{"id":97300,"date":"2019-02-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-05T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pre.boxrepsol.com\/uncategorized\/how-have-lap-times-changed-from-500cc-to-motogp\/"},"modified":"2025-06-27T06:36:52","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T08:36:52","slug":"how-have-lap-times-changed-from-500cc-to-motogp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boxrepsol.com\/en\/motogp-en\/how-have-lap-times-changed-from-500cc-to-motogp\/","title":{"rendered":"How have lap times changed from 500cc to MotoGP?"},"content":{"rendered":"

MotoGP is one of the most innovative testing grounds<\/a> when it comes to motorsports. The Repsol Honda team has been part of this world, which constantly changes and reinvents itself, for 25 seasons. Even though not all technological improvements have been aimed at making bikes faster (there have also been great breakthroughs in efficiency and safety), after 25 years we would certainly expect lap times in some circuits from the 500cc era to have been reduced.<\/p>\n

Phillip Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This circuit was re-inaugurated in the 1997 World Championship, two years after the creation of the Repsol Honda Team. Phillip Island is not only a classic but it’s also one of the most unique circuits, due to\u00a0 its high speed and the extreme weather it’s known for<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When the team first visited this circuit, Mick Doohan achieved a fastest lap time of 1:34.113<\/strong>, even though the pole went to his team-mate, \u00c1lex Crivill\u00e9, with a time of 1:33.135<\/strong>. The Spaniard took the victory that day, ending the 27-lap race in 42 minutes, and 53.362 seconds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/picture>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Going back to more recently, in 2013, Marc M\u00e1rquez achieved the current fastest lap record with a time of 1:28.108<\/strong>. In his most recent victory at Phillip Island, in 2017, Marc managed to finish the race in 40 minutes, and 49.772 seconds<\/strong>, after taking the pole with 1:28.386<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

We can see that the fastest lap today is about six seconds faster than in 1997, the pole has been reduced by 4.75 seconds and it takes about two minutes less to finish the race.<\/p>\n

Mugello<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This Italian circuit has barely changed in terms of its shape and distance since it opened in 1976 as the stage for the Grand Prix des Nations. It keeps its 5,245 original metres and all its fast segments, which give it a record maximum speed of 356.5 km\/h.<\/p>\n

During the team’s first year, Mick Doohan managed to achieve an entire Grand Slam (victory, pole, and fastest lap) on this circuit, starting in pole position which he achieved with a lap time of 1:53.524 and obtaining a fastest lap during the race of 1:54.381<\/strong>. The Australian managed to complete all 23 laps in 44 minutes, and 20.790 seconds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/picture>\n