List of Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Riders' Champions by year

The following is a list of FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Champions from 1949, in order of class and year.

Summary Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into three classes: MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3. Classes that have been discontinued include Formula 750, 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 80cc, 50cc, 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.

There were five classes when the championship started in 1949: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, and sidecar (600cc). The 50cc class was introduced in 1962. Due to escalating costs that resulted in a number of manufacturers leaving the championship, the FIM limited the 50cc bikes to a single cylinder, the 125cc and 250cc bikes were limited to two cylinders, and the 350cc and 500cc bikes were limited to four cylinders. The 350cc class was discontinued after 1982, two years later the 50cc class was replaced with an 80cc class, which was discontinued after 1989. The sidecar class left the series to form its own championship after 1996. In 2002, 990cc bikes replaced the 500cc bikes and the class was renamed as MotoGP. 600cc bikes replaced the 250cc bikes in 2010, with the class rebranded as Moto2. Starting 2012, the Moto3 class (250cc one cylinder) replaced the 125cc class.

The 750 FIM Prize became a world championship from 1977 until 1979 after a favourable vote from the FIM general council.

Sidecars had 600 cc engines in the first two years, after which they were replaced by 500cc engines. In 1979 the FIM created a prototype sidecar class named B2B, as opposed to the traditional B2A. Prototypes were banned in 1980, but from 1981 onwards prototypes were allowed again, this time without having a separate class.

MotoE was introduced in as a "World Cup" until and thus statistics from that time span are not included here. MotoE only gained World Championship status from until , because MotoE class went on hiatus after the 2025 season.

The Riders' World Championship is awarded to the most successful rider over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results. The constructors listed in this table are the bike that the world champions rode during that winning season and are not necessarily the winner of the constructors' world championship in that season. For sidecar champions, the passenger name is in italics.

