2012 MotoGP World Championship

The 2012 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 64th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Casey Stoner started the season as the defending World Champion, while Honda was the defending Manufacturers' Champion.^[1]

In the premier MotoGP class, the championship battle revolved around Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo and Honda pairing Dani Pedrosa and defending champion Stoner. Lorenzo won four of the first six races to be held in the campaign to open up an advantage over Stoner, before he was taken out of the Dutch TT on the first lap by Álvaro Bautista; Stoner won the race to eradicate the points lead.^[2] In the next race, Stoner crashed out of the German Grand Prix on the final lap and allowed Pedrosa to take his first win of the season.^[3] Stoner struggled in the next few races – despite a victory at the United States Grand Prix^[4] – with his championship challenge ended by a qualifying crash at Indianapolis. After ankle surgery,^[5] he returned to the series and won his final race of his career at his home race, the Australian Grand Prix, for the sixth successive season.^[6] Pedrosa went on a run of five victories in six races, with the streak being interrupted by a first-lap crash at Misano, where he was taken out by Héctor Barberá.^[7] Lorenzo finished second to Pedrosa on each occasion that he had won, and he took advantage of Pedrosa's accident to win at Misano.^[8] Lorenzo ultimately won the title with a second-place finish to Stoner in Australia, after Pedrosa had crashed out of the lead early on.

The MotoGP class saw the introduction of engines with 1,000 cc (61 cu in) in capacity, with a limit of 4 cylinders and a maximum 81 mm (3.2 in) cylinder bore.^[9]

In 2012 the MotoGP class saw the introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT) to allow for participation by independent teams with lower budgets. CRTs were given twelve engines per rider, six more than the other teams and more fuel – 24 litres (5.3 imperial gallons) instead of 21 litres (4.6 imperial gallons) – but were subject to a factory team buying, or "claiming", their engines for €15,000, or €20,000 with the transmission.^[10] The sport's governing body received applications from sixteen new teams looking to join the MotoGP class.^[11]

The following Grands Prix were scheduled to take place in 2012:^[12][13]

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme released an 18-race provisional calendar on 14 September 2011.^[14] Another provisional calendar was released three months later, with the Qatar Grand Prix moved forward by a week.^[15]

Round	Date	Grand Prix	Circuit
1	8 April ‡	Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar	Losail International Circuit, Lusail
2	29 April	Gran Premio bwin de España	Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera
3	6 May	Grande Prémio de Portugal	Autódromo do Estoril, Estoril
4	20 May	Monster Energy Grand Prix de France	Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
5	3 June	Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló
6	17 June	Hertz British Grand Prix	Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone
7	30 June ††	Iveco TT Assen	TT Circuit Assen, Assen
8	8 July	eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland	Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
9	15 July	Gran Premio d'Italia TIM	Mugello Circuit, Scarperia e San Piero
10	29 July †	Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix	Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey
11	19 August	Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway
12	26 August	bwin Grand Prix České republiky	Brno Circuit, Brno
13	16 September	Gran Premio Aperol di San Marino e Della Riviera di Rimini	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
14	30 September	Gran Premio Iveco de Aragón	MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
15	14 October	AirAsia Grand Prix of Japan	Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi
16	21 October	Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix	Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
17	28 October	AirAsia Australian Grand Prix	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
18	11 November	Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana	Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia

‡ = Night race

† = MotoGP class only

†† = Saturday race

• Only the MotoGP class raced during the United States Grand Prix because of a Californian law on air pollution and the contract that had initially been signed prevented the Moto3 and Moto2 classes from racing from when they were still 125cc and 250cc 2-stroke bikes.
• The Czech Republic and Indianapolis Grand Prix swapped places.

