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The 2007 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season is the 59th F.I.M.Road Racing World Championship season. The 2007 season is significant as it introduces a new regulation which specifies that competitors in the MotoGP class can use up to 800 cc motorcycles; between 2002 and 2006, competitors had been allowed to use 990 cc motorcycles. While the 800 cc motorcycles have less power, their ability to brake later and carry more speed through turns has allowed them to break lap records in pre-season testing.
Up to the end of 2006, speculation suggested that Honda would have the advantage, as they could modify their existing engines to 800cc specification easier than other manufactuers. In practice, Honda suffered the most from the stage, with only Dani Pedrosa and Marco Melandri making any impression on the leaders, as Casey Stoner scored a string of wins for Ducati, Suzuki saw Chris Vermeulen's first win and John Hopkins' first podium, and Kawasaki also made progress.
Riders marked with light blue background are eligible for Rookie of the Year awards.
Point system: 25 for 1st, 20 for 2nd, 16 for 3rd, 13 for 4th, 11 for 5th and then one point less for each position so 15th gets one point. Rider has to finish race to earn points.
During practice for the Chinese GP, Olivier Jacque injured his arm in a practice crash and withdrew from the event. He missed his home race, at Le Mans, and was replaced by Fonsi Nieto.
Team Roberts announced that they would expand to a second bike from the Mugello race onwards, which will be ridden by Kurtis Roberts.
On June 4, 2007, it was announced that Jonathan Rea would be riding for Team Roberts in the British Grand Prix as a wildcard entry, however on June 18, 2007, it was announced that Rea was recalled by Honda in order to concentrate on preparation for the Suzuka 8 hour event and further that Kenny Roberts, Jr. shall not race for the time being. At Donington the sole KR212V was ridden by Kurtis Roberts
On June 21, it was announced that Anthony West would be replacing Olivier Jacque at Kawasaki for the remainder of the season.
During practice for the Dutch TT, Toni Elias broke his left femur. He was replaced by Michel Fabrizio at the German Grand Prix and Miguel Duhamel at the United States Grand Prix.
At US Grand Prix, Roger Lee Hayden rode a factory Kawasaki as a wild card.
During the first practice session at the US GP, Alex Hofmann broking a bone and sustaining a soft tissue injury in his left hand in a collision with Sylvain Guintoli and he was unable to compete during the remainder of the weekend. Chaz Davies was invited to take his ride for the remainder of the weekend despite having no experience on the any MotoGP bike or on Bridgestone tyres.
Roberto Locatelli was seriously injured in a practise session crash at the Spanish GP weekend. Gilera have no plans to replace him and Locatelli presently plans to return to the series in June.
As a result of a crash in qualifying in China, Yuki Takahashi broke his left arm and missed the French GP, which he won in 2005. He was not replaced for the event.
Following Anthony West's step up to the Moto GP class with Kawasaki, Dan Linfoot was signed to replace him from the Donington Park round. Also, Arturo Tizon was sacked by his team and replaced by Efren Vazquez.
Mike Di Meglio sustained a broken collarbone in a crash in qualifying for the Spanish GP and was told by doctors to allow more time to recover. He was replaced at the Turkish GP by Kevin Coghlan, who had been originally on the 250cc entry list prior to the withdrawal of his team, Winona Racing.
Following up on their wild card rides in Spain, Tutusaus and Maestro also rode in the Catalan GP as wild cards, joined by Philipp Eitzinger and Stefan Bradl.
At the Dutch TT, Bradley Smith withdrew after a collision with Andrea Iannone during practice. He suffered metacarpal and metatarsal fractures.
At the Dutch TT, there was five riders with wild card, Ferry Stoffer, Jasper Iwema and Roy Pouw in their first race of the season, Bradl and Eitzinger in their second.
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