1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
Sports season
The 1991 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 43rd F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.
Season summary
Mick Doohan (3) leads Kevin Schwantz (34), Wayne Rainey (1) and John Kocinski (19) at the 1991 Japanese Grand Prix
The beginning of the 1990s marked a golden age for Grand Prix motorcycle racing .[ 1] The rivalry between Wayne Rainey and Kevin Schwantz was in full flow while Mick Doohan started to come into his own.[ 1] Eddie Lawson had switched to Cagiva and started to have some respectable results.[ 1] In a one-year quirk, only 13 races counted as, competitors were allowed to drop their two worst scores.[ 1] The Yugoslavia round was dropped because of the civil war and replaced with a Grand Prix of Europe at Jarama.[ 1] The Brazilian round was also dropped at the last minute over track safety concerns and replaced with a race held at Le Mans .[ 1] The inaugural Malaysian Grand Prix was held at Shah Alam.[ 1]
For the 1991 season, Michelin decided to supply only the Rothmans Honda team with tires; everybody else used Dunlops.[ 1] [ 2]
Luca Cadalora won the 250 title in a dominating fashion with eight wins.[ 1] In the 125 class, Italian teenager Loris Capirossi swept to the title for the second consecutive year.[ 1]
1991 Grand Prix season calendar
The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 1991:[ 3] [ 4]
Calendar changes
1991 Grand Prix season results
Grands Prix
Participants
500cc participants
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
No.
Rider
Rounds
Marlboro Team Roberts
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
1
Wayne Rainey
1–14
19
John Kocinski
All
46
Robbie Petersen
3
97
Rich Oliver
3
Team Roberts Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
9
Kevin Magee
15
Castrol Yamaha/Team Roberts
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
4
Niall Mackenzie
11
Team Roberts Yamaha/Castrol
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
21
Doug Chandler
All
Rothmans Honda
Honda
Honda NSR500
3
Mick Doohan
All
5
Wayne Gardner
1–4, 6–15
Yamaha Sonauto Mobil 1
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
4
Niall Mackenzie
12, 14–15
8
Jean-Philippe Ruggia
1–5, 8–12, 14–15
20
Adrien Morillas
1–12, 14–15
Ducados Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
6
Joan Garriga
All
Cagiva
Cagiva
Cagiva GP500 C591
7
Eddie Lawson
1–13
11
Marco Papa
7–8, 11–12, 14–15
12
Alex Barros
1–3, 5, 9
33
Raymond Roche
0 (10)
Team Lucky Strike Suzuki
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV500
9
Kevin Magee
1–2
27
Didier de Radiguès
All
34
Kevin Schwantz
1–14
Campsa Honda
Honda
Honda NSR500
10
Sito Pons
1–3, 8–15
Moto Club Milano/Team Papa
Honda
Honda RS500
11 18
Marco Papa
4–5, 10
Technotron
Honda
Honda NSR500
13
Niggi Schmassman
2–5, 8–11, 13, 15
Norton/JPS Racing
Norton
Norton RCW588
15
Ron Haslam
11
HEK-Bauwmachines
Honda
Honda RS500
16
Cees Doorakkers
All
Millar Racing
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
17
Eddie Laycock
1–9, 11–15
Librenti Corse
VRP-Suzuki Honda
Suzuki RGV500 Honda RS500
23
Andy Leuthe
8, 11–14
R.S. Rallye Sport
Honda
Honda NSR500
24
Helmut Schütz
9, 11–12
32 35 39
Michael Rudroff
4–14
Itoen
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
25
Tatsuro Arata
1
Pentax
Honda
Honda NSR500
28
Shinichi Ito
1
Domina
Domina
??
29
Larry Moreno Vacondio
0 (5, 12)
MT Racing
Honda
Honda NSR500
30
Martin Trösch
13
Team Paton
Paton
Paton V115 500
30 37 38 39
Michele Valdo
10–12
Roton
Roton
Norton RCW588
31
Steve Spray
2
??
Honda
Honda RS500
31 36
Romolo Balbi
5, 12
Doppler Racing
Honda
Honda RS500
33 35 36 37 38
Josef Doppler
8, 10–13, 15
Kirin Mets
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
35
Norihiko Fujiwara
1
Bimota Experience
Bimota Suzuki
Bimota Tesi 500 Suzuki RGV500
35 37
Vittorio Scatola
??
Romero Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ500
35 36 38 40
Hans Becker
4–6, 8–15
Ajinomoto
Honda
Honda NSR500
36
Hikaru Miyagi
1
41
Keiichiro Iwahashi
1
Padgett's Racing Team
Suzuki
Suzuki RG 500 gamma
36 37 39
Simon Buckmaster
5–6, 8–10, 12–13
Nescafé
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
37
Kunio Machii
1
S.R.T.
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV500
38
Osamu Hiwatashi
1
40
Satoshi Tsujimoto
1
Camel
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
39
Keiji Ohishi
1
Y.R.T.R.
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
44
Tadahiko Taira
1
BMO-2RS Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
45
Toshihiko Honma
1
Hayashi
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR500
46
Peter Goddard
1
Vogt
??
