The Brazilian Grand Prix will soon return to the MotoGP calendar, 37 years after its last edition, and twenty years after the last race organized in the country, under the name of the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix.
Organized for the first time in 1987, on the same circuit which will welcome the return of the discipline. The event was held there without interruption until 1989. A two-year break was then necessary, before the Brazilian GP returned to Interlagos in 1992.
In 1995, and after another interruption, Brazil returned to the calendar for a longer period. It will thus host MotoGP for nine consecutive seasons. Series which ended in 2004.
Of the 13 events contested in this region of the globe, many pilots found victory. The opportunity to look back at some key figures from the event.
In the premier category, as in all categories combined, Valentino Rossi holds the record for success in Brazil. The Doctor, who only took part in the event when it was called the Rio de Janeiro GP, found victory six times.
The first dates from 1997, during the Italian’s historic 125cc campaign. The second will take place two years later, in 250cc this time. A triumph which will be the first in a series of five consecutive. The other four having been signed in the premier category. In 500c for the 2000 and 2001 seasons, and in 2002 and 2003, at the start of the MotoGP era. Alongside him, Mick Doohan is the only other driver to have won more than once in Brazil, with two achievements.
France’s success in Brazil
France has won four times in Brazil, but in the intermediate class of the world championships, the 250cc. Dominique Sarron, Christian’s little brother, won during the first two editions. Olivier Jacques, for his part, also found victory twice, in 1996 and in 1997.
At the manufacturer level, Honda ranks first with a total of 8 victories in Japan in the premier category. Yamaha occupies the second position with four first places. Another manufacturer now well known in MotoGP has also won numerous times in other categories. Aprilia has seven successes in Brazil (4x 125cc and 3x 250cc).
The last winner was a Japanese driver, since Makoto Tamada won the last edition of the event, in 2004. The history of the Brazilian Grand Prix therefore remains to be written. If all goes well, the event should have at least five more editions, before possibly extending its contract.
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