The 2019 FIM MotoGP World Championship was the premier class of the 71st F.I.M.Road Racing World Championship season.
After fifteen rounds of the championship, Marc Márquez successfully defended his Rider's Championship in Thailand taking his sixth premier class title and fourth in a row, having already won nine races. He ultimately won 12 races, breaking the single-season points and podium records with 420 points and 18 podium finishes from 19 races. Andrea Dovizioso once again finished second for Ducati for the third consecutive season with two wins, and Maverick Viñales with Yamaha sealed third with two wins. Álex Rins and Danilo Petrucci were the other race winners, both riders achieving their first-ever race wins during the season. In spite of Márquez's sizeable championship margin, seven races, namely Qatar, Italy, Austria, Britain, San Marino, Thailand and Australia were decided with last-lap passes, the season having seen plenty of close racing.
Tech3 switched to KTM machines, ending their twenty-year satellite relationship with Yamaha.[28] As a result of this link-up, Tech3 dropped long-time title sponsor Monster Energy, replaced by rival Austrian energy drink Red Bull.
Miguel Oliveira was promoted to the MotoGP class, joining Tech3 and partner with Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin. He will become the first rider to come through the Red Bull KTM system to the premier class, having competed in the Rookies Cup, Moto3 and Moto2 with KTM bikes.
Mika Kallio replaced Johann Zarco following his early release by KTM, starting from the Aragon Grand Prix.[38]
Johann Zarco replaced Takaaki Nakagami in the Australian, Malaysian and Valencian rounds, following the decision of the Japanese rider to operate on his right shoulder following a trauma sustained during the championship.[39]
Moto2 rider Iker Lecuona made his MotoGP debut prematurely at the final race of the season, replacing Miguel Oliveira at Tech3, who was sidelined following an injury sustained at the Australian Grand Prix. Lecuona was previously signed to race for Tech3 in MotoGP beginning in 2020.[40]
Rule changes
The season saw the introduction of a new penalty called the "Long Lap" penalty for infractions such as exceeding track limits or engaging in reckless riding. At each circuit, a route is to be defined and marked at a safe point around the circuit (usually an asphalt run-off area outside of a turn). The penalised rider must ride through the defined area within 3 laps of being notified, thereby suffering a penalty equivalent typically to 2 or more seconds on that lap.[41]
Calendar
The following Grands Prix took place during the season:[42]