The Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1990.

History The first official Belgian Grand Prix was held in 1949, but non-championship races were held as far back as 1921.

Every Belgian GP was held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with the exception of the 1980 season when the round moved to the Zolder circuit due to problems with the new asphalt at Spa-Francorchamps in 1979. After the problems were resolved, Spa-Francorchamps became the host again from 1981 onwards.

The last race was held in 1990, and was subject to controversy. At the time, the FIM–IRTA war was raging on, and the Belgian Grand Prix became a casualty of this. Bernie Ecclestone decided to double the ticket prices for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix compared to the 1989 Dutch TT which was held a week earlier. This was much to the anger of the Belgian fans and as a result of this, many fans stayed at home for the 1990 Belgian Grand Prix. This drop in spectators, in combination with the race being held on a Saturday rather than a Sunday (which was similar to the Dutch TT at the time), caused the Belgian GP to be scrapped from the 1991 season onwards.

Future

Improvements to the circuit to make it suitable for motorcycle racing were made in autumn 2021 in time for the 2022 endurance season, and the Spa 24 Hours motorcycle race debuted at Spa in June 2022. It is unknown if Spa or another Belgian circuit will apply for MotoGP.

Official names and sponsors 1949–1975: Grand Prix de Belgique des Motos/Grote Prijs van Belgie voor Moto's (no official sponsor) 1976-1978: Grand Prix Belgique/Grote Prijs Belgie (no official sponsor) 1979: G.P. Moto (no official sponsor) 1980, 1982: Grand Prix of Belgium (no official sponsor) 1981: Grand Prix Moto (no official sponsor) 1983: GP Johnson of Belgium 1984–1985: Johnson GP of Belgium 1986: GP of Belgium (not mentioned in the name but the race was sponsored by Johnson) 1988: GP of Belgium Gauloises Blondes 1989: Belgium Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor) 1990: Belgian Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)

Formerly used circuits

Winners

Multiple winners (riders)

# Wins Rider Wins Category Years won 8 Giacomo Agostini 500cc 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 6 John Surtees 500cc 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 350cc 1956, 1958 Ángel Nieto 125cc 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980 50cc 1972 5 Mike Hailwood 500cc 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 350cc 1966 4 Geoff Duke 500cc 1951, 1954 350cc 1951, 1952 Carlo Ubbiali 250cc 1956, 1960 125cc 1956, 1959 Freddie Spencer 500cc 1982, 1984, 1985 250cc 1985 3 Umberto Masetti 500cc 1950, 1952, 1953 Ernst Degner 125cc 1960 50cc 1962, 1965 Phil Read 500cc 1974, 1975 250cc 1968 Ricardo Tormo 125cc 1982 50cc 1978, 1981 Anton Mang 250cc 1980, 1981, 1982 2 Luigi Taveri 125cc 1961, 1962 Jim Redman 350cc 1961, 1965 Hans-Georg Anscheidt 50cc 1967, 1968 Jan de Vries 50cc 1971, 1973 Barry Sheene 500cc 1977 125cc 1971 Walter Villa 250cc 1976, 1977 Paolo Pileri 250cc 1978 125cc 1975 Pier Paolo Bianchi 125cc 1977, 1978 Barry Smith 125cc 1979 50cc 1969 Eugenio Lazzarini 125cc 1983 50cc 1977 Stefan Dörflinger 80cc 1984 50cc 1980 Randy Mamola 500cc 1980, 1986 Sito Pons 250cc 1986, 1988 Hans Spaan 125cc 1989, 1990

Multiple winners (manufacturers)

