A history of brothers racing in MotoGP….

Brothers in MotoGP/500

As Marc and Alex Marquez join Aleix and Pol Espargaro as brothers competing in MotoGP in 2020, this is the first time two sets of brothers have raced together in the premier class since the German GP back in 2015 with Eugene and Michael Laverty and Pol and Aleix Espargaro.

Team Suzuki MotoGP celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R machine at Sachsenring MotoGP 2015 - Aleix Espargaro
This weekend at Jerez is the first time two sets of brothers have raced together in the premier class since
the German GP back in 2015 with Eugene and Michael Laverty and Pol and Aleix Espargaro. Here is Aleix Espargaro pictured on the Suzuki MotoGP machine at Sachsenring in 2015

Marc and Alex Marquez racing at Repsol Honda will be the first time that two brothers will race together full time in the same premier class factory team in the history of Grand Prix racing. The last time two brothers raced in the same premier class team was in Catalunya in 2007 with Kenny Roberts Jr. and Kurtis Roberts at Team Roberts.

The last time two brothers raced in the same premier class team was in Catalunya in 2007 with Kenny Roberts Jr. and Kurtis Roberts at Team Roberts – Image AJRN

In addition to the Marquez and Espargaro brothers, some other brothers have competed together full-time in the premier class in the same season: Nobuatsu and Haruchika Aoki in 1999, Nobuatsu and Takuma Aoki in 1997, Bernard and Marc Garcia (1994-1995) and Dominique and Christian Sarron (1989).

Christian Sarron
The Sarron brothers, Dominique and Christian, both raced the 1989 Grand Prix season. Pictured here is Christian Sarron at Phillip Island in 1989 – Image by Phil Aynsley

The last time that brothers finished together on the podium in the premier class was at the Imola GP in 1997, when Nobuatsu Aoki finished second ahead of Takuma. The only other occasion that brothers have finished together on the podium in the premier class was at the Argentina GP back in 1962, when Juan Salatino finished second ahead of Eduardo.

MotoGP Malaysia Race KTM Espargaro Brothers
Pol Espargaro and Aleix Espargaro pictured here at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2018

Source: MCNews.com.au

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