We all know when the TT lost it's World championship GP status.
1976 for the uneducated.

But when did the TT races aquire World championship GP status?

The MotoGP site goes back to 1949. Was that the first year of the World Championships GP ? If so the TT WAS included that year. So what status did the TT have previous to that?

Just curious

As far as I know, 1949 was the start of the (present) World Championships, before that the TT was, I think, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------the TT, (The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy races).

Over to you, Larry etc.

Correct Ammo - the World Championships started in 1949.

Before that, the TT was just a very important International meeting although, as you might imagine, the ACU and the English trade Press thought the sun shone out of its bottom and "those Continentals weren't worth a damn."

Confusingly, before the war and starting in, I think, 1924, there was a European Championship decided on the results in each class (175, 250, 350 and 500) of ONE meeting each year.

Winners of each class could call themselves "European Champion"

Different classic GPs held this honour in rotation, between the German, French, Italian, Swiss and, in 1935, the Ulster GP.

This changed in 1938 - then, and in 1939, the European titles were decided on a points basis over the above 5 meetings.

Interestingly, the TT never featured in these systems, for some reason.

Post WW II, single events carried the GP of Europe honorary title in 1947 & in 1948 (UlsterGP) , but no Championship titles were awarded.

That's it, I think.

8)

When the World Championship commenced in 1949 it was for both manufacturers and riders.

The manufacturers section was dropped at the end of 1953.

The first World champions in 1949 were:

Manufacture
125 Mondial
250 Guzzi
350 Velocette
500 A.J.S.
Sidecar Norton

Rider
125 N. Pagani
250 B. Ruffo
350 F. Frith
500 L. Graham
Sidecar E. Oliver

larryd Wrote:Correct Ammo - the World Championships started in 1949.


Confusingly, before the war and starting in, I think, 1924, there was a European Championship decided on the results in each class (175, 250, 350 and 500) of ONE meeting each year.

8)

Hi Larry,

yes, In confirm that the first European Championship was raced in 1924. It happened at Monza on 6.09.1924. Your legendary Jimmie Simpson won the 350cc race and our legendary Guido Mentasti won the 500cc. race on a _one-gear_ Moto Guzzi machine!.

Marco