• A provisional entry list was released by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme on 13 January 2012.^[16]

Prototype entries Team Constructor Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds Ducati Team Ducati Desmosedici GP12 46 Valentino Rossi[17] All 69 Nicky Hayden[18] 1–11, 13–18 Pramac Racing Team 8 Héctor Barberá[19] 1–9, 11, 13–18[N 1] 24 Toni Elías[20] 10–12[N 1] Cardion AB Motoracing 17 Karel Abraham[21] 1–7, 10–18 2 Franco Battaini[22] 8 Repsol Honda Team Honda RC213V 1 Casey Stoner[23] 1–11, 15–18 56 Jonathan Rea[24] 13–14 26 Dani Pedrosa[23] All LCR Honda MotoGP 6 Stefan Bradl[25] All San Carlo Honda Gresini 19 Álvaro Bautista[26] All Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha YZR-M1 11 Ben Spies[27] 1–16 21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga[28] 18 99 Jorge Lorenzo[29] All Yamaha YSP Racing Team 21 Katsuyuki Nakasuga[30] 15 Monster Yamaha Tech 3 4 Andrea Dovizioso[31] All 35 Cal Crutchlow[32] All Claiming Rule Teams (CRT) entries Team Constructor Engine Motorcycle No. Rider Rounds Attack Performance APR[33] Kawasaki APR 15 Steve Rapp[33] 10–11 Power Electronics Aspar[34] ART[35][36] Aprilia GP12 14 Randy de Puniet[36] All 41 Aleix Espargaró[36] All Speed Master 54 Mattia Pasini[37] 1–14 84 Roberto Rolfo[38] 15–18 Paul Bird Motorsport 77 James Ellison[39] All GPTech BCL[40] Suzuki GP212 20 Aaron Yates[40] 11 Avintia Blusens[41][42] BQR-FTR[41] Kawasaki BQR 22 Iván Silva[41] 1 68 Yonny Hernández[41] 1 BQR[43] 22 Iván Silva[41] 2–12, 15–18 44 David Salom[44] 13–14 73 Hiroshi Aoyama[28] 18 68 Yonny Hernández[41] 2–16 43 Kris McLaren[45] 17 Inmotec[28] Inmotec 71 Claudio Corti[28] 18 San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR[46] Honda MGP12 51 Michele Pirro[47] All Came IodaRacing Project[48] Ioda[49] Aprilia TR003[50] 9 Danilo Petrucci[49] 1–12 Ioda-Suter[51] BMW MMX1[52] 13–18 NGM Mobile Forward Racing[42] Suter[53] 5 Colin Edwards[54] 1–3, 5–18 7 Chris Vermeulen[55] 4

Key Regular Rider Wildcard Rider Replacement Rider

All the bikes used Bridgestone tyres.

In June 2011, the FIM announced that six teams from Moto2 – Interwetten Paddock, Forward Racing, Marc VDS, Kiefer Racing, Speed Master and BQR-Blusens (later renamed Avintia Racing)^[41] – had been granted entries to the 2012 grid;^[42] two additional entries – Paul Bird Motorsport^[39] and Ioda Racing^[56] – announced that they had been accepted to the grid, running under CRT regulations. However, Interwetten Paddock, Marc VDS, and Kiefer Racing were absent from the revised grid released by FIM in January 2012.^[16]

• Andrea Dovizioso left Repsol Honda to join Monster Yamaha Tech 3.^[31]
• Colin Edwards moved from Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to NGM Mobile Forward Racing.^[54]
• Stefan Bradl moved up from Moto2, joining LCR Honda MotoGP.^[25]
• Héctor Barberá still rode a Ducati, but he moved from Aspar Team to Pramac Racing Team.^[19]
• 2011 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup runner-up Danilo Petrucci debuted in the MotoGP category with Came IodaRacing Project.^[49]
• Randy de Puniet exchanged with Barberá, entering Power Electronics Aspar from Pramac Racing Team.^[36]
• Álvaro Bautista, who lost his place at the retiring Suzuki MotoGP team, joined San Carlo Honda Gresini.^[26]
• Iván Silva rode for Avintia Blusens.^[41]
• Aleix Espargaró stepped up from Pons Racing in Moto2 to Power Electronics Aspar.^[36]
• Michele Pirro was confirmed by San Carlo Honda Gresini, promoted from Moto2 to MotoGP.^[47]
• Mattia Pasini debuted from Moto2 with Speed Master.^[42]
• Avintia Blusens promoted Yonny Hernández from Moto2 to MotoGP.^[41]
• James Ellison returned to MotoGP from the British Superbike Championship, riding for Paul Bird Motorsport.^[39]
• Hiroshi Aoyama was moved by Honda to the Superbike World Championship.^[57] However, the Japanese rider replaced Yonny Hernández in Valencia.
• Toni Elías returned to Moto2 from LCR Honda MotoGP.^[58] During the season, Elías replaced Barberá (injured) for three rounds.
• On 1 September 2011, Loris Capirossi announced his retirement from racing to join the MotoGP Safety Commission.^[59]

