Top 10 Best MotoGP Riders of All Time

Spanning from the 125cc class to the current MotoGP, Grand Prix motorcycle road racing is a thrilling sport.

1. Valentino Rossi

   

   Honestly, I don't know where to start! The man is simply a maverick of the sport and doesn't get the credit he deserves for making MotoGP what it is today. I have never once heard Vale bad-mouth his bike or lose faith in the team. He just gets on with the job at hand and makes his fans proud.

   The consistency he has shown in riding at the top for 20 years is remarkable, and the racing ability and craft he possesses will never be seen again. If there is someone you want in a last-lap battle, it's Valentino Rossi! I salute you, Valentino, for all the great memories you have given me and the millions of fans around the world. The 9-times world champion. The greatest of all time. The Doctor. Valentino Rossi.

2. Marc Márquez

   Marc Marquez is the most naturally-gifted rider in the history of two-wheeled racing. He can do things with a bike that even other professional riders don't understand, let alone replicate in their own riding. With a remarkable six Grand Prix World Championships under his belt before turning 25, including four at the highest tier, he is on course to be the most successful rider in the highly competitive modern era of GP racing and the new "GOAT".

   When he is on form, he can only be beaten by his own mistakes. He is utterly fearless, blisteringly fast, and yes, ruthless on the track - as are all great champions.

   There is no doubt that Marc is an amazing talent. But can he keep it going for as long as The Doctor? And would he be as good on a different machine?

   There is no doubt that the Honda is the best motorcycle in MotoGP at the moment and has been for the last few seasons. Actually, even back to when Rossi was on the first RCV211 after the switch from 2-stroke machines, which in my opinion was a mistake. The racing back then was very intense.

3. Casey Stoner

   The guy can ride like no other! What he did on the Ducati has only been enhanced this year as the greatest of all time (Rossi) follows a long list of top-class riders who could not make it work, unlike Stoner. His performance at Honda as the 2011 World Champ and his ability to ride sideways around corners, in the wet, from the front, from behind, and turn on the lap times show he is quite unique in his ability to get the extra 0.5 seconds out of a MotoGP bike.

   He might not be the most charismatic, but he is the fastest guy ever to ride in MotoGP/500 top flight. He is the Real Deal, and if he has a few more years like this one, he will not only be the fastest ever but statistically be the best ever as well.

4. Giacomo Agostini

   The greatest ever. I think it is pretty clear. This obsession with only the newer riders/drivers being the best ever is media hype and loving statistics. Jim Clark won just two world championships before his death, yet how can you, with a straight face, compare him to Hakkinen, Alonso, Hamilton, et al.? Stirling Moss won none, but was he a greater driver than these recent champions? Perhaps.

   Tony Brooks, an F1 driver of the '50s, is a good friend of my father's, and I asked him to rate today's drivers versus yesterday's. He felt there was no need, but he did grin and say, "In yesterday's cars, today's drivers would not be able to cope with the demands placed on them." Ago is the best ever.

5. Michael Doohan

   Doohan was a masterful rider in a day when GP bikes were evil two-stroke machines, with no electronics to prevent riders from being launched to the moon. Only the best of the best, like Doohan, could consistently dominate the GP scene from as early as 1992 to 1998. Truly the thunder from Down Under.

   Like no other, Mick mastered and won five consecutive championships on the hardest, most lethal machines of GP history, with a big bang engine! He probably could have had at least another two, if not for his unlucky accident in practice.

6. Jorge Lorenzo

   Undoubtedly, Jorge Lorenzo is the most composed rider on the track. No one can lead from the front like he does. He is the best starter and race leader in MotoGP. Most riders make mistakes under pressure when someone passes on the inside or outside, but Jorge waits. When the rider coming from the inside goes wide, Jorge pounces. Just one mistake, and Jorge is back in front yet again.

   It's really sad to see him waste his time at Ducati and Honda, though it was his personal decision and motive. However, his years at Yamaha are a treat to watch. The man who made Ducati and Honda bow down to a relatively slower Yamaha... I began to like MotoGP watching the era of Lorenzo, Stoner, Rossi, and Pedrosa. I have been a fan ever since!

7. Wayne Rainey

   I've got Rainey 7th on my list, but some of the company in your top ten don't belong. I don't recall Doohan beating Rainey. Did he? No, I'm sure Rainey was top dog, and Doohan was there. He ain't 4th. He ain't top ten. That's crazy.

