The most iconic MotoGP liveries in World Championship history

MotoGP will celebrate its 75th World Championship anniversary in 2024 and its eleven teams will be celebrating in Silverstone with retro designs. Over the years there have been some iconic liveries that have become etched in the memories of MotoGP fans. One such example is the 'Lucky Strike Suzuki', which Kevin Schwantz thundered around the world's race tracks for five and a half years from 1990 with great success. However, since Suzuki is no longer competing in the premier class, we will unfortunately not see this design in a retro look. The chances are better with the following liveries., Photo: Milagro
Photo: Milagro1 of 10

MotoGP will celebrate its 75th World Championship anniversary in 2024 and its eleven teams will be celebrating in Silverstone with retro designs. Over the years there have been some iconic liveries that have become etched in the memories of MotoGP fans. One such livery is the ‘Lucky Strike Suzuki’, which Kevin Schwantz thundered around the world’s race tracks extremely successfully for five and a half years from 1990. However, since Suzuki is no longer competing in the premier class, we will unfortunately not see this design in a retro look. The chances are better, however, with the following liveries.

The Rothmans livery is no stranger to motorsport, as the British tobacco manufacturer has advertised in rally, enduro and Formula 1, among other things. Rothmans was also in MotoGP from 1985 and gave the Honda a blue and white appearance from then on. Freddie Spencer stormed to the world championship title in his first year on the Rothmans Honda, Wayne Gardner (1987) and Eddie Lawson (1989) followed with two more. From 1994, Rothmans was replaced by another sponsor at Honda., Photo: Milagro
Photo: Milagro2 of 10

The Rothmans livery is no stranger to motorsports, as the British tobacco manufacturer has advertised in rally, enduro and Formula 1, among other things. Rothmans was also involved in MotoGP from 1985 and gave the Honda a blue and white appearance from then on. Freddie Spencer stormed to the world championship title in his first year on the Rothmans Honda, Wayne Gardner (1987) and Eddie Lawson (1989) followed with two more. From 1994, Rothmans was replaced by another sponsor at Honda.

To be more precise, a Spanish oil company took over, which led to one of the most successful partnerships in motorsport history. Mick Doohan, Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez raced to a total of 16 world championship titles in the 'Repsol Honda design'. The design remained more or less unchanged until 2023 and was only visibly adjusted for the current season. After Marquez's departure, Repsol reduced its sponsorship and is expected to pull out completely at the end of 2024., Photo: Milagro
Photo: Milagro3 of 10

To be more precise, a Spanish oil company took over, which led to one of the most successful partnerships in motorsport history. Mick Doohan, Alex Criville, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez raced to a total of 16 world championship titles in the ‘Repsol Honda design’. The design remained more or less unchanged until 2023 and was only visibly adjusted for the current season. After Marquez’s departure, Repsol reduced its sponsorship and is expected to pull out completely at the end of 2024.

Before Repsol Honda and Mick Doohan began their triumphal march in the mid-1990s, another iconic livery was at the centre of the motorcycle world championship: the Marlboro Yamaha. Eddie Lawson (1988) and Wayne Rainey (1990-1992) secured a total of four world championship titles in the red and white design. Without Rainey's career-ending fall in 1993, there could have been another. At the end of 2002, Yamaha and Marlboro parted ways., Photo: Milagro
Photo: Milagro4 out of 10

Before Repsol Honda and Mick Doohan began their triumphal march in the mid-1990s, another iconic livery was at the centre of the motorcycle world championship: the Marlboro Yamaha. Eddie Lawson (1988) and Wayne Rainey (1990-1992) secured a total of four world championship titles in the red and white design. Without Rainey’s career-ending fall in 1993, they could have even won another. At the end of 2002, Yamaha and Marlboro parted ways.

The American tobacco manufacturer switched to MotoGP newcomer Ducati instead, after which the bikes of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss also found their place in the history books. However, success only came in the mid-2000s, when Marlboro had to reduce its sponsorship more and more due to stricter regulations., Photo: Ducati
Photo: Ducati5 out of 10

The American tobacco manufacturer switched to MotoGP newcomer Ducati instead, after which the bikes of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss also found their place in the history books. However, success only came in the mid-2000s, when Marlboro had to increasingly reduce its sponsorship due to stricter regulations.

At the same time, Marlboro's rival Camel was also competing in MotoGP and provided the Pons team with impressive yellow and blue machines. Max Biaggi won three victories and 15 podium places in the simple design between 2003 and 2004, and Alex Barros still managed one win and one podium in 2005. , Photo: Honda
Photo: Honda6 out of 10

At the same time, Marlboro’s rival Camel was also competing in MotoGP and provided the Pons team with impressive yellow and blue machines. Max Biaggi won three races and 15 podium finishes in the simple design between 2003 and 2004, and Alex Barros managed one win and one podium finish in 2005.

Also yellow, but probably even more iconic, is the design of 'Yamaha America' and Kenny Roberts. In yellow, black and white, the American hit the motorcycle world championship like a bomb and was crowned world champion three times between 1978 and 1980. Yamaha already revived this design once at the 2005 US Grand Prix, and perhaps the next round will follow in 2024., Photo: Gauloises Racing
Photo: Gauloises Racing7 out of 10

Also yellow, but probably even more iconic, is the design of ‘Yamaha America’ and Kenny Roberts. In yellow, black and white, the American hit the motorcycle world championship like a bomb and was crowned world champion three times between 1978 and 1980. Yamaha already revived this design once at the 2005 US Grand Prix, and perhaps the next round will follow in 2024.

The Gresini team also revived the iconic design of team founder Fausto Gresini, who had passed away almost a year and a half earlier, at the 2022 San Marino GP. Definitely an eye-catcher and even more beautiful from an emotional point of view., Photo: LAT Images
Photo: LAT Images8 out of 10

The Gresini team also revived the iconic design of team founder Fausto Gresini, who had passed away almost a year and a half earlier, at the 2022 San Marino GP. Definitely an eye-catcher and even more beautiful from an emotional point of view.

Finally, a treat for you: Randy de Puniet's LCR Honda in Playboy design from 2009 to 2010. Tony Elias and Stefan Bradl also occasionally enjoyed this paint job in the years that followed, but nobody embodies it as much as the crash-prone Frenchman. But LCR, Playboy and de Puniet provided many highlights not only on the track, but also off it., Photo: LCR Honda
Photo: LCR Honda9 out of 10

Finally, a treat for you: Randy de Puniet’s LCR Honda in the Playboy design from 2009 to 2010. Tony Elias and Stefan Bradl also occasionally enjoyed this paint job in the years that followed, but nobody embodies it as much as the crash-prone Frenchman. But LCR, Playboy and de Puniet provided many highlights not only on the track, but also off it.

Now it's up to you: Which MotoGP designs from 75 years of World Championship history have you remembered most? Let us know in the comments!, Photo: Sutton
Photo: Sutton10 out of 10

Now it’s your turn: Which MotoGP designs from 75 years of World Championship history have stuck in your mind? Let us know in the comments!

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