Round	Grand Prix	Pole position	Fastest lap	Winning rider	Winning team	Winning constructor	Report
1	Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix[60]	Jorge Lorenzo	Casey Stoner	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
2	Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix[61]	Jorge Lorenzo	Cal Crutchlow	Casey Stoner	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
3	Portuguese motorcycle Grand Prix[14]	Casey Stoner	Jorge Lorenzo	Casey Stoner	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
4	French motorcycle Grand Prix[62]	Dani Pedrosa	Valentino Rossi	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
5	Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix[63]	Casey Stoner	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
6	British motorcycle Grand Prix[64]	Álvaro Bautista	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
7	Dutch TT[65]	Casey Stoner	Dani Pedrosa	Casey Stoner	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
8	German motorcycle Grand Prix[14]	Casey Stoner	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
9	Italian motorcycle Grand Prix[66]	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
10	United States motorcycle Grand Prix[67]	Jorge Lorenzo	Dani Pedrosa	Casey Stoner	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
11	Indianapolis motorcycle Grand Prix[68]	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
12	Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix[69]	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
13	San Marino and Rimini Riviera motorcycle Grand Prix[70]	Dani Pedrosa	Jorge Lorenzo	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha Factory Racing	Yamaha	Report
14	Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix[71]	Jorge Lorenzo	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
15	Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix[72]	Jorge Lorenzo	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
16	Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix[73]	Jorge Lorenzo	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
17	Australian motorcycle Grand Prix[74]	Casey Stoner	Casey Stoner	Casey Stoner	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report
18	Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix[75]	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Dani Pedrosa	Repsol Honda Team	Honda	Report

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top fifteen finishers. A rider had to finish the race to earn points.

