What is the MotoGP Teams' Championship?

Teams’ Championship: A season-long competition that ranks teams based on the combined points of both their riders.

When you first start watching MotoGP, your attention is naturally drawn to the riders. You pick a favourite, learn their name, and follow their progress through the season. But you’ll soon hear commentators talk about another battle, one that runs in parallel to the main event: the fight for the Teams’ Championship.

This title celebrates the best overall squad in the paddock. While the individual rider’s title is about solo glory, the Teams’ Championship is about consistency, strategy, and the combined performance of a two-rider operation. It’s a measure of the entire group, from the engineers in the garage to the racers on the track.

So, what exactly is the Teams’ Championship?

It’s a straightforward points race. After every Grand Prix and every Saturday Sprint race, the points awarded to each of the two riders in a team are simply added together. This combined total is then added to their running tally for the season. The team with the most points at the end of the year is crowned the Teams’ World Champion.

For example, if Rider A finishes a Sunday race in 2nd place (20 points) and their teammate, Rider B, finishes in 5th place (11 points), their team scores 31 points for that event. This system rewards teams that have two strong riders who can consistently finish in the points-paying positions.

How is this different from the other championships?

This is where many newcomers get a little confused, because MotoGP actually has three main championships running at the same time. They are often called the ‘Triple Crown’.

First, you have the Riders’ Championship. This is the big one, the title everyone knows. It’s purely about the individual rider who scores the most points over the season to become the World Champion.

Second is the Constructors’ Championship (also called the Manufacturers’ Championship). This is a battle between the bike builders: Ducati, KTM, Yamaha, Aprilia, and Honda. For this title, only the points from the single highest-finishing rider for each manufacturer are counted in each race. It answers the question: which factory built the best motorcycle this year?

Finally, we have the Teams’ Championship. This is where it gets interesting. A manufacturer like Ducati might supply bikes to multiple teams. For instance, they have their official ‘factory team’ (the one run directly by the manufacturer) and several ‘satellite teams’ (independent squads that lease the bikes). While all their results help Ducati in the Constructors’ title, each of these teams is a separate entry fighting for its own glory in the Teams’ Championship. A satellite team can, and often does, beat a factory team.

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Why does the Teams’ Championship matter?

For the people inside the paddock, it matters a great deal. Winning this title comes with significant prestige and, crucially, financial rewards. Prize money is allocated based on the final standings, so a better finish means a bigger budget for the following season.

This success also makes a team more attractive to high-profile sponsors and top-tier engineering talent. It proves that the team is a well-organised, effective unit capable of supporting two riders at the highest level. It’s a testament to the mechanics, the strategists, and the entire crew working behind the scenes.

It also provides huge bragging rights. The battle between two teams using the same machinery can be particularly fierce. For a satellite team to beat the official factory team is a massive achievement and a source of immense pride.

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When will I hear about it?

Early in the season, the focus is almost entirely on the riders. But as the year progresses, the Teams’ Championship storyline often gains momentum. Commentators will start to highlight the points gap between the leading teams, especially if the riders’ title race is either very close or already decided.

On-screen graphics during the race broadcast will frequently show the live standings for all three championships, so you can keep track of how a particular result is affecting the league table. It adds another fascinating layer to the drama of a race weekend, giving you something else to follow beyond just who crosses the finish line first.

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Quick Takeaways

• The Teams’ Championship is a separate title awarded to the best overall two-rider team in MotoGP.
• A team’s score is calculated by adding the points of both its riders together after every Sprint and Grand Prix race.
• It is distinct from the Riders’ Championship (for the individual) and the Constructors’ Championship (for the manufacturer).
• Winning it brings prestige, prize money, and sponsorship opportunities, rewarding the effort of the entire team, not just the riders.