2018 MotoGP World Championship 2018 Moto3 World Championship
The 2018 FIM Moto2 World Championship was a part of the 70th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season. Franco Morbidelli was the reigning series champion, but he did not defend his title as he moved to the MotoGP class.
2018 was the final season that the Honda CBR600RR inline-4 engine package — which debuted in the 2010 Moto2 season — was used in competition; as the brand new engine package (765cc inline-3) supplied by Triumph Motorcycles was introduced for the 2019 season.
After finishing 3rd at Sepang, Italian rider Francesco Bagnaia became the 2018 Moto2 World Champion. Miguel Oliveira finished second in the championship and his teammate Brad Binder finished third.
NTS made their full season debut in Moto2, having previously competed as a wildcard constructor between the 2014 and 2017 seasons. They fielded bikes for RW Racing GP, who switched manufacturer from Kalex to NTS. RW Racing GP also expanded its operation to field two bikes for the 2018 season.
Forward Racing Team and Dynavolt Intact GP switched manufacturers. Forward returned to Suter, with which they last competed in 2012, while Intact GP returned to Kalex after one season with Suter.
Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2 expanded to two bikes in 2018.
Both CGBM Evolution and Kiefer Racing switched manufacturers from Kalex and Suter to KTM.
Marinelli Rivacold Snipers expanded to Moto2, fielding a Kalex bike.
AGR Team folded its operations in both Moto2 and Moto3 following the 2017 Aragon GP due to financial issues coupled with poor performance throughout the 2017 season.
Petronas and the Sepang International Circuit formed a partnership which enabled the SIC Racing Team to return to Moto2, having previously competed in the championship in 2014 as "Caterham Moto Racing Team".[30][31]
Kiefer Racing downsized to one bike in 2018 due to financial issues. Sandro Cortese, who was originally contracted to ride the team's second bike, was later released as a result.
Joe Roberts joined NTS RW Racing GP after AGR Team folded near the end of the 2017 season. He joined by Steven Odendaal, who returned to the series after he last competed full-time in Moto2 in 2013.
Danny Kent made his full-time Moto2 return in 2018 after leaving Kiefer Racing early in the 2017 season, joining Speed Up Racing as a replacement for Simone Corsi who switched team to Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2.
Héctor Barberá left Pons HP40 after his contract was terminated by mutual agreement due to drunk driving. He was replaced by Augusto Fernández for the remainder of the season.
At the San Marino Grand Prix, Romano Fenati received a 2-race ban following a very controversial incident where Fenati grabbed Stefano Manzi's brake lever at speed in retaliation for Manzi pushing him wide earlier during the race. The following day, Marinelli Rivacold Snipers announced that they terminated Fenati's contract as a result of the incident. Xavi Cardelús would replace Fenati in the team for the remainder of the season.[32][33]
Comparison between the configuration of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya used in 2016 and 2017 (top), and the layout used starting 2018 (bottom).
The British Grand Prix was scheduled to move from Silverstone to the new Circuit of Wales, but construction on the new track has not commenced.[53] The two circuits reached a deal that will see Silverstone with an option to host the 2018 race.[54]
The Thailand Grand Prix is a new addition to the calendar, with the race scheduled for 7 October.
The Catalan Grand Prix used a new configuration of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, wherein the previous set of corners of turns 13, 14 and 15 was combined into a sweeping right corner. The new layout was previously used in Formula 1 from 2004 to 2006.
^Fabio Quartararo originally finished 1st, but was disqualified due to a technical infringement.
References
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