# Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix

The Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix was a motorcycling event that was part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season from 1949 to 1990.

## History

The first official Belgian Grand Prix was held in 1949, but non-championship races were held as far back as 1921.
Every Belgian GP was held at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with the exception of the 1980 season when the round moved to the Zolder circuit due to problems with the new asphalt at Spa-Francorchamps in 1979. After the problems were resolved, Spa-Francorchamps became the host again from 1981 onwards.
The last race was held in 1990, and was subject to controversy. At the time, the FIM–IRTA war was raging on, and the Belgian Grand Prix became a casualty of this. Bernie Ecclestone decided to double the ticket prices for the 1989 Belgian Grand Prix compared to the 1989 Dutch TT which was held a week earlier. This was much to the anger of the Belgian fans and as a result of this, many fans stayed at home for the 1990 Belgian Grand Prix. This drop in spectators, in combination with the race being held on a Saturday rather than a Sunday (which was similar to the Dutch TT at the time), caused the Belgian GP to be scrapped from the 1991 season onwards.

## Future

Improvements to the circuit to make it suitable for motorcycle racing were made in autumn 2021 in time for the 2022 endurance season, and the Spa 24 Hours motorcycle race debuted at Spa in June 2022. It is unknown if Spa or another Belgian circuit will apply for MotoGP.

## Official names and sponsors

* 1949–1975: Grand Prix de Belgique des Motos/Grote Prijs van Belgie voor Moto's (no official sponsor)
* 1976-1978: Grand Prix Belgique/Grote Prijs Belgie (no official sponsor)
* 1979: G.P. Moto (no official sponsor)
* 1980, 1982: Grand Prix of Belgium (no official sponsor)
* 1981: Grand Prix Moto (no official sponsor)
* 1983: GP Johnson of Belgium
* 1984–1985: Johnson GP of Belgium
* 1986: GP of Belgium (not mentioned in the name but the race was sponsored by Johnson)
* 1988: GP of Belgium Gauloises Blondes
* 1989: Belgium Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)
* 1990: Belgian Motorcycle Grand Prix (no official sponsor)

## Formerly used circuits

* Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, used in 1949–1979, 1981–1986, 1988–1990
* Zolder, used in 1980

## Winners of the Belgian motorcycle Grand Prix
### Multiple winners (riders)

| # Wins | Rider | Wins | Wins |
| # Wins | Rider | Category | Years won |
| 8 | Giacomo Agostini | 500cc | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 |
| 6 | John Surtees | 500cc | 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 |
| 6 | John Surtees | 350cc | 1956, 1958 |
| 6 | Ángel Nieto | 125cc | 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1980 |
| 6 | Ángel Nieto | 50cc | 1972 |
| 5 | Mike Hailwood | 500cc | 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
| 5 | Mike Hailwood | 350cc | 1966 |
| 4 | Geoff Duke | 500cc | 1951, 1954 |
| 4 | Geoff Duke | 350cc | 1951, 1952 |
| 4 | Carlo Ubbiali | 250cc | 1956, 1960 |
| 4 | Carlo Ubbiali | 125cc | 1956, 1959 |
| 4 | Freddie Spencer | 500cc | 1982, 1984, 1985 |
| 4 | Freddie Spencer | 250cc | 1985 |
| 3 | Umberto Masetti | 500cc | 1950, 1952, 1953 |
| 3 | Ernst Degner | 125cc | 1960 |
| 3 | Ernst Degner | 50cc | 1962, 1965 |
| 3 | Phil Read | 500cc | 1974, 1975 |
| 3 | Phil Read | 250cc | 1968 |
| 3 | Ricardo Tormo | 125cc | 1982 |
| 3 | Ricardo Tormo | 50cc | 1978, 1981 |
| 3 | Anton Mang | 250cc | 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| 2 | Luigi Taveri | 125cc | 1961, 1962 |
| 2 | Jim Redman | 350cc | 1961, 1965 |
| 2 | Hans-Georg Anscheidt | 50cc | 1967, 1968 |
| 2 | Jan de Vries | 50cc | 1971, 1973 |
| 2 | Barry Sheene | 500cc | 1977 |
| 2 | Barry Sheene | 125cc | 1971 |
| 2 | Walter Villa | 250cc | 1976, 1977 |
| 2 | Paolo Pileri | 250cc | 1978 |
| 2 | Paolo Pileri | 125cc | 1975 |
| 2 | Pier Paolo Bianchi | 125cc | 1977, 1978 |
| 2 | Barry Smith | 125cc | 1979 |
| 2 | Barry Smith | 50cc | 1969 |
| 2 | Eugenio Lazzarini | 125cc | 1983 |
| 2 | Eugenio Lazzarini | 50cc | 1977 |
| 2 | Stefan Dörflinger | 80cc | 1984 |
| 2 | Stefan Dörflinger | 50cc | 1980 |
| 2 | Randy Mamola | 500cc | 1980, 1986 |
| 2 | Sito Pons | 250cc | 1986, 1988 |
| 2 | Hans Spaan | 125cc | 1989, 1990 |

