Images: MotoGP retro liveries and their inspirations

The 2024 British Motorcycle Grand Prix will be a memorable one as the entire MotoGP grid dons retro liveries at Silverstone in celebration of the 75th anniversary.

On June 17, 1949 the inaugural FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season began at the iconic Isle of Man TT where Harold Daniell took 500cc honours.

Now 75 years later all 11 teams are saluting the past by producing stunning retro liveries on their 2024-spec 1000cc weapons.

Ducati

Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini on their retro Ducatis. image: MotoGP

Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia and teammate Enea Bastianini will turn back the clock to Ducati’s very first season in MotoGP.

The livery Ducati used in its debut back in 2003 ridden by Australian Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi has been incorporated into the Desmosedici GP24.

Bayliss took three podiums, while Capirossi took a famous win at Catalunya and Ducati is the team to beat with Bagnaia having won the last four races.

Troy Bayliss doing a wheelie at Zandvoort at a Marlboro event in 2003. Image: Motorsport Images

Pramac Ducati

Jorge Martin with Pramac Racing’s retro livery at Silvestone. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

Satellite team Pramac Ducati have honoured the uncle of its sporting director Fonsi Nieto, Angel Nieto.

The Pramac bikes of Jorge Martin and Franco Morbidelli are covered in the special red and black colours from Angel Nieto’s 1983 125cc World Championship winning season.

It is a vital round for Martin, who needs to revive his championship campaign having lost the lead to Bagnaia after a costly crash at Germany.

Fausto Gresini racing in 1983. Image: MotoGP

V46 Racing

The VR46 Racing’s tribute to the “Doctor”. Image: MotoGP

Fittingly being a team named after Valentino Rossi, VR46 has saluted the “Doctor” by running the iconic Sole Luna style.

The design was an ever-present on Rossi’s helmets and will now grace the Ducati GP23 machines of fellow Italians Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

Valentino Rossi with the Sole Luna helmet during the 2018 Valencia GP. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

Gresini Racing

Marc Marquez shows off Gresini’s retro livery. Image: MotoGP

Gresini Racing has also made an appropriate homage to its past, running the special ‘il Tricolore’ design run by Fausto Gresini when he claimed the 1985 and 1987 125cc titles.

Brothers Alex and Marc Marquez bring the livery back and are on a high after their historic double podium in Dresden.

Aprilia Racing

Aprilia’s all black retro livery. image: MotoGP

Aprilia might be a relative newcomer to the premier class, but it has saluted its rich history in the junior categories.

The team has saluted the all-black Aprilia RSV 250 that Max Biaggi rode to a hat-trick of 250cc titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996.

In his final season Aleix Espargaro hopes to reproduce his stunning Silverstone success last year as Maverick Vinales aims to retain his position as the best of the non Ducatis.

Max Biaggi racing hard in 1996. Image: Max Biaggi

Trackhouse Racing

Miguel Oliveira on Trackhouse Racing’s American tribute. Image: Goose / Red Bull Content Pool

Being the newest MotoGP team, Trackhouse Racing celebrated its American roots by carrying the faces of 11 Grand Prix winners born in the USA including Kenny Roberts, Kevin Schwantz and Nicky Hayden.

Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez have been consistent point scorers and sit 13th and 14th in the championship.

Nicky Hayden at the 2007 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Image: Motorsport Images

KTM/Tech 3

Aussie Jack Miller will race with new colours in Silverstone. Image: MotoGP

Australia’s Jack Miller will stand out as both KTM and Tech3 have thrown back to the Austrian brand’s roots with a livery based off the 1988 KTM Single Racer.

The KTM LC4 was developed by Wolfgang Felber, who then went on to win the German ‘Sound of Singles’ Championship in 1989 and is now KTM’s Vice President of Road Racing Technology.

Miller needs a result having only scored points on four occasions in 2024 and many mysteries surrounding his future.

Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernandez with the Tech3 variety. Image: MotoGP

Yamaha

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha are bringing come of the most recognisable colours back to MotoGP. Image: MotoGP

There are few more iconic looks than the “speed black” design Yamaha used throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

It will forever be associated with eight-time world champion Giacomo Agostini as he dominated almost every race he started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, doing the 500cc and 300cc double on five occasions.

Around half a century on the livery will be back on the bikes of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins.

Giacomo Agostini, Yamaha during the 1975 British GP at Silverstone. Photo by David Phipps / Sutton Images

Honda

Joan Mir and Luca Marini in their retro Honda colours. Image: motoGP

Honda has paid homage to the special look Freddie Spencer used to overcome Kenny Roberts Jr in a thrilling fight for the 1983 500cc title.

However, the livery taking another win may be unlikely with Joan Mir and Luca Marini down in 18th and 23rd in the standings.

Freddie Spencer during the Goodwood Festival Of Speed in 2023. Photo by LAT Images

LCR Honda

Johann Zarco with his new Castrol colours. Image: Gold and Goose

Satellite squad LCR has paid tribute to Mike Hailwood using the #5 and combining retro Castrol colours to the theme of the 1966 Honda livery, while Takaaki Nakagami bike has been covered in the Japanese flag.

Takaaki Nakagami showing Japanese pride. Image: MotoGP

Practice begins at 19.35 AEST tonight.

Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

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