seasons.
• Takaaki Nakagami moved up to MotoGP with LCR Honda.^[27]
• Scott Redding left Pramac Racing at the end of the 2017 season to join Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.^[7] His place was taken by Jack Miller.^[13]
• Loris Baz left MotoGP and returned to Superbike World Championship. During mid-season, Baz replaced injured Pol Espargaró at Red Bull KTM Factory Racing for British GP.
• Héctor Barberá returned to the intermediate class, Moto2, after leaving Reale Avintia Racing. Barberá has completed eight seasons in the premier class.
• Jonas Folger, who was on the provisional entry list, withdrew from the 2018 season to focus on recovery from illness.^[42] Hafizh Syahrin moved up to MotoGP to fill his spot in Monster Yamaha Tech 3. He became the first Malaysian rider to compete in the sport's premier class.^[37]

Mid-season changes

• Randy de Puniet returned to MotoGP as the KTM test rider, replacing Mika Kallio who suffered a knee injury during German Grand Prix for the remainder of the season.
• Tito Rabat got injured after the British Grand Prix, so he was replaced by Christophe Ponsson for the San Marino Grand Prix. Jordi Torres also replacing him since Aragon Grand Prix onwards.
• Álvaro Bautista replaced Jorge Lorenzo at the Australian Grand Prix due to injuries sustained at the Thai Grand Prix, with Mike Jones to take Bautista's place.

Calendar

The following Grands Prix took place in 2018:^[43]

Round	Date	Grand Prix	Circuit
1	18 March[a]	Grand Prix of Qatar[44]	Losail International Circuit, Lusail
2	8 April	Gran Premio Motul de la República Argentina[45]	Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo
3	22 April	Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas[46]	Circuit of the Americas, Austin
4	6 May	Gran Premio Red Bull de España[47]	Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera
5	20 May	HJC Helmets Grand Prix de France[48]	Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
6	3 June	Gran Premio d'Italia Oakley[49]	Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero
7	17 June	Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya[50]	Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
8	1 July	Motul TT Assen[51]	TT Circuit Assen, Assen
9	15 July	Pramac Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland[52]	Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
10	5 August	Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky[53]	Brno Circuit, Brno
11	12 August	Eyetime Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich	Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
12	26 August	GoPro British Grand Prix[54]	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
13	9 September	Gran Premio Octo di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini[55]	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
14	23 September	Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón[56]	MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
15	7 October	PTT Thailand Grand Prix[57]	Chang International Circuit, Buriram
16	21 October	Motul Grand Prix of Japan[58]	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi
17	28 October	Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix[59]	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
18	4 November	Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix[60]	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
19	18 November	Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana[61]	Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia

Calendar changes

Comparison between the configuration of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya used in 2016 and 2017 (top), and the layout used starting 2018 (bottom).

• The British Grand Prix was scheduled to move from Silverstone to the new Circuit of Wales, but construction on the new track has not commenced.^[62] The two circuits reached a deal that will see Silverstone with an option to host the 2018 race.^[63] In the end, the British Grand Prix saw all three races being cancelled due to dangerous track conditions on race day, and was not re-arranged.
• The Thailand Grand Prix is a new addition to the calendar, with the race scheduled for 7 October.
• The Catalan Grand Prix used a new configuration of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, wherein the previous set of corners of turns 13, 14 and 15 were combined into a sweeping right corner. The new layout was previously used in Formula 1 from 2004 to 2006.

