LIST OF 500CC/MOTOGP MOTORCYCLE WORLD CHAMPIONS

GIACOMO AGOSTINI, who won the 500cc World Championship a record eight times

Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into three classes since 1990: 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP. Former classes that have been discontinued include 350cc, 50cc/80cc and Sidecar.[1] The premier class is MotoGP, which was formerly known as the 500cc class.[1] The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was established in 1949 by the sport's governing body, the Fdration Internationale de Motocyclisme(FIM), and is the oldest motorsport World Championship in existence.[2] The motorcycles used in MotoGP are purpose built for the sport, and are unavailable for purchase by the general public because they cannot be legally ridden on public roads.[2] From the mid-1970s to 2002, the top class of GP racing allowed 500cc with a maximum of four cylinders, regardless of whether the engine was atwo-stroke or fourstroke.[2] In 2002, rule changes were introduced to facilitate the phasing out of two-stroke engines.[3] Each season consists of 12 to 18 Grands Prix contested on closed circuits, as opposed to public roads. Points earned in these events count toward the riders' and constructors' world championships. The rider's and constructor's championship are separate championships, but are based on the same point system. The number of points awarded at the end of each race to the top 15 qualifying riders depends on their placement. Points received by each

finisher, from first 1st place to 15th place: 25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Historically, there have been several points systems.[4] Results from all current Grands Prix count towards the championships; in the past, only a certain number of results were counted.[5] Giacomo Agostini has won the most championships, with eight, including a record seven championshipsin succession from 1966 to 1972.Freddie Spencer is the youngest to win the championship; he was 21 years and 258 days old when he won the championship in 1983.
[6]

Italian riders have won the most championships; six riders have won a total of nineteen

championships. Riders from Great Britain have won the second most; six riders have won a total of seventeen championships. Riders from the United States have won the third most, as seven riders have won a total of fifteen championships.[7] Leslie Graham won the inaugural championship in 1949. Jorge Lorenzo of the Yamaha Motor Racing team is the current champion.[8]

Riders' World Champions

All figures correct as of 13 November 2009 Key
Champion also won 350cc Championship in that season

Champion also won 250cc Championship in that season

n/a

Information not available

Season Each year is linked to the article about that 500cc/MotoGP Grand prix motorcycle racing season.

JOHN SURTEES, who won four 500cc World Championships

CASEY STONER, the 2007 World Champion

EDDIE LAWSON, winner of four 500cc championships

WAYNE RAINEY, winner of three consecutive 500cc championships from 1990 to 1992

Season 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971

Country UK ITA UK ITA UK UK UK UK ITA UK UK UK RAN UK UK UK UK ITA ITA ITA ITA ITA ITA

Rider Leslie Graham Umberto Masetti Geoff Duke Umberto Masetti

Constructor AJS Gilera Norton Gilera

Poles n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Wins 2 2 4 2 4 5 4 3 4 6 7 5 7 5 7 7 8 3 5 10 10 10 8

Podiums 3 4 4 4 5 6 5 3 5 6 7 6 7 5 7 7 8 8 8 10 10 10 8

Fastest Points laps 3 1 2 2 1 4 6 2 1 5 6 6 9 4 7 6 8 2 4 10 10 9 9 30 28 35 28 38 40 36 24 32 32 32 46 48 40 40 40 48 36 46 48 105 90 90

Margin 2 1 4 3 14 20 6 8 12 12 10 20 8 11 19 15 20 6 0 14 58 28 32

Notes
[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

Geoff Duke Gilera Geoff Duke Gilera Geoff Duke Gilera John Surtees Libero Liberati John Surtees John Surtees John Surtees MV Agusta Gilera MV Agusta MV Agusta MV Agusta

[13] [13] [13]

[14]

[15]

[14]

[14]

[14]

Gary MV Agusta Hocking Mike MV Agusta Hailwood Mike MV Agusta Hailwood Mike MV Agusta Hailwood Mike MV Agusta Hailwood Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini MV Agusta MV Agusta

[16]

[17]

[17]

[17]

[17]

[18]

[18]

Giacomo MV Agusta Agostini Giacomo MV Agusta Agostini Giacomo MV Agusta Agostini Giacomo MV Agusta

[18]

[18]

[18]

[18]