Pos Rider Bike Team QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED GER ITA USA INP CZE RSM ARA JPN MAL AUS VAL Pts 1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Yamaha Factory Racing 1 2 2 1 1 1 Ret 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 Ret 350 2 Dani Pedrosa Honda Repsol Honda Team 2 3 3 4 2 3 2 1 2 3 1 1 Ret 1 1 1 Ret 1 332 3 Casey Stoner Honda Repsol Honda Team 3 1 1 3 4 2 1 Ret 8 1 4 5 3 1 3 254 4 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 5 5 4 7 3 19 3 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 4 13 4 6 218 5 Álvaro Bautista Honda San Carlo Honda Gresini 7 6 6 10 6 4 Ret 7 10 8 5 6 3 6 3 6 5 4 178 6 Valentino Rossi Ducati Ducati Team 10 9 7 2 7 9 13 6 5 Ret 7 7 2 8 7 5 7 10 163 7 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 4 4 5 8 5 6 5 8 6 5 Ret 3 Ret 4 Ret Ret 3 Ret 151 8 Stefan Bradl Honda LCR Honda MotoGP 8 7 9 5 8 8 Ret 5 4 7 6 5 6 Ret 6 Ret 6 Ret 135 9 Nicky Hayden Ducati Ducati Team 6 8 11 6 9 7 6 10 7 6 DNS 7 Ret 8 4 8 Ret 122 10 Ben Spies Yamaha Yamaha Factory Racing 11 11 8 16 10 5 4 4 11 Ret Ret Ret 5 5 Ret Ret 88 11 Héctor Barberá Ducati Pramac Racing Team 9 10 10 9 11 10 7 9 9 WD Ret 12 10 7 12 Ret 83 12 Aleix Espargaró ART CRT Power Electronics Aspar 15 12 12 13 13 11 Ret 13 13 9 10 10 Ret 10 12 8 10 11 74 13 Randy de Puniet ART CRT Power Electronics Aspar 13 Ret 13 Ret 15 12 8 11 12 11 Ret 8 9 11 Ret Ret 11 12 62 14 Karel Abraham Ducati Cardion AB Motoracing Ret 17 Ret Ret 12 WD DNS 10 8 9 Ret 9 11 10 9 7 59 15 Michele Pirro FTR CRT San Carlo Honda Gresini NC Ret 14 14 14 13 9 Ret DSQ Ret Ret 14 10 15 15 12 14 5 43 16 James Ellison ART CRT Paul Bird Motorsport 18 Ret Ret 11 16 14 14 15 14 Ret 15 15 13 14 14 9 Ret 9 35 17 Yonny Hernández BQR-FTR CRT Avintia Blusens 14 28 BQR Ret Ret 15 18 15 Ret 14 Ret 12 9 12 12 13 Ret DNS 18 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha Yamaha YSP Racing Team 9 27 Yamaha Factory Racing 2 19 Danilo Petrucci Ioda CRT Came IodaRacing Project Ret 13 15 Ret 19 17 11 17 Ret Ret Ret 17 27 Ioda-Suter 14 17 Ret 11 13 8 20 Colin Edwards Suter CRT NGM Mobile Forward Racing 12 16 DNS NC 16 Ret 12 Ret 13 13 13 11 18 13 Ret Ret 14 27 21 Jonathan Rea Honda Repsol Honda Team 8 7 17 22 Mattia Pasini ART CRT Speed Master 17 14 Ret 12 17 Ret 10 Ret 15 Ret Ret 16 Ret 16 13 23 Iván Silva BQR-FTR CRT Avintia Blusens 16 12 BQR 15 Ret 18 20 18 12 18 16 14 12 Ret Ret Ret 15 Ret 24 Toni Elías Ducati Pramac Racing Team Ret 11 11 10 25 Hiroshi Aoyama BQR CRT Avintia Blusens 13 3 26 Steve Rapp APR CRT Attack Performance DNQ 14 2 27 David Salom BQR CRT Avintia Blusens 15 Ret 1 Roberto Rolfo ART CRT Speed Master 16 DSQ Ret Ret 0 Aaron Yates BCL CRT GPTech 16 0 Franco Battaini Ducati Cardion AB Motoracing 16 0 Chris Vermeulen Suter CRT NGM Mobile Forward Racing 17 0 Claudio Corti Inmotec CRT Avintia Blusens Ret 0 Kris McLaren BQR CRT Avintia Blusens DNQ 0 Pos Rider Bike Team QAT SPA POR FRA CAT GBR NED GER ITA USA INP CZE RSM ARA JPN MAL AUS VAL Pts

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 Italics – Fastest Lap Light blue – Rookie Icon Class CRT Claiming Rule Teams

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

Pos	Constructor	QAT	SPA	POR	FRA	CAT	GBR	NED	GER	ITA	USA	INP	CZE	RSM	ARA	JPN	MAL	AUS	VAL	Pts
1	Honda	2	1	1	3	2	2	1	1	2	1	1	1	3	1	1	1	1	1	412
2	Yamaha	1	2	2	1	1	1	3	2	1	2	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	2	386
3	Ducati	6	8	7	2	7	7	6	6	5	6	7	7	2	8	7	4	7	7	192
4	ART	13	12	12	11	13	11	8	11	12	9	10	8	9	10	12	8	10	9	100
5	FTR	NC	Ret	14	14	14	13	9	Ret	DSQ	Ret	Ret	14	10	15	15	12	14	5	43
6	BQR		15	Ret	15	18	15	12	14	16	12	9	12	12	13	Ret	Ret	15	13	35
7	Suter	12	16	DNS	17	NC	16	Ret	12	Ret	13	13	13	11	18	13	Ret	Ret	14	27
8	Ioda-Suter													14	17	Ret	11	13	8	18
9	Ioda	Ret	13	15	Ret	19	17	11	17	Ret	Ret	Ret	17							9
10	APR										DNQ	14								2
11	BQR-FTR	14																		2
	BCL											16								0
	Inmotec																		Ret	0
Pos	Constructor	QAT	SPA	POR	FRA	CAT	GBR	NED	GER	ITA	USA	INP	CZE	RSM	ARA	JPN	MAL	AUS	VAL	Pts