Results and standings

Grands Prix

Round	Grand Prix	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning rider	Winning team	Winning constructor	Report
1	Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix	Johann Zarco	Andrea Dovizioso	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
2	Argentine Republic motorcycle Grand Prix	Jack Miller	Marc Márquez	Cal Crutchlow	LCR Honda Castrol	Honda	Report
3	Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas	Marc Márquez[N 3]	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
4	Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix	Cal Crutchlow	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
5	French motorcycle Grand Prix	Johann Zarco	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
6	Italian motorcycle Grand Prix	Valentino Rossi	Danilo Petrucci	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
7	Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
8	Dutch TT	Marc Márquez	Maverick Viñales	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
9	German motorcycle Grand Prix	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
10	Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix	Andrea Dovizioso	Jorge Lorenzo	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
11	Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix	Marc Márquez	Andrea Dovizioso	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
12	British motorcycle Grand Prix	Jorge Lorenzo	Race cancelled[N 4]				Report
13	San Marino and Rimini Riviera motorcycle Grand Prix	Jorge Lorenzo	Andrea Dovizioso	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report
14	Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix	Jorge Lorenzo	Andrea Dovizioso	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
15	Thailand motorcycle Grand Prix	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
16	Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix	Andrea Dovizioso	Marc Márquez	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
17	Australian motorcycle Grand Prix	Marc Márquez	Maverick Viñales	Maverick Viñales	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	Yamaha	Report
18	Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix	Marc Márquez[N 5]	Álex Rins	Marc Márquez	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
19	Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix	Maverick Viñales	Andrea Dovizioso	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati Team	Ducati	Report

Riders' standings

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

Pos. Rider Bike Team QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL Pts 1 Marc Márquez Honda Repsol Honda Team 2 18F 1P F 1F 1F 16 2 1P 1P F 3 2P C 2 1 1P F 1F RetP 1P Ret 321 2 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati Team 1F 6 5 Ret Ret 2 Ret 4 7 1P 3F C 1F 2F 2 18P 3 6 1F 245 3 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 3 19 4 5 3 3P 3 5 2 4 6 C 7 8 4 4 6 18 13 198 4 Maverick Viñales Yamaha Movistar Yamaha MotoGP 6 5 2 7 7 8 6 3F 3 Ret 12 C 5 10 3 7 1F 4 RetP 193 5 Álex Rins Suzuki Team Suzuki Ecstar Ret 3 Ret Ret 10 5 Ret 2 Ret 11 8 C 4 4 6 3 5 2F 2 169 6 Johann Zarco Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 8P 2 6 2 RetP 10 7 8 9 7 9 C 10 14 5 6 Ret 3 7 158 7 Cal Crutchlow Honda LCR Honda Castrol 4 1 19 RetP 8 6 4 6 Ret 5 4 C 3 Ret 7 2 DNS 148 8 Danilo Petrucci Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 5 10 12 4 2 7F 8 Ret 4 6 5 C 11 7 9 9 12 9 Ret 144 9 Jorge Lorenzo Ducati Ducati Team Ret 15 11 Ret 6 1 1P F 7 6 2F 1 CP 17P RetP DNS DNS WD 12 134 10 Andrea Iannone Suzuki Team Suzuki Ecstar 9 8 3 3 Ret 4 10 11 12 10 13 C 8 3 11 Ret 2 Ret Ret 133 11 Dani Pedrosa Honda Repsol Honda Team 7 Ret 7 Ret 5 Ret 5 15 8 8 7 C 6 5 Ret 8 Ret 5 5 117 12 Álvaro Bautista Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 13 16 15 8 Ret 9 9 9 5 9 10 C 9 Ret 8 5 7 Ret 105 Ducati Team 4 13 Jack Miller Ducati Alma Pramac Racing 10 4P 9 6 4 Ret Ret 10 14 12 18 C 18 9 10 Ret 7 8 Ret 91 14 Pol Espargaró KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Ret 11 13 11 11 11 11 12 Ret DNS Ret DNS 21 13 Ret Ret 3 51 15 Franco Morbidelli Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 12 14 21 9 13 15 14 DNS WD 13 19 C 12 11 14 11 8 12 Ret 50 16 Hafizh Syahrin Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 14 9 Ret 16 12 12 Ret 18 11 14 16 C 19 18 12 10 Ret 10 10 46 17 Aleix Espargaró Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 19 Ret 10 Ret 9 Ret Ret 13 DNS 15 17 C 14 6 13 Ret 9 11 Ret 44 18 Bradley Smith KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 18 Ret 16 13 14 14 Ret 17 10 Ret 14 C 16 13 15 12 10 15 8 38 19 Tito Rabat Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 11 7 8 14 Ret 13 Ret 16 13 Ret 11 C 35 20 Takaaki Nakagami Honda LCR Honda Idemitsu 17 13 14 12 15 18 Ret 19 Ret 17 15 C 13 12 22 15 14 14 6 33 21 Scott Redding Aprilia Aprilia Racing Team Gresini 20 12 17 15 Ret Ret 12 14 15 Ret 20 C 21 16 16 19 13 19 11 20 22 Michele Pirro Ducati Ducati Team DNS 15 Ret 4 14 23 Karel Abraham Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 15 20 Ret 18 17 Ret 13 Ret 18 18 21 C 20 15 17 Ret 11 Ret 14 12 24 Stefan Bradl Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 16 10 HRC Honda Team Ret Ret LCR Honda Castrol 13 9 25 Mika Kallio KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 10 Ret DNS 6 26 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha Yamalube Yamaha Factory Racing 14 2 27 Xavier Siméon Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 21 21 20 17 18 17 Ret Ret 19 20 Ret C Ret 19 18 16 15 17 DNS 1 28 Jordi Torres Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 20 19 17 17 DNS 15 1 29 Thomas Lüthi Honda EG 0,0 Marc VDS 16 17 18 Ret 16 Ret Ret 20 17 16 22 C 22 17 20 20 16 16 Ret 0 30 Mike Jones Ducati Ángel Nieto Team 18 0 31 Sylvain Guintoli Suzuki Team Suzuki Ecstar Ret 19 21 0 32 Christophe Ponsson Ducati Reale Avintia Racing 23 0 Loris Baz KTM Red Bull KTM Factory Racing C 0 Pos. Rider Bike Team QAT ARG AME SPA FRA ITA CAT NED GER CZE AUT GBR RSM ARA THA JPN AUS MAL VAL Pts Source:[68]

