Given motorcycle racing’s popularity across the globe, it’s no surprise that there are many racing teams using some of the best bikes on the market to sponsor the best riders. Here are some of the top motorcycle racing teams to know.
Yamaha Motor Racing
Yamaha Motor Racing is the official team of Yamaha in motorcycle racing events, especially MotoGP. Founded in 1999, the team sponsors some of the best MotoGP and World Superbike Championship racers today. Former MotoGP runner-up Max Biaggi and 2011 World Superbike Champion Carlos Checa both competed for the team, but other signature names such as Maverick Viñales, Ben Spies, and multiple-MotoGP winner Valentino Rossi have all raced on the Yamaha YZR-M1 racing bike.
Repsol Honda
Founded in 1995, Repsol Honda is the name of the motorcycle brand’s MotoGP factory team. Former racers Mick Doohan, Alex Crivillé, and Shinichi Ito rode the NSR500 in the World Championships. Since then, Valentino Rossi won two world titles in the early 2000s, and Nicky Hayden took the reins in 2006. Casey Stoner and Marc Márquez both made legacy status for Repsol Honda from 2011 to today, earning podium spots and notable finishes.
Kawasaki Motors Racing
The Kawasaki Motors Racing team manages the MotoGP and related races for its team. Established in 2007, the brand focuses on the World Superbike Championship using the ZX-10R bike. Both Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes made names for themselves on this bike winning the World Championship titles, and Ana Carrasco became the first woman to win a world championship title. She was also sponsored on the team at only 23 years old. Kawasaki has also branched off to sponsor other racing teams using their bikes, such as Team Pedercini and Team WD40.
Ducati Course
Ducati Course is the last motorcycle team to know, and it represents Ducati’s MotoGP and Superbike national team. As of 2020, they only have one MotoGP win, in 2007 from Casey Stoner. Stoner holds 23 titles for the team, but other notable riders include Andrea Dovizioso (12 titles), Loris Capirossi (seven titles), and Jorge Lorenzo (three titles). Each rider used the Ducati Desmosedici for their finishes.
