1997 World Motorcycle Championship Quiz

Answer: Michael Doohan

Michael Doohan, riding a Honda, waltzed to the 1997 championship. He won 12 out of 15 races (Malaysian, Japanese, Italian, Austrian, French, Dutch, Imola, German, Brazilian, British, Czechoslovakian and Spanish), scoring 340 points (a whopping 143 points clear of his nearest rival) and taking a fourth consecutive world title.

Answer: Max Biaggi

Biaggi came closest to losing his 250cc crown in 1997, only winning it in the last round of the championship in Australia. He would finish two points clear of Ralf Waldmann 250-248. Biaggi certainly didn't have it all his own way, winning only 5 races all season.

Answer: Valentino Rossi

In the same mould as Doohan in the 500cc class, Rossi dominated the 125cc class, winning 11 of the 15 races, and winning the championship by 83 points from 'Nobby' Ueda.

Answer: 15 of 15

Honda would remain undefeated throughout 1997 (and up to the British GP in 1998) in an awesome display of dominance not seen since MV Augusta ruled the 500cc class in the 1960s and 70s. And all races were won by the Repsol Honda team - Doohan 12, Criville 2 and Okada 1.

Answer: Daijiro Katoh

Daijiro, in his only appearance in the 250cc championship, won the 250cc race as a wildcard, from fellow Japanese riders Ukawa and Harada. Daijiro would win the 250cc race in Japan four times in total (1997, 98, 2000 and 2001).

Answer: True

Very true, Rossi won 11 races while Ueda won the other 4 in a display of dominance of the 125cc class not seen in many years. Of any other riders, Tomomi Manako finished second four times while Sakata finished second 5 times.

Answer: Modenas KR3

The Modenas KR3 (now known as the Proton) made it's debut in the 1997 and scored its first point in Japan, thanks to a 14th place finish courtesy of Jean-Michel Bayle. The engine is a 3-cylinder unit which is supposed to give a balance between acceleration and power while helping the balance of the bulk by being more powerful than a twin, but lighter than a 4-cylinder unit.

Answer: Australia

Aoki was one of the rising stars of 500cc motorcycle racing during 1997, dueling with Mick Doohan on more than one occassion and taking a wonderful second place at the final race in Australia. However, in one of the saddest stories to hit motorcyle racing, Taki was tragically paralysed in a pre-season accident during winter testing in early 1998.

Answer: Honda

Nobby has been faithful to Honda throughout his entire 125cc career, even when the bikes were not competitive or he has been saddled with an older bike, at least he's been competitive. In 1997, he was at his most competitive, challenging Rossi on the far superior Aprilia more often than not.

Answer: Ralf Waldmann

Waldmann, riding a Honda, finished every round of the 250cc world championship in a great season of consistency. He won 4 rounds, finished on the rostrum in another 4 while scoring in every other round. Biaggi, Battaini and Ukawa all only retired only twice during the season.

Answer: 4

Suzuki had an absolute shocker of a season in 1997, failing to win a race again and not even reaching the rostrum (even the Aprilia twin managed a podium thanks to Romboni in Holland!). Beattie raced all season besides the season finale in Australia, Gobert was used in 9 events, Goddard raced in 4 while Kagayama raced in Australia. Suzuki finished miles behind in the Manufacturers Championship, failed to reach even double figures (90) and were lucky not to be outscored by Romboni's Aprilia, who scored 88.

Answer: 13

Doohan was certainly qualifying king in 1997, claiming 13 of 15 poles. The only other rider to take a pole position was Tadayuki Okada, who took two poles early in the season in Malaysia and Spain. From Austria onwards, no-one beat Doohan in qualifying.

Answer: 2nd

Aprilia, who have always been competitive in the 125cc category, have only ever won 2 manufacturers titles, the first in 1996 and the second the year after in 1997. During the 1990s, Honda only lost two titles, both to Aprilia.

Answer: 10

Doohan would win a record 10 races on the trot at one stage during the 1997 - from the Italian GP at Mugello to the Catalonian GP at Catalunya - Mick would go undefeated.

Answer: John Kocinski

Kocinski broke Ducatis stranglehold on the championship by winning with the Castrol Honda outfit.