Agostini 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 ITA UK UK ITA UK UK USA USA USA ITA ITA USA USA USA USA AUS USA USA USA USA USA USA AUS Giacomo MV Agusta Agostini Phil Read Phil Read Giacomo Agostini Barry Sheene Barry Sheene Kenny Roberts Kenny Roberts Kenny Roberts MV Agusta MV Agusta Yamaha Suzuki Suzuki Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha n/a n/a 4 2 4 7 2 5 2 7 1 6 2 10 7 10 2 1 3 6 0 6 6 11 4 4 4 5 6 4 5 3 5 5 6 4 7 7 7 7 4 7 6 3 4 9 11 8 7 6 6 7 7 7 6 6 7 10 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 13 8 11 14 12 1 1 4 3 6 6 4 4 5 1 3 3 6 6 8 5 3 6 8 3 2 7 105 84 82 84 72 107 110 113 87 105 103 144 142 141 139 178 252 228 255 233 140 248 317 19 20 13 8 24 27 10 24 15 11 27 2 31 8 22 20 23 17.5 67 9 4 34 143
[18]

[19] [20]

[18]

[21]

[21]

[22]

[22]

[22]

Marco Suzuki Lucchinelli Franco Uncini Freddie Spencer Eddie Lawson Suzuki Honda Yamaha

[23]

[23]

[24]

[25]

Freddie Honda Spencer * Eddie Lawson Wayne Gardner Eddie Lawson Eddie Lawson Wayne Rainey Wayne Rainey Wayne Rainey Kevin Schwantz Michael Doohan Yamaha Honda Yamaha Honda Yamaha Yamaha Yamaha Suzuki Honda

[24]

[25]

[26]

[25]

[25]

[27]

[27]

[27]

[28]

[29]

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

AUS AUS AUS AUS ESP USA ITA ITA ITA ITA ITA USA AUS ITA ITA ESP

Michael Doohan Michael Doohan Michael Doohan Michael Doohan lex Crivill

Honda Honda Honda Honda Honda

9 8 12 8 2 4 4 7 9 5 5 1 4 2 7 7

7 8 12 8 6 4 11 11 9 9 11 2 10 9 6 9

10 12 14 11 10 9 13 15 16 11 16 10 14 16 13 16

7 4 11 3 2 3 10 9 12 3 6 2 6 6 6 4

248 309 340 260 267 258 325 355 357 304 367 252 367 373 306 383

33 64 143 52 57 49 106 140 80 47 147 5 125 93 45 138

[29]

[29]

[29]

[29]

[30]

Kenny Suzuki Roberts, Jr. Valentino Honda Rossi Valentino Honda Rossi Valentino Honda Rossi Valentino Yamaha Rossi Valentino Yamaha Rossi Nicky Hayden Casey Stoner Honda Ducati

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

Valentino Yamaha Rossi Valentino Yamaha Rossi Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha

[39]

[40]

[8]

BY RIDER
Rider Giacomo Agostini Valentino Rossi Total 8 7 Seasons 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009

Michael Doohan Geoff Duke John Surtees Mike Hailwood Eddie Lawson Kenny Roberts Wayne Rainey Umberto Masetti Phil Read Barry Sheene Freddie Spencer Leslie Graham Libero Liberati Gary Hocking Marco Lucchinelli Franco Uncini Wayne Gardner Kevin Schwantz lex Crivill Kenny Roberts, Jr. Nicky Hayden Casey Stoner Jorge Lorenzo

5 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989 1978, 1979, 1980 1990, 1991, 1992 1950, 1952 1973, 1974 1976, 1977 1983, 1985 1949 1957 1961 1981 1982 1987 1993 1999 2000 2006 2007 2010

BY CONSTRUCTOR
Constructor MV Agusta Yamaha Honda Suzuki Gilera Norton AJS Ducati Total 18 15 14 6 6 1 1 1

BY NATIONALITY

Country Italy United Kingdom United States Australia Spain Rhodesia

Riders 6 6 7 3 2 1

Total 20 17 15 7 2 1

CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONS

The Constructors' World Championship is awarded to the most successful constructor over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results. Only the highestscoring rider in each race for each constructor contributing points towards the Championship. The winner of the constructor's world championship is not necessarily the bike used by the riders' world champion.

BY CONSTRUCTOR
Constructor Honda MV Agusta Yamaha Suzuki Norton Gilera AJS Ducati Gilera Total 17 16 13 7 3 3 1 1 1 (Not Recognized)