### Multiple winners (manufacturers)

| # Wins | Manufacturer | Wins | Wins |
| # Wins | Manufacturer | Category | Years won |
| 26 | MV Agusta | 500cc | 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 |
| 26 | MV Agusta | 350cc | 1956, 1958 |
| 26 | MV Agusta | 250cc | 1956, 1957, 1960 |
| 26 | MV Agusta | 125cc | 1956, 1959 |
| 17 | Honda | 500cc | 1982, 1984, 1985, 1989 |
| 17 | Honda | 250cc | 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 |
| 17 | Honda | 125cc | 1961, 1962, 1989, 1990 |
| 17 | Honda | 50cc | 1964 |
| 14 | Suzuki | 500cc | 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 |
| 14 | Suzuki | 125cc | 1963, 1971 |
| 14 | Suzuki | 50cc | 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1971 |
| 14 | Yamaha | 500cc | 1983, 1986, 1988, 1990 |
| 14 | Yamaha | 250cc | 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1990 |
| 6 | Gilera | 500cc | 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957 |
| 6 | Kreidler | 50cc | 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980 |
| 6 | Derbi | 125cc | 1970, 1972, 1974, 1988 |
| 6 | Derbi | 50cc | 1969, 1972 |
| 5 | Kawasaki | 250cc | 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| 5 | Kawasaki | 125cc | 1969 |
| 4 | Moto Guzzi | 350cc | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957 |
| 4 | Morbidelli | 250cc | 1978 |
| 4 | Morbidelli | 125cc | 1975, 1977, 1979 |
| 3 | Norton | 500cc | 1951 |
| 3 | Norton | 350cc | 1951, 1952 |
| 3 | Bultaco | 125cc | 1976 |
| 3 | Bultaco | 50cc | 1978, 1981 |
| 2 | Velocette | 350cc | 1949, 1950 |
| 2 | MZ | 250cc | 1971 |
| 2 | MZ | 125cc | 1960 |
| 2 | Harley-Davidson | 250cc | 1976, 1977 |
| 2 | Minarelli | 125cc | 1978, 1980 |
| 2 | Garelli | 125cc | 1983, 1985 |

