1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season explained
The 1998 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 50th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary
Mick Doohan and Honda continued to dominate the 500 class with the Australian taking 8 victories and Honda winning all but one race. Simon Crafar winning the British Grand Prix for Yamaha's lone victory. 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.
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. 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. Valentino Rossi took the win with Capirossi recovering to finish in second and claiming the title. Afterwards, Aprilia would release Capirossi from his contract.
Kazuto Sakata would win his second 125 title for Aprilia after a tight battle with Tomomi Manako and Marco Melandri.
1998 Grand Prix season calendar
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1998:[1]
†† = Saturday race
Calendar changes
1998 Grand Prix season results
†† = Saturday race
Participants
500cc participants
Team | Constructor | Motorcycle | | Rider | Rounds |
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Repsol Honda | Honda | Honda NSR500 | 1 | Mick Doohan | All |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Muz Roc Rennen Sport | MuZ | MuZ 500 | 7 | Doriano Romboni | 1–2 |
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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 |
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14 | Juan Borja | 8 | 19 | John Kocinski | 1–7, 10–14 | 39 | Gregorio Lavilla | 9 | Honda Gresini | Honda | Honda NSR500 | 9 | Alex Barros | All |
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Team Roberts Marlboro Team Roberts | Modenas KR3 | Modenas KR3 | 10 | Kenny Roberts Jr. | All |
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28 | Ralf Waldmann | 1–7, 9–14 | Red Bull Yamaha WCM | Yamaha | Yamaha YZR500 | 11 | Simon Crafar | All |
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55 | Régis Laconi | 1, 3–14 | Shell Advance Racing | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 14 | Juan Borja | 1–7, 10–14 |
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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 |
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Tecmas Honda Elf | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 22 | Sébastien Gimbert | 1–6, 10–14 |
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26 | Bernard Garcia | 7–9 | F.C.C. TSR | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 23 | Matt Wait | All |
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Team Paton | Paton | Paton V70 C10/4 | 43 | Paolo Tessari | 11–12 |
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63 | Gianmaria Liverani | 4 | Yamaha Racing Team | Yamaha | Yamaha YZR500 | 50 | Noriyuki Haga | 1 |
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BP Yamaha Racing Team | Yamaha | Yamaha YZR500 | 52 | Norihiko Fujiwara | 2 |
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Team Polini Inoxmacel | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 57 | Fabio Carpani | All |
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Team Zupin | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 60 | Jörg Schöllhorn | 9 |
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Team Vimto Honda/Paul Bird | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 68 | John McGuinness | 8 |
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Team Millar Honda Britain | Honda | Honda NSR500V | 88 | Scott Smart | 1, 3–14 | |
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| Key |
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Regular Rider | Wildcard Rider | Replacement Rider | |
| |
Standings
Riders' standings
500cc
[2] [3]
- Scoring systemPoints 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 |
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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.
| Bold – Pole position Italics – Fastest lap | |
250cc
[4]
- Scoring systemPoints 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.
| Bold – Pole position Italics – Fastest lap | |
125cc
[5]
- Scoring systemPoints 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.
| Bold – Pole position Italics – Fastest lap | |
Manufacturers' standings
500cc
[6]
250cc
[7]
125cc
[8] References
- Büla, Maurice & Schertenleib, Jean-Claude (2001). Continental Circus 1949-2000. Chronosports S.A.
- Web site: The Official MotoGP website . 2010-07-06.
Notes and References
- Web site: motogp.com · 500cc World Standing 1998. www.motogp.com.
- Web site: motogp.com · 500cc World Standing 1998. www.motogp.com. 2010-06-09. 2017-08-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170805044209/http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1998/ARG/500cc/World+Standing. dead.
- Web site: 500cc Grand Prix entry list for 1998.
- Web site: motogp.com · 250cc World Standing 1998. www.motogp.com.
- Web site: motogp.com · 125cc World Standing 1998. www.motogp.com. 2010-06-09. 2012-09-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20120917055126/http://www.motogp.com/en/Results+Statistics/1998/ARG/125cc/World+Standing. dead.
- Web site: GP Marlboro de Argentina – 500cc – World Championship Classification. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 25 October 1998. 26 November 2016.
- Web site: 1998 championship standings. classic.autosport.com. Autosport. 26 November 2016. 27 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161127152253/http://classic.autosport.com/results.php?s=801&y=1998&c=1. dead.
- Web site: GP Marlboro de Argentina – 125cc – World Championship Classification. MotoGP.com. Dorna Sports. 25 October 1998. 26 November 2016.