# Wins Manufacturer Wins Category Years won 26 MV Agusta 500cc 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 350cc 1956, 1958 250cc 1956, 1957, 1960 125cc 1956, 1959 17 Honda 500cc 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989 250cc 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 125cc 1961, 1962, 1989, 1990 50cc 1964 14 Suzuki 500cc 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 125cc 1963, 1971 50cc 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971 Yamaha 500cc 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990 250cc 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1990 6 Gilera 500cc 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957 Kreidler 50cc 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980 Derbi 125cc 1970, 1972, 1974, 1988 50cc 1969, 1972 5 Kawasaki 250cc 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 125cc 1969 4 Moto Guzzi 350cc 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957 Morbidelli 250cc 1978 125cc 1975, 1977, 1979 3 Norton 500cc 1951 350cc 1951, 1952 Bultaco 125cc 1976 50cc 1978, 1981 2 Velocette 350cc 1949, 1950 MZ 250cc 1971 125cc 1960 Harley-Davidson 250cc 1976, 1977 Minarelli 125cc 1978, 1980 Garelli 125cc 1983, 1985

By year A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship. Year Track 125cc 250cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1990 Spa-Francorchamps Hans Spaan Honda John Kocinski Yamaha Wayne Rainey Yamaha Report Year Track 80cc 125cc 250cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1989 Spa-Francorchamps Hans Spaan Honda Jacques Cornu Honda Eddie Lawson Honda Report 1988 Jorge Martínez Derbi Sito Pons Honda Wayne Gardner Yamaha Report 1986 Domenico Brigaglia Ducados-MBA Sito Pons Honda Randy Mamola Yamaha Report 1985 Fausto Gresini Garelli Freddie Spencer Honda Freddie Spencer Honda Report 1984 Stefan Dörflinger Zündapp Manfred Herweh Real-Rotax Freddie Spencer Honda Report Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1983 Spa-Francorchamps Eugenio Lazzarini Garelli Didier de Radiguès Chevallier-Yamaha Kenny Roberts Yamaha Report Year Track 50cc 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1982 Spa-Francorchamps Ricardo Tormo Sanvenero Anton Mang Kawasaki Freddie Spencer Honda Report 1981 Ricardo Tormo Bultaco Anton Mang Kawasaki Marco Lucchinelli Suzuki Report 1980 Zolder Stefan Dörflinger Kreidler Ángel Nieto Minarelli Anton Mang Kawasaki Randy Mamola Suzuki Report 1979 Spa-Francorchamps Henk van Kessel Sparta Barry Smith Morbidelli Edi Stöllinger Kawasaki Dennis Ireland Suzuki Report 1978 Ricardo Tormo Bultaco Pier Paolo Bianchi Minarelli Paolo Pileri Morbidelli Wil Hartog Suzuki Report 1977 Eugenio Lazzarini Kreidler Pier Paolo Bianchi Morbidelli Walter Villa Harley-Davidson Barry Sheene Suzuki Report 1976 Herbert Rittberger Kreidler Ángel Nieto Bultaco Walter Villa Harley-Davidson John Williams Suzuki Report 1975 Julien van Zeebroeck Kreidler Paolo Pileri Morbidelli Johnny Cecotto Yamaha Phil Read MV Agusta Report 1974 Gerhard Thurow Kreidler Ángel Nieto Derbi Kent Andersson Yamaha Phil Read MV Agusta Report 1973 Jan de Vries Kreidler Jos Schurgers Bridgestone Teuvo Länsivuori Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1972 Ángel Nieto Derbi Ángel Nieto Derbi Jarno Saarinen Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1971 Jan de Vries Suzuki Barry Sheene Suzuki Silvio Grassetti MZ Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1970 Aalt Toersen Jamathi Ángel Nieto Derbi Rod Gould Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1969 Barry Smith Derbi Dave Simmonds Kawasaki Santiago Herrero Ossa Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1968 Hans-Georg Anscheidt Suzuki Phil Read Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1967 Hans-Georg