Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing , also known as the MotoGP World Championship , has produced some memorable fighter since it began in 1949 . The bike driver race intent - built bike with four - stroke locomotive engine that are not available for leverage by the general public , and they rush them across 18 circuits in 13 dissimilar countries , including the United States , Italy and Australia , to name only a few . It is a laborious and unmanageable race system that requires single - disposed focus and dedication on the part of the racers . Yet over the more than 60 years that MotoGP has be , a few premier riders have risen to the top of the sport . Here is a listing of the 10 expectant MotoGP racers of all time .
10. Kenny Roberts
Motorcycle race driver Kenny Roberts was the new mortal to have won a MotoGP Prime Minister class championship in his first twelvemonth enter in the upshot . He was also the first American to bring home the bacon a world championship in the 500cc motorcycle championship . From 1978 to 1980 , Kenny Roberts win three MotoGP titles . But it was not just the trophy and titles that he rack up that made Kenny Roberts a motorcycle racing star . His ride style was very influential and made him one of the sterling passenger of all time . He was the first riders to pull off the corner method of flow off the bike with his knees exsert , which guide to major change in how the motorcycles were tantalise in grand prix race .
9. Marc Márquez
He ’s still young at age 22 , but Spanish motorcycle racer Marc Marquez has already made an indelible imprint on the summercater . Turning professional in 2010 at years 17 , Marc Marquez acquire the MotoGP title that twelvemonth , followed by another title in 2012 , and two back - to - back premier grade MotoGP titles in his first two years as a professional racer , make him the youngest ever to accomplish that many wins . In the 2014 MotoGP time of year , Marc Marquez fail on to bring home the bacon the first nine rarefied prix events of the season . Many commentator of the sport say that Marc Marquez could terminate up as the most decorated and accomplished MotoGP rider of all clock time if he continues on at his current snip . Indeed , at old age 22 , he has many old age of racing ahead of him , and who knows what Marc Marquez may execute .
8. John Surtees
A great British race car in every respect , John Surtees dominated the sport of motorcycle race during the fifties . A four - time World Champion in the 500cc motorcycle category , John Surtees also deliver the goods three title in 350cc social class — reach him a totality of seven world titles in bike racing . However , John Surtees was not just a motorcycle racer . He also rush cars and competed in Formula 1 grand prix races . In fact , he succeed the F1 World Championship in 1964 , becoming the only someone to have won world titles on both two- and four - wheel vehicles . Not surprising that many people consider John Surtees the greatest racer in British story — whether motorcycles or cars .
7. Mike Hailwood
“ Mike The Bike , ” as Hailwood was known , is the other British rider who take exception John Surtees in the debate for greatest racer of all time . Mike Hailwood overshadow the sport of bike racing between 1958 and 1967 , winning a total of four earthly concern championships , and nine championships in unlike class of motorcycles . Like John Surtees , Mike Hailwood transition from motorcycle to Formula 1 racing . However , any hope he had of becoming a F1 champion were pall by his dying in 1981 in a cable car crash . Ironically , Mike Hailwood did not die on the race track . He was drink down driving to get fish and chips with his children when a motortruck made an illegal turn and collided with his motorcar . Daughter Michelle , aged nine , was also killed in the accident . Mike Hailwood ’s Logos David exist the accident . The hand truck driver who made the illegal play was fined £ 100 for the incident .
6. Michael Doohan
Australian rider Michael Doohan is considered one of the great bike riders of all clock time . He won five back - to - back MotoGP titles from 1994 through 1998 . Only Giacomo Agostini with eight titles and Valentino Rossi with seven have bring home the bacon more premier category MotoGP titles . Michael Doohan drive for the Honda subspecies squad throughout his career , and it establish to be a rife era for Team Honda , and left a legacy which only a couple of riders have hail close to matching . Michael Doohan was more than your typical motorcycle rider . He had a knack for set up his motorcycle and had a great insight into the 500cc course of bike . Many people conceive Michael Doohan to be a mechanic as much as a passenger .
5. Casey Stoner
He retired relatively youthful and only won two worldly concern championships , but Australian automobile driver Casey Stoner is considered to be one of the greatest motorcycle driver in history . A two - time MotoGP World Champion in 2007 and 2011 , Casey Stoner was known for his ability to cod any bike beyond its limits , producing profits on the inferior Ducati bike after both Honda and Yamaha had made major advancements in formulate their motorcycles . Stoner was also known for ingest especial control of the motorcycles he drive , even at breakneck speeds . On May 17 , 2012 , at the French Grand Prix , Casey Stoner harbinger that he would retire from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season , saying that he no longer enjoyed competing in the sport . Many hoi polloi felt that he retired too soon and could have accomplished more had he raced for a better team than Ducati .
4. Wayne Rainey
Arguably the good American bike automobile driver of all time , Wayne Rainey dominate the sport in the tardy eighties and former 1990s , advance the MotoGP World Championship three fourth dimension and the Daytona 200 once . A reckon and calculated rider , Wayne Rainey was praised for his smooth racing expressive style and cool conduct . Wayne Rainey likely could have won more title if he was not in an accident in 1993 that terminate his career . Wayne Rainey was result in backing points during the 1993 MotoGP serial when he crashed at the Italian Grand Prix in Misano , sliding into the gravel trap at high speed and breaking his rachis against the raked surface plan as a safety feature for race cars . The wreck left Wayne Rainey for good paralyse from the chest down .
3. Jorge Lorenzo
MotoGP is arguably most popular in Spain , and in that country everyone make out the name Jorge Lorenzo . The 2010 , 2012 and 2015 MotoGP World Champion , Jorge Lorenzo is like royalty in his native Spain . Riding for Team Yamaha , Jorge Lorenzo , in 2012 , became the first Spanish passenger to win multiple premier socio-economic class claim . And , with 61 life history winnings to his name , Jorge Lorenzo is 5th on the all - prison term wins lean . And he is not even 30 year former . This phenomenally gifted race driver could terminate up as the best ever bike racer when all is said and done with his career . Jorge Lorenzo began his professional racing career at age 15 and has been a sensation ever since . To date he is the most successful Spanish motorcycle rider of all time , with more to come .
2. Valentino Rossi
Italian motorcycle racing car Valentino Rossi is still racing today , and he is one of the most successful racer of all time , with nine Grand Prix World Championships under his whack — seven of which are in the highest premier social class . He start his bike calling by win two titles at the low stage of MotoGP before moving into the high PM class , where he won seven world rubric in quick succession . Valentino Rossi has extend the way in the current advanced geological era of MotoGP , and is still go strong heading into the 2016 time of year . Valentino Rossi brought not only succeeder but excitement , thrills and glamor to MotoGP , and is consider by many mass to be a rock candy star in the sport . In Italy , Valentino Rossi is one of the biggest athletes and celebrity .
1. Giacomo Agostini
The greatest bike race driver of all clip is Italian Giacomo Agostini . Nobody has equaled his success in MotoGP . During his life history from 1964 to 1977 , Giacomo Agostini agree 122 Grand Prix wins and 17 World Championship title , most of them in the 500cc class of motorcycles . Although seven of his world championship profits were in the 350cc class of bike . Regardless , the 17 backing make Giacomo Agostini the most successful rider on two wheel ever . Indeed , his 122 tremendous prix wins is a record that will be heavy to let on for anyone . Today , Giacomo Agostini is a legend and embassador for the sport of MotoGP .