### By year

A pink background indicates an event that was not part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing championship.
| Year | Track | 125cc | 125cc | 250cc | 250cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1990 | Spa-Francorchamps | Hans Spaan | Honda | John Kocinski | Yamaha | Wayne Rainey | Yamaha | Report |
| Year | Track | 80cc | 80cc | 125cc | 125cc | 250cc | 250cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1989 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Hans Spaan | Honda | Jacques Cornu | Honda | Eddie Lawson | Honda | Report |
| 1988 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Jorge Martínez | Derbi | Sito Pons | Honda | Wayne Gardner | Yamaha | Report |
| 1986 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Domenico Brigaglia | Ducados-MBA | Sito Pons | Honda | Randy Mamola | Yamaha | Report |
| 1985 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Fausto Gresini | Garelli | Freddie Spencer | Honda | Freddie Spencer | Honda | Report |
| 1984 | Spa-Francorchamps | Stefan Dörflinger | Zündapp | | | Manfred Herweh | Real-Rotax | Freddie Spencer | Honda | Report |
| Year | Track | 50cc | 50cc | 125cc | 125cc | 250cc | 250cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1983 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Eugenio Lazzarini | Garelli | Didier de Radiguès | Chevallier-Yamaha | Kenny Roberts | Yamaha | Report |
| Year | Track | 50cc | 50cc | 125cc | 125cc | 250cc | 250cc | 350cc | 350cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1982 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Ricardo Tormo | Sanvenero | Anton Mang | Kawasaki | | | Freddie Spencer | Honda | Report |
| 1981 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ricardo Tormo | Bultaco | | | Anton Mang | Kawasaki | | | Marco Lucchinelli | Suzuki | Report |
| 1980 | Zolder | Stefan Dörflinger | Kreidler | Ángel Nieto | Minarelli | Anton Mang | Kawasaki | | | Randy Mamola | Suzuki | Report |
| 1979 | Spa-Francorchamps | Henk van Kessel | Sparta | Barry Smith | Morbidelli | Edi Stöllinger | Kawasaki | | | Dennis Ireland | Suzuki | Report |
| 1978 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ricardo Tormo | Bultaco | Pier Paolo Bianchi | Minarelli | Paolo Pileri | Morbidelli | | | Wil Hartog | Suzuki | Report |
| 1977 | Spa-Francorchamps | Eugenio Lazzarini | Kreidler | Pier Paolo Bianchi | Morbidelli | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson | | | Barry Sheene | Suzuki | Report |
| 1976 | Spa-Francorchamps | Herbert Rittberger | Kreidler | Ángel Nieto | Bultaco | Walter Villa | Harley-Davidson | | | John Williams | Suzuki | Report |
| 1975 | Spa-Francorchamps | Julien van Zeebroeck | Kreidler | Paolo Pileri | Morbidelli | Johnny Cecotto | Yamaha | | | Phil Read | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1974 | Spa-Francorchamps | Gerhard Thurow | Kreidler | Ángel Nieto | Derbi | Kent Andersson | Yamaha | | | Phil Read | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1973 | Spa-Francorchamps | Jan de Vries | Kreidler | Jos Schurgers | Bridgestone | Teuvo Länsivuori | Yamaha | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1972 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ángel Nieto | Derbi | Ángel Nieto | Derbi | Jarno Saarinen | Yamaha | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1971 | Spa-Francorchamps | Jan de Vries | Suzuki | Barry Sheene | Suzuki | Silvio Grassetti | MZ | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1970 | Spa-Francorchamps | Aalt Toersen | Jamathi | Ángel Nieto | Derbi | Rod Gould | Yamaha | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1969 | Spa-Francorchamps | Barry Smith | Derbi | Dave Simmonds | Kawasaki | Santiago Herrero | Ossa | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1968 | Spa-Francorchamps | Hans-Georg Anscheidt | Suzuki | | | Phil Read | Yamaha | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1967 | Spa-Francorchamps | Hans-Georg Anscheidt | Suzuki | | | Bill Ivy | Yamaha | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1966 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | Mike Hailwood | Honda | | | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1965 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ernst Degner | Suzuki | | | Jim Redman | Honda | | | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1964 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ralph Bryans | Honda | | | Mike Duff | Yamaha | | | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1963 | Spa-Francorchamps | Isao Morishita | Suzuki | Bert Schneider | Suzuki | Fumio Ito | Yamaha | | | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1962 | Spa-Francorchamps | Ernst Degner | Suzuki | Luigi Taveri | Honda | Bob McIntyre | Honda | | | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta | Report |