   Pedrosa in the top ten? Ha ha, next! Stoner? No, sorry, he's good but not top ten, just outside, I'd say. Facts are facts.

   The best of the best during the peak of 500cc GP racing. Remember when these bikes were flicking riders through the air on a regular basis? Rainey endured his share of high-sides and still won consistently against the greatest collection of riders in the sport, including Doohan, Gardner, Lawson, and Schwantz.

   All legendary riders in this time period.

8. Kevin Schwantz

   Probably, he and Mamola are the most exciting riders to date, with maybe McCoy just behind. Yet, what a rider! Schwantz set the world alight and came as a double act with another guy called Rainey. We were spoiled, and meeting Schwantz was great.

   Though not enough accolades to make the top ten for me, he's still the most gifted rider. Just not professional enough. Should've won more.

   For me, he was the fastest. Just look at the 1989 season. All the greats of that era were there: Lawson, Rainey, Doohan, Gardner, Spencer, and Mamola. Yet Schwantz, on far from the best bike, had 9 pole positions and 8 fastest laps.

   I remember the season well and always thought he was the fastest in that era and certainly the most exciting.

9. Dani Pedrosa

   Numbers don't lie, and the Little Samurai has an impressive win record. Bad luck and injuries really prevented him from winning a world title in the premier class, to go with his 3 world titles in lower classes. Had he been a little less fragile, he no doubt would have won at least two titles in the premier class.

   In 2012, he had more wins than either Stoner or Lorenzo, who are both above him on this list.

   Very nice and good-hearted. Capable of being fast but probably no more championships for him with the current presence of capable riders.

10. Mike Hailwood

    I met Mike on many occasions and got to know him. He always had time for a chat. He was one of the few who could win world championships on just about any bike, from 125 Desmo Ducati through to the awesome Honda sixes, and everything in between. He also had a very good, albeit short, F1 career, gaining three podium finishes, if my memory is holding up, before an accident damaged his left foot!

    He came back after some 8-10 years out of bikes and won a world championship. Okay, it was over one race, but it was at the IOM TT. I wonder how many of today's MotoGP riders could swap bikes at one meeting and win? It's always difficult to compare across the decades, but for me, Mike will always be at the top.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Joey Dunlop

    Amazing bike control and the undisputed King of the TT. MotoGP riders look at the TT course and will not race it. So, to win it over as many years as Joey did, you have to be one of the best ever. He should be in the top five.

    Never top ten, but a bloody hero all day. Road racing's best ever, not the track, though.

    He drove a van full of food to orphanages in the Balkans in times of need. A selfless, amazing man. Number one.

12. ?

    Jon Ekerold

    The only privateer (non-factory rider) to win the 350cc World Championship, and with Phil Read, one of only two ever to win any championship as a private team.

    He did it with limited sponsorship and support. With his team of two mechanics, he put together and maintained his own bike using a Bimota frame and a Yamaha engine. He triumphed over the works Kawasaki of Toni Mang to win the World Championship in 1980.

The Contenders

13. Wayne Gardner

    Aggressive but smooth, Wayne Gardner should have won more titles than he did, due to bad luck. The Japanese don't call him Mr. 100% for nothing. He should have thrown a leg over a Grand Prix bike sooner, but HRC was focused on "Fast Freddie" instead. In his prime (balls out), he was unbeatable. He could shake off a massive near highside as if it was nothing and go on to win. One of the greats.

    Three cheers!

    Aussies are tough (not Casey, though, sorry) and Gardner is the epitome of this. Beating legends to his title and winning with the highest competition is worthy of praise. I hold him higher than Doohan, even with five titles.

14. Barry Sheene

    An all-time great on and off the track. He brought motorbike racing to the attention of the British public. A massive loss to the sport.

    Growing up, he was a hero to all young boys. He just epitomized cool. A great personality and a great rider, taken far too early.

    One of the best. Lots of great riders. He is my favorite. Only because I crashed and broke lots of bones but still raced.

15. Freddie Spencer

    The 'strokers' were the hardest bikes to ride at this 'F1' level with their all-or-nothing powerband. Freddie was the only guy I ever saw who could consistently, and alternately, slide both front and rear tyres, multiple times around a single corner. Watching them take turns stepping out of line underneath him as he scythed his way around a corner was simply mesmerizing. Such control, and from one so young...

    Freddie was without doubt the master, and I would have him way further up this list!