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

Pos	Team	Bike No.	QAT	SPA	POR	FRA	CAT	GBR	NED	GER	ITA	USA	INP	CZE	RSM	ARA	JPN	MAL	AUS	VAL	Pts
1	Repsol Honda Team	1	3	1	1	3	4	2	1	Ret	8	1	4				5	3	1	3	603
		26	2	3	3	4	2	3	2	1	2	3	1	1	Ret	1	1	1	Ret	1
		56													8	7
2	Yamaha Factory Racing	11	11	11	8	16	10	5	4	4	11	Ret	Ret	Ret	5	5	Ret	Ret			458
		21																		2
		99	1	2	2	1	1	1	Ret	2	1	2	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	Ret
3	Monster Yamaha Tech 3	4	5	5	4	7	3	19	3	3	3	4	3	4	4	3	4	13	4	6	369
		35	4	4	5	8	5	6	5	8	6	5	Ret	3	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	3	Ret
4	Ducati Team	46	10	9	7	2	7	9	13	6	5	Ret	7	7	2	8	7	5	7	10	285
		69	6	8	11	6	9	7	6	10	7	6	DNS		7	Ret	8	4	8	Ret
5	San Carlo Honda Gresini	19	7	6	6	10	6	4	Ret	7	10	8	5	6	3	6	3	6	5	4	221
		51	NC	Ret	14	14	14	13	9	Ret	DSQ	Ret	Ret	14	10	15	15	12	14	5
6	Power Electronics Aspar	14	13	Ret	13	Ret	15	12	8	11	12	11	Ret	8	9	11	Ret	Ret	11	12	136
		41	15	12	12	13	13	11	Ret	13	13	9	10	10	Ret	10	12	8	10	11
7	LCR Honda MotoGP	6	8	7	9	5	8	8	Ret	5	4	7	6	5	6	Ret	6	Ret	6	Ret	135
8	Pramac Racing Team	8	9	10	10	9	11	10	7	9	9		WD		Ret	12	10	7	12	Ret	93
		24										Ret	11	11
9	Cardion AB Motoracing	2								16											59
		17	Ret	17	Ret	Ret	12	WD	DNS			10	8	9	Ret	9	11	10	9	7
10	Avintia Blusens	22	16	15	Ret	18	20	18	12	18	16	14	12	Ret			Ret	Ret	15	Ret	44
		43																	DNQ
		44													15	Ret
		68	14	Ret	Ret	15	18	15	Ret	14	Ret	12	9	12	12	13	Ret	DNS
		73																		13
11	Paul Bird Motorsport	50	18	Ret	Ret	11	16	14	14	15	14	Ret	15	15	13	14	14	9	Ret	9	35
12	Came IodaRacing Project	9	Ret	13	15	Ret	19	17	11	17	Ret	Ret	Ret	17	14	17	Ret	11	13	8	27
13	NGM Mobile Forward Racing	5	12	16	DNS		NC	16	Ret	12	Ret	13	13	13	11	18	13	Ret	Ret	14	27
		7				17
14	Speed Master	54	17	14	Ret	12	17	Ret	10	Ret	15	Ret	Ret	16	Ret	16					13
		84															16	DSQ	Ret	Ret
Pos	Team	Bike No.	QAT	SPA	POR	FRA	CAT	GBR	NED	GER	ITA	USA	INP	CZE	RSM	ARA	JPN	MAL	AUS	VAL	Pts

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