The 2024 MotoGP season marks 75 years since the sport’s creation, and the 2024 British Grand Prix celebrates its anniversary with teams unveiling retro liveries as a one-off occasion.
The incumbent teams on the grid unveiled its respective liveries on Thursday afternoon in the pitlane with fans in attendance. The liveries were revealed to the public during the race weekend build-up, which was televised in a special one-hour-long programme.
Each team showcased its own piece of history with all liveries to be ridden on Sunday’s main race.
Yamaha MotoGP
With Alex Rins marking his return following an injury sustained at Assen, Fabio Quartararo and Rins will ride its retro livery based on former 350cc and 500cc legend Giacamo Agostini.
The Japanese marque dedicated the 15-time champion’s livery to his final championship win in 1975, marking the year he won his only championship with the team.
Red and white used to become synonymous colours with Yamaha, especially in MotoGP’s early eras since the team entered the sport.
Repsol and LCR Honda
Repsol Honda has chosen its livery choice based on Freddie Spencer’s 1983 500cc championship-winning bike, which saw the then 21-year-old defeat three-time 500cc champion Kenny Roberts Sr in the final round.
Spencer’s success in 1983 cemented himself as the youngest-ever premier class champion, a record that stood the test of time until Marc Marquez eclipsed him in 2013.
LCR Honda riders Taakaki Nakagami and Johann Zarco will field different liveries heading into this weekend.
Takaaki Nakagami will ride a Japanese flag-themed bike to celebrate the country’s success in the sport, with team-mate Johann Zarco riding a bike inspired by Mike Hailwood’s 1966 livery, which saw him win the 250cc championship.
Factory and Pramac Ducati
Factory Ducati opted to field its 2003 livery which comprised of the 2003 line-up of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss. Ducati’s 2003 season was its first in the premier class, where Ducati’s story began.
Pramac took inspiration from another iconic figure in MotoGP’s history, 13x champion Angel Nieto. The Ducati satellite team had no affiliation to Nieto in his career, but the livery was chosen by key staff member Fonsi Nieto to honour the Spaniard and his uncle.
VR46 and Gresini Racing
Valentino Rossi’s 21-year career in the sport signified endless possibilities for livery ideas for the upcoming weekend, but the team opted for the old classic branding of the Sole Luna, which is defined as Sun and Moon.
Gresini chose to pay homage to its late founder Fausto Gresini by producing a livery that marked its best success. The Gresini outfit’s best moments arrived in the 1985 and 1987 125cc championship, winning the world championships.
Factory Aprilia and Trackhouse
Aprilia’s rich history in the junior classes was its vocal point of inspiration for this weekend’s round, choosing to opt for the bike won by its best rider, Max Biaggi, who won three 250cc championships in a row from 1994 to 1996.
Newly formed Trackhouse paid homage to its native country United States of America, and its rich history in MotoGP. 11 American faces are displayed on the bike who are in an exclusive list of having won a premier-class race.
Factory and GasGas KTM
The Austrian outfit based its livery on its origin’s from it’s road racing program, the KTM LC4. Wolfgang Felber produced the bike that went on to win the German “Sound of Singles’ Championship” back in 1989. Now, he is KTM’s Vice President of Road Racing Technology as the team chose to recognise its former blue and white design.
KTM’s satellite team GasGas, opted to field a completely revamped livery.