    Top ten easily, not as good as Lawson for me, but still top ten. This list needs looking at seriously, don't you think? Spencer below Stoner? Ha ha! Or Doohan? Get real. People comment on the sport. Don't guess or throw names about. It's wrong and disrespectful.

16. Kenny Roberts Sr.

    Way too low on this list. The fact that he's placed below Casey Stoner is laughable. We're talking about the first man (and up until the past season, the only man) to win in his rookie year. We're also talking about a 2-time AMA Grand National Champion and a guy who won the 500cc championship three years in a row.

    In terms of natural riding ability, there are next to none who can come close to King Kenny. To anyone who just started watching GP and doesn't have a way of watching any of the '78-'83 seasons: I feel bad for you.

    Kenny Roberts Sr. was the first to start drifting bikes around corners in GP road racing. He won his first world championship in his debut year (1978) and did so with just one bike and no spare for half the season.

    He had a very small team (just three people) and overcame a horde of private Suzuki riders (20-plus) and a massive official factory Suzuki team, which consisted of three riders and 15-20 mechanics and managers.

    Kenny had nerves of steel and was never rattled, even when then-champion Barry Sheene tried to play mind games with him. In fact, he out-psyched the champion by a mile. Nobody has ever won a championship in their first year with such minimal support like Kenny did.

17. Marco Simoncelli

    We were robbed of some potentially really exciting racing when Marco was taken from us. A real talent and true racing grit the guy had.

    Was really saddened to see him go. RIP Super Sic.

    Miss you so much, Super Sic. Will always remember your choreographed chaos and old school riding style.

    A champion who will never come back.

18. Maverick Viñales

    The most underrated potential champion. He is simply an underrated talent. He has more wins pairing up with Rossi.

    If Suzuki gives him a good bike, he could give the Tech 3 guys a battle in the championship standings.

    Rides fast on a slow Yamaha bike compared to Honda and Ducati this 2019 season.

19. Max Biaggi

    Max deserves a lot more credit. If it weren't for the actual greatest rider of all time, VR46, Max would have won three top-class championships and been a seven-time champ. He even gave Vale some work, even in Vale's prime. He just wasn't the same type of racer.

    Although, in my opinion, he was the fifth or sixth greatest rider of all time, behind (in reverse order): 5) Stoner (whom I can't stand, but can't deny), 4) Marquez (yes, already. He's a three-time champ covering all three classes, and this year is in the bag, so he's a four-time champ too and has slayed the big boys), 3) Lorenzo (who's getting schooled by the Doc on his own bike this season), 2) Agostini (best stats behind only...), 1) Vale (who needs to find enough career and fight to pull off 20 more GP victories, although that seems an impossible feat with the existence of Marquez). Without Marquez, VR46 would have five wins this season and another podium.

20. Jarno Saarinen

    The first to put the knee down. He was the genius. Today, riders use his style to take results. OK, 46 is one Doctor, but Jarno was a genius.

    Saw him ride. The man leaned the bike over so far it was remarkable. Great rider.

    Passionate and talented rider. Right talent, right place, and great know-how in motorsport.

21. Colin Edwards

22. Cal Crutchlow

    Never on the fastest bike. Total commitment. Pass or drop it. Real racer.

23. Eddie Lawson

    

    Eddie Lawson is certainly in the top three of all time. To have won 4 titles (world championships), the most by any American rider, really showed the likes of Rainey and Schwantz how it's done. Also, Eddie is the benchmark that all look up to. To have won world titles back to back on different equipment is a statement only a few can lay claim to.

    It is also well known that the 2-stroke era bikes were harder to master than the current crop of 4-stroke machines. Rossi and Agostini sit at the same table as Lawson. All others look up to these three! History and the credit of their wins, by whom they beat, the machinery used, and the longevity of dominance in the sport, still echo today.

24. John Surtees

    

    Four 500cc Championships, three 350cc Championships, four Senior Isle of Man TTs, and two years unbeaten, all within a five-year period.

    He left the sport with the best win percentage of all time before going on to win a Formula One World Championship and a Can-Am Sports Car Championship.

    Awesome on both two and four wheels. An achievement that will never be equaled! I was also lucky enough to have met him very briefly at the Festival of Speed. What a true gent and an awesome champion.

    The only man to win car and bike world championships, and his win percentage from starts was over twice that of Rossi or any other modern MotoGP rider.

25. Alex Barros

26. Troy Bayliss

27. Phil Read

    Awesome racer. Highly skilled.