Race key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver 2nd place Bronze 3rd place Green Points finish Blue Non-points finish Non-classified finish (NC) Purple Retired (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) Annotation Meaning P Pole position F Fastest lap Rider key Colour Meaning Light blue Rookie rider

Constructors' standings

Each constructor received the same number of points as their best placed rider in each race.

Pos.	Constructor	QAT	ARG	AME	SPA	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	CZE	AUT	GBR	RSM	ARA	THA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts
1	Honda	2	1	1	1	1	6	2	1	1	3	2	C	2	1	1	1	8	1	5	375
2	Ducati	1	4	5	4	2	1	1	4	4	1	1	C	1	2	2	5	3	6	1	335
3	Yamaha	3	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	2	4	6	C	5	8	3	4	1	3	7	281
4	Suzuki	9	3	3	3	10	4	10	2	12	10	8	C	4	3	6	3	2	2	2	233
5	KTM	18	11	13	10	11	11	11	12	10	Ret	14	C	16	13	15	12	10	15	3	72
6	Aprilia	19	12	10	15	9	Ret	12	13	15	15	17	C	14	6	13	19	9	11	11	59
Pos.	Constructor	QAT	ARG	AME	SPA	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	CZE	AUT	GBR	RSM	ARA	THA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts
Source:[68]

Teams' standings

The teams' standings were based on results obtained by regular and substitute riders; wild-card entries were ineligible.

