Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into three classes: MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. Former classes that have been discontinued include 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc/80cc, MotoE, and Sidecar. The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was established in 1949 by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and is the oldest motorsport world championship in existence. Moto3 replaced the 125cc class in 2012; the 125cc referred to the size of the engines of the motorcycles that participated in the class. It is the entry-level class where young riders begin their Grand Prix motorcycle racing careers. The minimum age for a rider is 16 years, and the maximum is 28 years. However, after a rash of incidents involving young rider fatalities in lower classes, the FIM set a minimum age of 18 starting in the 2023 season.
Points earned in these events count toward the riders' and constructors' world championships. These two 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. Results from all current Grands Prix count towards the championships; in the past, only a certain number of results were counted.
Ángel Nieto has won the most championships, with seven. Loris Capirossi is the youngest rider to win the championship; he was 17 years and 165 days old when he won in 1990. Spanish riders have won the most championships; 18 riders have won a total of 24 championships. Italian riders have won the second-most championships; 15 riders have won a total of 24 championships. Riders from the United Kingdom have won the third-most championships; five riders have won a total of five championships. Rupert Hollaus' 1954 title was the only time a posthumous World Champion was crowned in any class in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. He was killed during practice for the Italian Grand Prix before the end of the 1954 season. Emilio Alzamora was the second rider in history to win a Grand Prix motorcycle world championship without having won a race in 1999 after Manuel Herreros. Nello Pagani won the inaugural championship in 1949. Nicolas Terol was the last rider to win the 125cc championship in 2011. Sandro Cortese was the first rider to win the Moto3 championship in 2012. José Antonio Rueda is the current champion; he won the 2025 Moto3 World Championship.
Champions +KeyChampion also won the 250cc Championship in that seasonChampion also won the 80cc Championship in that season*Champion also won the 50cc Championship in that seasonIndicates information is not available
The "Season" column refers to the season the competition was held, and wikilinks to the article about that season. The "Margin" column refers to the margin of points by which the winner defeated the runner-up.
By season +125cc/Moto3 World Riders' Champions by seasonSeasonCountryRiderConstructorGrands PrixPolesWinsPodiumsFastest lapsPointsClinchedMargin1949Mondial322227Round 3 of 30131950Mondial312117Round 3 of 3031951Mondial513220Round 4 of 4081952MV Agusta635328Round 5 of 6141953NSU635430Round 5 of 61101954NSU644332Round 4 of 62141955MV Agusta656332Round 5 of 6161956MV Agusta656332Round 4 of 62181957Mondial635530Round 5 of 6181958MV Agusta745232Round 6 of 7171959MV Agusta735430Round 7 of 7021960MV Agusta545224Round 4 of 5161961Honda1148644Round 11 of 11021962Honda1169748Round 8 of 113101963*Suzuki1268254Round 8 of 124161964Honda1159346Round 9 of 112101965Suzuki1278856Round 11 of 121121966Honda1058546Round 9 of 10161967Yamaha128101056Round 10 of 122161968Yamaha968240Round 6 of 9361969Kawasaki11810690Round 7 of 114311970Suzuki1146084Round 9 of 112121971Derbi1156687Round 11 of 11081972*Derbi1357597Round 13 of 130101973Yamaha1257399Round 10 of 122241974Yamaha1058287Round 8 of 102241975Morbidelli1078490Round 6 of 104181976Morbidelli977690Round 8 of 91231977Morbidelli12796131Round 10 of 122261978MBA12484114Round 10 of 122261979Minarelli13886120Round 10 of 133671980MBA1025190Round 9 of 10191981Minarelli12895140Round 10 of 122451982Garelli12672111Round 10 of 122161983Garelli11676102Round 9 of 112261984Garelli866690Round 6 of 82121985Garelli10381109Round 10 of 100101986Garelli11484122Round 11 of 11081987Garelli1110107150Round 9 of 112621988Derbi119106197Round 10 of 111291989JJ Cobas12594166Round 12 of 120141990Honda14380182Round 14 of 14091991Honda135124200Round 12 of 131191992Aprilia13270134Round 13 of 130161993Honda149113280Round 14 of 140141994Aprilia14484224Round 13 of 141301995Honda13792224Round 11 of 132841996Honda15293220Round 15 of 150271997Aprilia1511137321Round 12 of 153831998Aprilia14462229Round 13 of 141121999Honda160103227Round 16 of 16012000Aprilia16585230Round 15 of 161132001Gilera163110241Round 16 of 16092002Aprilia165100273Round 16 of 160192003Honda16563223Round 14 of 162572004Honda165113293Round 14 of 162912005Honda16481242Round 16 of 16052006Aprilia168147338Round 13 of 163762007Aprilia173106282Round 17 of 17052008Derbi17494264Round 15 of 172392009Aprilia167127289Round 14 of 16265.52010Derbi171210127310Round 17 of 170142011Aprilia178114302Round 17 of 17040KTM1751543252111KTM173153323Round 17 of 17012Honda183103278Round 18 of 1802Honda18693260Round 18 of 1806KTM187143319Round 14 of 184142Honda1810133341Round 16 of 18293Honda18117103260Round 17 of 18142Honda1914111279Round 17 of 19279KTM150351174Round 15 of 1504KTM181681259Round 17 of 18143GasGas2057122319Round 18 of 20262Honda2064101274Round 19 of 2016CFMoto20714153421Round 16 of 204165KTM22510144365Round 18 of 22484
Multiple champions +125cc/Moto3 multiple championsRiderTotalSeasons 7 1971, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 6 1951, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960 3 1962, 1964, 1966 3 1976, 1977, 1980 2 1963, 1965 2 1973, 1974 2 1985, 1987 2 1990, 1991 2 1995, 1996 2 1994, 1998
By constructor +125cc/Moto3 World Riders' Champions by constructorConstructorTotal Honda19 Aprilia10 Garelli 6 MV Agusta 6 KTM 6 Derbi 5 Mondial 4 Yamaha 4 Morbidelli 3 Suzuki 3 NSU 2 MBA 2 Minarelli 2 Kawasaki 1 JJ Cobas 1 Gilera 1 GasGas 1 CFMoto 1
By nationality +125cc/Moto3 World Riders' Champions by nationalityCountryRidersTotal 18 24 15 24 5 5 4 4 2 4 2 4 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Notes
References General
Bibliography
Specific
External links