Today is not only the starting shot for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, but also the 70th anniversary of the very first race that counted for the World Championship standings – the 1949 Isle of Man TT 350cc race, won by a British driver Freddie Frith on one Velocette.
Frith won all five races of the first 350 World Championship and took the title, and then he retired from racing. The very first 500 world champion was The Grahams on an AJSwho was the first 250 champion Bruno Ruffo on a Moto Guzzi, and Nello Pagani won the honor in the 125cc class on a Mondial.
Here are some facts and stats on the history of the sport from the earliest rounds to the present day …
• So far, 929 Grand Prix events have been held since the beginning of the World Cup in 1949.
• At these events are a total of 3114 races for solo classes in Grand Prix racing have been held on the Isle of Man since the first time in 1949.
The king is still Giacomo Agostini: 15 World Cups and 122 victories
• 117 different drivers have won at least one world title in a solo class of Grand Prix racing. The driver with the most world titles is Giacomo Agostini with 15, followed by Angel Nieto (12 + 1), Mike Hailwood (9), Valentino Rossi (9) and Carlo Ubbiali (9).
• A total of 372 different drivers stood on the top step of the podium in all solo classes of Grand Prix racing. The driver with the most GP wins is Giacomo Agostini with 122 wins, followed by Valentino Rossi (115), Angel Nieto (90), Mike Hailwood (76) and Marc Marquez (73).
Petrucci has only won one GP among the 111 different drivers
• Among these 372 winners since 1949 a total of 111 different drivers have only won one GP race, the youngest of them this year is Danilo Petrucci in Italy.
Valentino Rossi is the driver with the most podiums with 234, followed by Giacomo Agostini (159)
• A total of 718 different drivers stood on the podium in all solo classes of Grand Prix racing. Valentino Rossi is the driver with the most podiums with 234, followed by Giacomo Agostini (159), Dani Pedrosa (153), Jorge Lorenzo (152) and Angel Nieto (139).
Italy leads with 811 wins
• The winners in the solo classes come from 29 different nations. Italy leads with 811 wins, followed by Spain (609), Great Britain (383), Germany (191), including East and West Germany, and Australia (180).
• Since the first season in 1949, 30 different countries have hosted a Grand Prix race. Spain leads with 400 races, followed by Italy (347).
• With 776 victories, Honda is the most successful manufacturer in Grand Prix racing (solo classes), followed by Yamaha (502), Aprilia (294), MV Agusta (275) and Suzuki (157).