??
50
Vincenzo Cascino
0 (13)
Source:[ 5]
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
250cc participants
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
No.
Rider
Rounds
Repsol-Honda/Cardús
Honda
Honda NSR250
2
Carlos Cardús
All
Rothmans-Kanemoto Honda
Honda
Honda NSR250
3
Luca Cadalora
All
HB Honda Racing Team Germany
Honda
Honda NSR250
4
Helmut Bradl
All
Honda RS250R
33
Stefan Prein
1–3, 5–15
Sharp-Samson-Bieffe Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
5
Wilco Zeelenberg
All
Honda RS250R
21
Leon van der Heyden
1–5, 8–9
Team Lucky Strike Suzuki
Suzuki
Suzuki RGV250
6
Martin Wimmer
All
72
Herri Torrontégui
9–14
HRC Honda/Ajinomoto
Honda
Honda NSR250
7
Masahiro Shimizu
All
HRC
Honda
Honda NSR250
29
Tadayuki Okada
1
Schuh-Zwafink Racing
Honda
Honda RS250R
8
Jochen Schmid
All
Iberna Aprilia/Valesi Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
9
Pierfrancesco Chili
All
27
Renzo Colleoni
4–15
Team Gallina/Compagnucci
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
10
Dominique Sarron
4, 6, 8
Team Gallina
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
23
Jim Filice
1–3
63 52 41
Stefano Caracchi
11–14
Marlboro/JJ Cobas
JJ Cobas
JJ Cobas Honda 250
11
Àlex Crivillé
All
Aprilia Unlimited Jeans Team
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
13
Loris Reggiani
All
Flygvapnet
Honda
Honda RS250R
14
Peter Lindén
1–2, 6–7, 9–11, 13
Team Greco
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
15
Carlos Lavado
1–6, 9–12
Ducados Yamaha Puig
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
16
Alberto Puig
1–5, 9–15
Team Agostini/API
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
17
Paolo Casoli
All
ÖKM-Aprilia/SK Vöst
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
18
Andy Preining
1–14
OZ Racing System
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
19
Marcellino Lucchi
4–14
52 45 49 46
Renato Colleoni
5, 7, 9, 12
HB Honda Racing Team Italy
Honda
Honda RS250R
20
Doriano Romboni
1–8, 12–15
LMC Pennesse Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
22
Stefano Pennesse
5, 7–9, 11–13
25
Wayne Doran
??
JF-Aprilia-Kuhnert
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
30
Harald Eckl
2–15
Marlboro Aprilia Mohag
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
32
Bernard Häenggeli
All
49 53 55 47
Eskil Suter
7–8, 10–13
Docshop/Servopax
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
34
Patrick van den Goorbergh
4–14
Team St Yrian Motos
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
36 54 37
Jean Foray
4–14
Silkolene Honda Britain
Honda
Honda RS250R
39
Alan Carter
??
55 57
Steve Hislop
10–11
FP Moto Team
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
41 48 36 69
Frédéric Protat
1–5, 7–14
Medd Holdings
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
42 39 46 37
Kevin Mitchell
1–4, 6, 10–11, 13
Team Rocker by Gallina
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
43 49 47 42
Fausto Ricci
4–8, 11–13
Tecno Racing/Barrca March
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
44 43 42
Jaime Mariano
1–7
RS Rallye Sport GmbH
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
44 41 54 45
Bernd Kassner
5–7, 9–14
Rothmans Honda Italy
Honda
Honda RS250R
45 41 48 50 57 59
Corrado Catalano
All
Swiss Yamaha Team
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
47 46 48 44 40
Urs Jücker
All
Trans Freight Europa
Yamaha
Yamaha TZ 250
48 53 40 50 38
Ian Newton
2–10, 12–15
Rothmans Honda France
Honda
Honda RS250R
51
Jean-Pierre Jeandat
All
Nescafé Yamaha Racing Team
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
52
Tetsuya Harada
1
??
Honda
Honda NSR250
53
Masumitsu Taguchi
1
Racing Team Udagawa
Honda
Honda NSR250
54
Tsutomu Udagawa
1
Cup Noodle Racing Team
Honda
Honda NSR250
55
Nobuatsu Aoki
1
Jha Racing
Honda
Honda RS250R
57 40 52
Katsuyoshi Kozono
1, 7–9, 15
Team Italia
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
60 58 46
Max Biaggi
8, 10–12
??
Yamaha
Yamaha YZR 250
61
Kyoji Nanba
1
AMS Mauri Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
65 50 38 42 54 37
Erkka Korpiaho
4–5, 7–11, 13–14
Tecno Racing
Aprilia
Aprilia RSV 250
72 56
Herri Torrontégui
9–14
Source:[ 6]
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
125cc participants
Team
Constructor
Motorcycle
No.