Pos.	Team	Bike No.	QAT	ARG	AME	SPA	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	CZE	AUT	GBR	RSM	ARA	THA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts
1	Repsol Honda Team	26	7	Ret	7	Ret	5	Ret	5	15	8	8	7	C	6	5	Ret	8	Ret	5	5	451
		93	2	18F	1P F	1F	1F	16	2	1P	1P F	3	2P	C	2	1	1P F	1F	RetP	1P	Ret
2	Ducati Team	04	1F	6	5	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	4	7	1P	3F	C	1F	2F	2	18P	3	6	1F	392
		19																	4
		51																		Ret
		99	Ret	15	11	Ret	6	1	1P F	7	6	2F	1	CP	17P	RetP	DNS	DNS		WD	12
3	Movistar Yamaha MotoGP	25	6	5	2	7	7	8	6	3F	3	Ret	12	C	5	10	3	7	1F	4	RetP	391
		46	3	19	4	5	3	3P	3	5	2	4	6	C	7	8	4	4	6	18	13
4	Team Suzuki Ecstar	29	9	8	3	3	Ret	4	10	11	12	10	13	C	8	3	11	Ret	2	Ret	Ret	302
		42	Ret	3	Ret	Ret	10	5	Ret	2	Ret	11	8	C	4	4	6	3	5	2F	2
5	Alma Pramac Racing	9	5	10	12	4	2	7F	8	Ret	4	6	5	C	11	7	9	9	12	9	Ret	235
		43	10	4P	9	6	4	Ret	Ret	10	14	12	18	C	18	9	10	Ret	7	8	Ret
6	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	5	8P	2	6	2	RetP	10	7	8	9	7	9	C	10	14	5	6	Ret	3	7	204
		55	14	9	Ret	16	12	12	Ret	18	11	14	16	C	19	18	12	10	Ret	10	10
7	LCR Honda	6																		13	9	191
		30	17	13	14	12	15	18	Ret	19	Ret	17	15	C	13	12	22	15	14	14	6
		35	4	1	19	RetP	8	6	4	6	Ret	5	4	C	3	Ret	7	2	DNS
8	Ángel Nieto Team	7																	18			104
		17	15	20	Ret	18	17	Ret	13	Ret	18	18	21	C	20	15	17	Ret	11	Ret	14
		19	13	16	15	8	Ret	9	9	9	5	9	10	C	9	Ret	8	5		7	Ret
9	Red Bull KTM Factory Racing	38	18	Ret	16	13	14	14	Ret	17	10	Ret	14	C	16	13	15	12	10	15	8	89
		44	Ret	11	13	11	11	11	11	12	Ret	DNS			Ret	DNS	21	13	Ret	Ret	3
		76												C
10	Aprilia Racing Team Gresini	41	19	Ret	10	Ret	9	Ret	Ret	13	DNS	15	17	C	14	6	13	Ret	9	11	Ret	64
		45	20	12	17	15	Ret	Ret	12	14	15	Ret	20	C	21	16	16	19	13	19	11
11	EG 0,0 Marc VDS	6									16											50
		12	16	17	18	Ret	16	Ret	Ret	20	17	16	22	C	22	17	20	20	16	16	Ret
		21	12	14	21	9	13	15	14	DNS	WD	13	19	C	12	11	14	11	8	12	Ret
12	Reale Avintia Racing	10	21	21	20	17	18	17	Ret	Ret	19	20	Ret	C	Ret	19	18	16	15	17	DNS	37
		23													23
		53	11	7	8	14	Ret	13	Ret	16	13	Ret	11	C
		81														20	19	17	17	DNS	15
Pos.	Team	Bike No.	QAT	ARG	AME	SPA	FRA	ITA	CAT	NED	GER	CZE	AUT	GBR	RSM	ARA	THA	JPN	AUS	MAL	VAL	Pts
Source:[68]

Notes

1. Jorge Lorenzo competed in the two Friday practice sessions during round 18, before being replaced by Michele Pirro.
2. Franco Morbidelli competed in the first Friday practice session during round 9, before being replaced by Stefan Bradl.
3. Márquez was given a 3-place grid penalty for a riding infringement during qualifying^[64] but retains the pole position credit despite starting the race from 4th position.^[65] Maverick Viñales started the race from the first grid slot.
4. All racing at Silverstone was cancelled due to sustained heavy rain and unsafe track conditions.^[66]
5. Márquez was given a 6-place grid penalty for a riding infringement during qualifying but retains the pole position credit despite starting the race from 7th position. Johann Zarco started the race from the first grid slot.^[67]

1. Night race