| Year | Track | | | 125cc | 125cc | 250cc | 250cc | 350cc | 350cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | | | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1961 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Luigi Taveri | Honda | Jim Redman | Honda | | | Gary Hocking | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1960 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Ernst Degner | MZ | Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta | | | John Surtees | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1959 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta | | | | | John Surtees | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1958 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Alberto Gandossi | Ducati | | | John Surtees | MV Agusta | John Surtees | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1957 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Tarquinio Provini | FB-Mondial | John Hartle | MV Agusta | Keith Campbell | Moto Guzzi | Libero Liberati | Gilera | Report |
| 1956 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta | Carlo Ubbiali | MV Agusta | John Surtees | MV Agusta | John Surtees | MV Agusta | Report |
| 1955 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Bill Lomas | Moto Guzzi | Giuseppe Colnago | Gilera | Report |
| 1954 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Ken Kavanagh | Moto Guzzi | Geoff Duke | Gilera | Report |
| 1953 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Fergus Anderson | Moto Guzzi | Umberto Masetti | Gilera | Report |
| 1952 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Geoff Duke | Norton | Umberto Masetti | Gilera | Report |
| 1951 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Geoff Duke | Norton | Geoff Duke | Norton | Report |
| 1950 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Bob Foster | Velocette | Umberto Masetti | Gilera | Report |
| 1949 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Freddie Frith | Velocette | Bill Doran | AJS | Report |
| 1948 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | | | Bob Foster | Velocette | Johnny Lockett | Norton | Report |
| 1947 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | Bruno Francisci | Moto Guzzi | Ken Bills | Norton | Harold Daniell | Norton | Report |
| Year | Track | 175cc | 175cc | 250cc | 250cc | 350cc | 350cc | 500cc | 500cc | Report |
| Year | Track | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Report |
| 1939 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Ewald Kluge | DKW | Ted Mellors | Velocette | Georg Meier | BMW | Report |
| 1938 | Spa-Francorchamps | Léon Neumann | DKW | Ewald Kluge | DKW | John White | Norton | Georg Meier | BMW | Report |
| 1937 | Spa-Francorchamps | Bernhard Petruschke | DKW | Walfried Winkler | DKW | John White | Norton | Jimmie Guthrie | Norton | Report |
| 1936 | Floreffe | Jean Térigi | MM | Arthur Geiß | DKW | Ted Mellors | Velocette | Jimmie Guthrie | Norton | Report |
| 1935 | Spa-Francorchamps | Maurice van Geert | Rush-Python | Arthur Geiß | DKW | John White | Norton | Jimmie Guthrie | Norton | Report |
| 1934 | Spa-Francorchamps | Yvan Goor | Benelli | Henry Tyrell-Smith | Rudge | Jimmie Simpson | Norton | Wal Handley | Norton | Report |
| 1933 | Spa-Francorchamps | Yvan Goor | Benelli | Wal Handley | Moto Guzzi | Jimmie Guthrie | Norton | Tim Hunt | Norton | Report |
| 1932 | Spa-Francorchamps | Eric Fernihough | Excelsior | Ted Mellors | New Imperial | Jimmie Simpson | Norton | Stanley Woods | Norton | Report |
| 1931 | Spa-Francorchamps | Eric Fernihough | Excelsior | Ted Mellors | New Imperial | Jimmie Guthrie | Norton | Stanley Woods | Norton | Report |
| 1930 | Spa-Francorchamps | Yvan Goor | DKW | Syd Crabtree | Excelsior | Ernie Nott | Rudge | Henry Tyrell-Smith | Rudge | Report |
| 1929 | Spa-Francorchamps | Bert Kershaw | James | Jock Porter | New Gerrard | Wal Handley | Motosacoche | Charlie Dodson | Sunbeam | Report |
| 1928 | Spa-Francorchamps | Arthur Geiß | DKW | Syd Crabtree | Excelsior | J. Treborg | La Mondiale-Blackburne | Charlie Dodson | Sunbeam | Report |
| 1927 | Spa-Francorchamps | Arthur Geiß | DKW | Syd Crabtree | Crabtree-JAP | Jimmie Simpson | AJS | Stanley Woods | Norton | Report |
| 1926 | Spa-Francorchamps | René Milhoux | Ready-Blackburne | Jock Porter | New Gerrard | Frank Longman | AJS | Jimmie Simpson | AJS | Report |
| 1925 | Spa-Francorchamps | Norbert Vanneste | Ready-Blackburne | Jock Porter | New Gerrard | Wal Handley | Rex-Acme | Alec Bennett | Norton | Report |
| 1924 | Spa-Francorchamps | Geoff Davison | Levis | Bert Taylor | PA-Blackburne | Paddy Johnston | PA-Blackburne | Alec Bennett | Norton | Report |
| 1923 | Dinant-Feschaux | | | Wal Handley | Rex-Acme | Jean Huynen | FN | Freddie Dixon | Indian | Report |
| 1922 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | Geoff Davison | Levis | E. Remington | Rush-Blackburne | Gaston Antoine | Triumph | Report |
| 1921 | Spa-Francorchamps | | | | | René Kieken | Gillet | Hubert Hassall | Norton | Report |