Motogp: Past & Present

Now, it has more than 65 years since the motogp first season was held in 1949. Since that time, it has experienced many change. So, what are them?
Here is it that you can seeing now:


Start

How difficult start in past time. The old time rider before 1987 must run and push their bike when the race was started. For motogp fans in present time, this start can be interesting. The push start was not used again since 1987 due to safety reason and it was changed by clutch start. Look backward in 1986, we can see some accident in the race start on 1986 season.

Classic motogp start not only a push start, but also there are no start lamp that they used flag to give a start sign.
In early clutch start 1980s until 1990s we can see there are so many jump start. But it was not a problem yet.

Upside: clutch start (1987-present), Downside: push start (before 1987)

Circuit

In early era of this motorcycle racing, the street could be used as race track. It is impossible to see the motogp race in street circuit due to safety reason. Motogp need wider run off area so that if there are any rider out of track it will not immediately strike the wall. Nowadays it will look like the race like in Macau Grand Prix or Isle of Man.

Straw barrier used to decorated in the side of race track.

Spectators
You will see that spectators in old time was so crowded and they can be anywhere, not only in a stand especially in old Assen. Looked like the spectator in all of the edge of the circuit.
You also will see that the photograper in the side of race track (run off area near starting grid).
Nowadays is neater. The spectator more organized and although you come to the circuit you also still can watch  the race in the big television in the circuit.


Technology

One of the most different between old Grand Prix with the modern Grand Prix is technology. Begin from electronic until television appearance. One of change that you can see is the cockpit of the bike, from analog to digital.

Respsol Honda 1990s.
Analog speedometer

Repsol Honda 2014.
Digital speedometer
plus light of LED lamps.

Bike and Rider's Costum

 Early era:(1949 - 1970s)
The helmet in this era look like a half of ball that the helmet just can protect half of their head. To covering their eye, they used goggles. Some rider used nothing to covering their mouth.
All wearpack bassically same for all riders. The colour of the waerpacks are black.
You can see the motor or the machine of the bike in very early of this era without fairing. The early fairing made the bike looked bigger, overtime it got slimmer.

Mid era: (1970s - 1990s)

The helmet in this era had like a ball, fullface and had been completed by a visor. In addition it more colourful.

The wearpack more colourful and begin stamped sponsor logo.

The bike had been covered by fairing, so you can't see the machine again. The wearpack was also stemped by sponsor logo. The tail of the bike was bigger than nowadays and the shape almost like a beam. The number that was stemped on the bike look had same font type before 1990s.

Modern era: (2002 - present)

The helmet still like a ball but tend to be slighty taper at the back of above. The helmet also has more various pattern.

The wearpack is thicker, and completed by hump to protect the rider's back and also has another function.

The bike is more aerodinamic, more complex by any hole or cavity in the fairing. The tail of the bike is taper. The picture, pattern, and font are more various, all type can be applied there.