Rider
Rounds
AGV-Pileri Corse
Honda
Honda RS125R
1
Loris Capirossi
1–2, 4–13, 15
7
Fausto Gresini
1–2, 4–13, 15
Sharp Samson Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
2
Hans Spaan
1–2, 4–13, 15
46
Arie Molenaar
1, 4–13, 15
Team Semprucci IDM
Honda
Honda RS125R
3
Bruno Casanova
1–2, 4–13, 15
Schuh HB Honda Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
4
Dirk Raudies
1–2, 4–13, 15
Elf Coronas Racing Team
JJ Cobas-Honda
JJ Cobas Honda RS125R
5
Jorge Martínez
1–2, 4–13, 15
14
Julián Miralles
1, 4–13
?
Jaime Mariano
8–9
Metraux
Honda
Honda RS125R
5
Jorge Martínez
1–2, 4–13, 15
Derbi Racing Team
Derbi
Aprilia RS125R
6
Ezio Gianola
1–2, 4–12
66 62
Luis Alvaro
4–11, 13
Team Italia
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
9
Alessandro Gramigni
1–2, 4–13
12
Gabriele Debbia
1–2, 4–13, 15
RS Rallye Sport GmbH
JJ Cobas
??
11
Adi Stadler
1–2, 4–13, 15
Gazzaniga Corse
Gazzaniga
Gazzaniga 125
15
Maurizio Vitali
1–2, 4–13, 15
34
Emilio Cuppini
1–2, 4–7, 9, 11–13, 15
Team Takeshima
Honda
Honda RS125R
16
Koji Takada
1–2, 4–5, 9–13, 15
Derek Clarke Racing Team/Levior
Honda
Honda RS125R
17
Steve Patrickson
1–2, 4–5, 7–9, 11–13
Colin Appleyard Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
18
Robin Appleyard
1–2, 4, 6, 8, 10–11, 15
??
Honda
Honda RS125R
19
Alfred Waibel
1–2, 4–7, 9–10, 13
Team Unemoto
Honda
Honda RS125R
20
Hisashi Unemoto
1–2, 4–8, 10–13, 15
AGV Racing Team
Rotax
Rotax 125 GP
22
Peter Öttl
4–13
AGV/MDS Racing Team
Rotax
Rotax 125 GP
63 57
Stefan Kurfiss
6, 8–13
JJ Cobas Ducados-Agrati
Honda
Honda RS125R
26
Francisco Debón
2, 4–6
HB Italy/Gilera Club
Honda
Honda RS125R
27
Gimmi Bosio
1–2, 4–8, 10, 13
Schuh/Zwafink Honda Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
28
Ralf Waldmann
1–2, 4–13
Team Driza Bone
Honda
Honda RS125R
29
Peter Galvin
1–2, 4, 7–12, 15
Team Elf Kepla/Meiko
Honda
Honda RS125R
35
Kazuto Sakata
1–2, 4–13, 15
Clay Cross Motorcycles
Honda
Honda RS125R
36 45 62
Ian McConnachie
4–9, 11, 13
Silja Line Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
39 51 40
Johnny Wickström
1–2, 5–13
Ville de Thiers
Honda
Honda RS125R
41
Alain Bronec
4–5, 7–13
Herri Racing Team
JJ Cobas
??
42
Herri Torrontegui
1–2, 4–8
44 40
Javier Torrontegui
??
Racing Team Honda Cartagena
Honda
Honda RS125R
43
Manuel Hernández
4–5, 8, 10–11
BP Racing Team Switzerland
Honda
Honda RS125R
45
Thierry Feuz
1–2, 4–8
Marlboro Aprilia Mohag
Aprilia
Aprilia RS125R
45 48 76
Oliver Petrucciani
1–2, 7–13, 15
Dianetik Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
49
René Dünki
2, 6, 12–13
Moto Co Team Kepla
Honda
Honda RS125R
50
Hubert Abold
1–2
Team Ducados
JJ Cobas
??
50 61 75
Antonio Sánchez
10-12
53 60 76
Carlos Giró Jr.
10–11
Moto Bum Racing Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
51 52 61 36 39
Nobuyuki Wakai
1, 4–13, 15
??
Honda
Honda RS125R
53
Akira Saito
1
??
Honda
Honda RS125R
54
Soichiro Satoh
1
??
Honda
Honda RS125R
55
Masato Shima
1
Ringleberg Team
Honda
Honda RS125R
55 52 71
Jos Van Dongen
4, 6–7, 9–13
Hero Sports TS
Honda
Honda RS125R
56 60 36 30 37
Noboru Ueda
1–2, 4–5, 7–13, 15
ICM Racing Associates
Honda
Honda RS125R
58 73 60 33 43
Kinya Wada
1–2, 5–13, 15
Eugenio Lazzarini Racing
Honda
Honda RS125R
61 38
Serafino Foti
5, 7, 9, 11–13, 15
Team Brägger
Honda
Honda RS125R
62
Stefan Brägger
6, 8, 10, 13
Source:[ 7]
Key
Regular Rider
Wildcard Rider
Replacement Rider
Results and standings
500cc riders' standings
[ 8] [ 9]
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
Points
20
17
15
13
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Colour
Result
Gold
Winner
Silver
Second place
Bronze
Third 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)
Bold – Pole Position
250cc riders' standings
[ 10] [ 11]
Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider has to finish the race to earn points.
Position
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
Points
20
17
15
13
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
125cc standings
References
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