18 years 328 days – The longest Grand Prix career between the first podium finish and the last which was achieved by Angel Nieto. The next time that Loris Capirossi finishes on the podium he will take this record from Nieto.
17 – Casey Stoner’s victory in Qatar was his 17th in the premier-class. One more victory will take him equal in premier-class wins to fellow Australian and 1987 world champion Wayne Gardner.
10 years – The qualifying day for the Japanese Grand Prix will be the tenth anniversary to the day of the very first GP to be held at the Motegi circuit.
150 – Roberto Locatelli’s 9th place finish in Qatar was his 150th point scoring ride in Grand Prix racing. He is only the 8th rider to reach the milestone of 150 point scoring rides, the others who have achieved this are: Loris Capirossi, Alex Barros, Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Giacomo Agostini, Carlos Checa and Angel Nieto.
100 – Joan Olive, who made his GP debut in Japan in 2001, is scheduled to make his 100th GP start in the 125cc class at Motegi.
100 – Having missed the opening race of the year in Qatar, Marco Simoncelli will make his 100th GP start two weeks later than planned at the Japanese GP.
23 years – Prior to the Qatar race it was 23 years since the last time two French riders appeared together on a 250cc GP podium; at the Yugoslavian GP in 1986 at Rijeka when Jean-Francois Baldé was 2nd and Dominique Sarron 3rd.
20 years 182 days – Jules Cluzel is the youngest ever French rider to finish on the podium in a 250cc Grand Prix taking the record from Sylvain Guintoli who had celebrated his 21st birthday just four days before finishing third in the 250cc race at the Dutch TT in 2003.
8 minutes 37.245 seconds – The four lap 125cc race in Qatar is the shortest ever Grand Prix in terms of elapsed time. However at 21.52 km it does not take the record for shortest distance, which is still held by the five lap 125cc French GP last year at just 20.925 km in length.
