MotoGP riders are among the greatest motorcycle racers in the world. The MotoGP World Championship is the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing. It attracts top riders from all over the world. These riders have exceptional skills, physical fitness, mental acuity, and the ability to control high-performance motorcycles at high speeds.
MotoGP riders experience tremendous physical strain. This results from the high G-forces, rapid acceleration, and deceleration involved in motorcycle racing. To withstand the forces exerted on their bodies, they must maintain high levels of fitness, strength, and endurance. Let us look at the top 5 greatest MotoGP riders from 2010 to 2020.
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5 Greatest MotoGP Riders From 2010 to 2020
5. Casey Stoner
Stoner was an Australian MotoGP rider. He started his Grand Prix debut in the 125cc class category in the year 2001. Afterward, Stoner moved to the 250cc class category now called Moto 2, and joined the Aprilia Racing team. He secured his first victory in 2005 at the Valencia Grand Prix.
Casey moved to MotoGP in 2006 and was riding for the LCR Honda racing team. He rose to prominence when he joined Ducati in 2007 and dominated the season by winning ten races that year. Soon he became the MotoGP World Championship rider in 2007 and was the first Australian to secure the title.
Career Highlights:
- MotoGP World Champion: 2007, 2011
- MotoGP Race Wins: 38
- Pole Positions: 39
- Fastest Laps: 29
Casey Stoner announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of the 2012 season. At the age of 27, he decided to leave the sport. Despite retiring early, Stoner left a lasting impression on MotoGP and is regarded as one of the sport’s most talented riders.
4. Jorge Lorenzo
He is one of the greatest riders in the history of MotoGP. He was the true spartan of racing. Lorenzo has won three premier-class world titles to his name in racing. Jorge made his MotoGP debut in 2008 by joining the Fiat Yamaha team alongside his teammate Valentino Rossi.
Lorenzo demonstrated his speed and adaptability in his rookie season, securing his first MotoGP podium at the third race of the season. He won the first seven races of the season, demonstrating outstanding racecraft and consistency. In 2010, Lorenzo won his first major FIM World’s MotoGP driver title and was the first Spanish rider to win the premier class racing since Alex Criville in 1999 after 11 years.
Career Highlights:
- MotoGP World Champion: 2010, 2012, 2015
- MotoGP Race Wins: 47
- Pole Positions: 69
- Fastest Laps: 31
Lorenzo remained a star racer in MotoGP, challenging for victories and podium finishes.
In 2015, he joined the Ducati team in search of new challenges and opportunities and won 2nd world title again. He returned to the Yamaha Racing team in 2019, but he struggled to replicate the success he had earlier in his career. He announced his retirement from MotoGP at the end of the 2019 season. Due to a lack of motivation and physical difficulties as reasons told by the media.
3. Greatest MotoGP Riders: Marc Marquez
He was born in Spain and he began his racing career at the age of 8. He was so versatile that he quickly rose to new heights. Marquez made his official Grand Prix debut in the 125cc category bike racing series in 2008. He was just 15 years old at that time. Later, he moved to Moto 2 class series where a 250cc compatible bike is used in racing.
He became the Moto 2 World Championship winner in 2012. In the following year, he made his MotoGP debut as a reserve rider. In 2013, Repsol Honda signed a contract with him to race for the 2013 season along with his teammate Dani Pedrosa. Marquez made an immediate impact in his rookie season, winning his first MotoGP race at the inaugural round in Qatar. He continued to dominate the season, breaking numerous records, winning six races in a row, and securing pole positions.
Career Highlights:
- MotoGP World Champion: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017,2018, 2019
- MotoGP Race Wins:93
- Pole Positions:65
- Fastest Laps: 59
Marc Marquez has six MotoGP World Championship titles to his name. At the age of 20, he became the youngest MotoGP champion ever when he won his first championship in 2013. From 2013 to 2019, he won every MotoGP race at the track. Due to this, he came to be known as the “King of the Sachsenring.” His status to be one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport has been consolidated by his accomplishments, records, and extraordinary riding abilities.
2. Joan Mir
He is another and most sensational rider in MotoGP from Spain. Mir’s passion and love for bikes and racing began at a very young age. This passion made him join the bike racing league in the future. In 2017, he won the Moto 3 World Championship title which showcase his riding and driving capabilities.
Mir started his MotoGP career in 2019 when he joined the Suzuki Ecstar team. He left his mark in the MotoGP. Mir showed his versatility and speed in his 2019 debut season, consistently placing in the top ten. He placed 12th overall at the end of the season, which is excellent for a rookie.
Career Highlights:
- MotoGP World Champion: 2020
- MotoGP Race Wins:23
- Pole Positions:1
- Fastest Laps: 5
Joan Mir won his first and only MotoGP World Championship title in 2020 and became the first Suzuki rider to win the championship after 20 years. It will be interesting to see how he builds on these accomplishments and further cemented his position as one of the top contenders in MotoGP as his career progresses.
1. Greatest MotoGP Riders: Valentino Rossi
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest MotoGP riders of all time. He needs no introduction. His exceptional abilities, charismatic personality, and numerous accomplishments have earned him legendary status among fans and the motorsport community.
Rossi won in total nine World Championship titles as the rider. It is the most number of premier class titles won by any rider in the sport’s history. His championship victories spanned different eras and manufacturers, demonstrating his adaptability and versatility.
Career Highlights:
- MotoGP World Champion:1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009
- MotoGP Race Wins: 89
- Pole Positions:55
- Fastest Laps: 76
Rossi was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame as the official legend by the FIM. He retired at the end of the 2022 season after the Italian Grand Prix. After retirement, Rossi owns a racing team named VR46 which competes in Moto 2 and MotoGP in 2023.
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