Anscheidt Suzuki Bill Ivy Yamaha Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1966 Mike Hailwood Honda Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta Report 1965 Ernst Degner Suzuki Jim Redman Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report 1964 Ralph Bryans Honda Mike Duff Yamaha Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report 1963 Isao Morishita Suzuki Bert Schneider Suzuki Fumio Ito Yamaha Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report 1962 Ernst Degner Suzuki Luigi Taveri Honda Bob McIntyre Honda Mike Hailwood MV Agusta Report Year Track 125cc 250cc 350cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1961 Spa-Francorchamps Luigi Taveri Honda Jim Redman Honda Gary Hocking MV Agusta Report 1960 Ernst Degner MZ Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report 1959 Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report 1958 Alberto Gandossi Ducati John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report 1957 Tarquinio Provini FB-Mondial John Hartle MV Agusta Keith Campbell Moto Guzzi Libero Liberati Gilera Report 1956 Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta Carlo Ubbiali MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta John Surtees MV Agusta Report 1955 Bill Lomas Moto Guzzi Giuseppe Colnago Gilera Report 1954 Ken Kavanagh Moto Guzzi Geoff Duke Gilera Report 1953 Fergus Anderson Moto Guzzi Umberto Masetti Gilera Report 1952 Geoff Duke Norton Umberto Masetti Gilera Report 1951 Geoff Duke Norton Geoff Duke Norton Report 1950 Bob Foster Velocette Umberto Masetti Gilera Report 1949 Freddie Frith Velocette Bill Doran AJS Report 1948 Bob Foster Velocette Johnny Lockett Norton Report 1947 Bruno Francisci Moto Guzzi Ken Bills Norton Harold Daniell Norton Report Year Track 175cc 250cc 350cc 500cc ReportRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturerRiderManufacturer 1939 Spa-Francorchamps Ewald Kluge DKW Ted Mellors Velocette Georg Meier BMW Report 1938 Léon Neumann DKW Ewald Kluge DKW John White Norton Georg Meier BMW Report 1937 Bernhard Petruschke DKW Walfried Winkler DKW John White Norton Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report 1936 Floreffe Jean Térigi MM Arthur Geiß DKW Ted Mellors Velocette Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report 1935 Spa-Francorchamps Maurice van Geert Rush-Python Arthur Geiß DKW John White Norton Jimmie Guthrie Norton Report 1934 Yvan Goor Benelli Henry Tyrell-Smith Rudge Jimmie Simpson Norton Wal Handley Norton Report 1933 Yvan Goor Benelli Wal Handley Moto Guzzi Jimmie Guthrie Norton Tim Hunt Norton Report 1932 Eric Fernihough Excelsior Ted Mellors New Imperial Jimmie Simpson Norton Stanley Woods Norton Report 1931 Eric Fernihough Excelsior Ted Mellors New Imperial Jimmie Guthrie Norton Stanley Woods Norton Report 1930 Yvan Goor DKW Syd Crabtree Excelsior Ernie Nott Rudge Henry Tyrell-Smith Rudge Report 1929 Bert Kershaw James Jock Porter New Gerrard Wal Handley Motosacoche Charlie Dodson Sunbeam Report 1928 Arthur Geiß DKW Syd Crabtree Excelsior J. Treborg La Mondiale-Blackburne Charlie Dodson Sunbeam Report 1927 Arthur Geiß DKW Syd Crabtree Crabtree-JAP Jimmie Simpson AJS Stanley Woods Norton Report 1926 René Milhoux Ready-Blackburne Jock Porter New Gerrard Frank Longman AJS Jimmie Simpson AJS Report 1925 Norbert Vanneste Ready-Blackburne Jock Porter New Gerrard Wal Handley Rex-Acme Alec Bennett Norton Report 1924 Geoff Davison Levis Bert Taylor PA-Blackburne Paddy Johnston PA-Blackburne Alec Bennett Norton Report 1923 Dinant-Feschaux Wal Handley Rex-Acme Jean Huynen FN Freddie Dixon Indian Report 1922 Spa-Francorchamps Geoff Davison Levis E. Remington Rush-Blackburne Gaston Antoine Triumph Report 1921 Jean Kicken Gillet Hubert Hassall Norton Report

References

Sources