List Year500cc350cc250cc125ccSidecar 1949 Leslie Graham (AJS) Freddie Frith (Velocette) Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) Nello Pagani (Mondial) Eric Oliver Denis Jenkinson(Norton) 1950 Umberto Masetti (Gilera) Bob Foster (Velocette) Dario Ambrosini (Benelli) Bruno Ruffo (Mondial) Eric Oliver Lorenzo Dobelli(Norton) 1951 Geoff Duke (Norton) Geoff Duke (Norton) Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) Carlo Ubbiali (Mondial) Eric Oliver Lorenzo Dobelli(Norton) 1952 Umberto Masetti (Gilera) Geoff Duke (Norton) Enrico Lorenzetti (Moto Guzzi) Cecil Sandford (MV Agusta) Cyril Smith Bob Clements Les Nutt(Norton) 1953 Geoff Duke (Gilera) Fergus Anderson (Moto Guzzi) Werner Haas (NSU) Werner Haas (NSU) Eric Oliver Stanley Dibben(Norton) 1954 Geoff Duke (Gilera) Fergus Anderson (Moto Guzzi) Werner Haas (NSU) Rupert Hollaus (NSU) Wilhelm Noll Fritz Cron(BMW) 1955 Geoff Duke (Gilera) Bill Lomas (Moto Guzzi) Hermann Paul Müller (NSU) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Willi Faust Karl Remmert(BMW) 1956 John Surtees (MV Agusta) Bill Lomas (Moto Guzzi) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Wilhelm Noll Fritz Cron(BMW) 1957 Libero Liberati (Gilera) Keith Campbell (Moto Guzzi) Cecil Sandford (Mondial) Tarquinio Provini (Mondial) Fritz Hillebrand Manfred Grunwahl(BMW) 1958 John Surtees (MV Agusta) John Surtees (MV Agusta) Tarquinio Provini (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Walter Schneider Hans Strauß(BMW) 1959 John Surtees (MV Agusta) John Surtees (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Walter Schneider Hans Strauß(BMW) 1960 John Surtees (MV Agusta) John Surtees (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) Helmut Fath Alfred Wohlgemuth(BMW) 1961 Gary Hocking (MV Agusta) Gary Hocking (MV Agusta) Mike Hailwood (Honda) Tom Phillis (Honda) Max Deubel Emil Hörner(BMW) Year500cc350cc250cc125cc50ccSidecar 1962 Mike Hailwood(MV Agusta) Jim Redman(Honda) Jim Redman(Honda) Luigi Taveri(Honda) Ernst Degner(Suzuki) Max Deubel Emil Hörner(BMW) 1963 Mike Hailwood(MV Agusta) Jim Redman(Honda) Jim Redman(Honda) Hugh Anderson(Suzuki) Hugh Anderson(Suzuki) Max Deubel Emil Hörner(BMW) 1964 Mike Hailwood(MV Agusta) Jim Redman(Honda) Phil Read(Yamaha) Luigi Taveri(Honda) Hugh Anderson(Suzuki) Max Deubel Emil Hörner(BMW) 1965 Mike Hailwood(MV Agusta) Jim Redman(Honda) Phil Read(Yamaha) Hugh Anderson(Suzuki) Ralph Bryans(Honda) Fritz Scheidegger John Robinson(BMW) 1966 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Mike Hailwood(Honda) Mike Hailwood(Honda) Luigi Taveri(Honda) Hans-Georg Anscheidt(Suzuki) Fritz Scheidegger John Robinson(BMW) 1967 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Mike Hailwood(Honda) Mike Hailwood(Honda) Bill Ivy(Yamaha) Hans-Georg Anscheidt(Suzuki) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt(BMW) 1968 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Phil Read(Yamaha) Phil Read(Yamaha) Hans-Georg Anscheidt(Suzuki) Helmut Fath Wolfgang Kalauch(URS) 1969 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Kel Carruthers(Benelli) Dave Simmonds(Kawasaki) Ángel Nieto(Derbi) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt(BMW) 1970 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Rodney Gould(Yamaha) Dieter Braun(Suzuki) Ángel Nieto(Derbi) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt Wolfgang Kalauch(BMW) 1971 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Phil Read(Yamaha) Ángel Nieto(Derbi) Jan de Vries(Kreidler) Horst Owesle Julius Kremer Peter Rutterford(Münch-URS) 1972 Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Jarno Saarinen(Yamaha) Ángel Nieto(Derbi) Ángel Nieto(Derbi) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt(BMW) 1973 Phil Read(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(MV Agusta) Dieter Braun(Yamaha) Kent Andersson(Yamaha) Jan de Vries(Kreidler) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt(BMW) 1974 Phil Read(MV Agusta) Giacomo Agostini(Yamaha) Walter Villa(Harley-Davidson) Kent Andersson(Yamaha) Henk van Kessel(Kreidler-Van Veen) Klaus Enders Ralf Engelhardt(Busch-BMW) 1975 Giacomo Agostini(Yamaha) Johnny Cecotto(Yamaha) Walter Villa(Harley-Davidson) Paolo Pileri(Morbidelli) Ángel Nieto(Kreidler) Rolf Steinhausen Josef Huber(Busch-König) 1976 Barry Sheene(Suzuki) Walter Villa(Harley-Davidson) Walter Villa(Harley-Davidson) Pier Paolo Bianchi(Morbidelli) Ángel Nieto(Bultaco) Rolf Steinhausen Josef Huber(Busch-König) Year750cc500cc350cc250cc125cc50ccSidecar 1977 Steve Baker(Yamaha) Barry Sheene(Suzuki) Takazumi Katayama(Yamaha) Mario Lega(Morbidelli) Pier Paolo Bianchi(Morbidelli) Ángel Nieto(Bultaco) George O'Dell Kenny Arthur Cliff Holland(Windle-Yamaha) (Seymaz-Yamaha) 1978 Johnny Cecotto(Yamaha) Kenny Roberts(Yamaha) Kork Ballington(Kawasaki) Kork Ballington(Kawasaki) Eugenio Lazzarini(MBA) Ricardo Tormo(Bultaco) Rolf Biland Kenneth Williams(TTM-Yamaha) (BEO-Yamaha) Year750cc500cc350cc250cc125cc50ccSidecar B2ASidecar B2B 1979 Patrick Pons(Yamaha) Kenny Roberts(Yamaha) Kork Ballington(Kawasaki) Kork Ballington(Kawasaki) Ángel Nieto(Minarelli) Eugenio Lazzarini(Kreidler) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(Schmid-Yamaha) Bruno Holzer Charlie Maierhans(LCR-Yamaha) Year500cc350cc250cc125cc50ccSidecar 1980 Kenny Roberts(Yamaha) Jon Ekerold(Bimota-Yamaha) Anton Mang(Kawasaki Krauser) Pier Paolo Bianchi(MBA) Eugenio Lazzarini(Kreidler-Van Veen) Jock Taylor Benga Johansson(Windle-Yamaha) 1981 Marco Lucchinelli(Suzuki) Anton Mang(Kawasaki) Anton Mang(Kawasaki) Ángel Nieto(Minarelli) Ricardo Tormo(Motul-Bultaco) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(LCR-Yamaha) 1982 Franco Uncini(Suzuki) Anton Mang(Kawasaki) Jean-Louis Tournadre(Yamaha) Ángel Nieto(Garelli) Stefan Dörflinger(Kreidler) Werner Schwärzel Andreas Huber(Seymaz-Yamaha) Year500cc250cc125cc50ccSidecar 1983 Freddie Spencer (Honda) Carlos Lavado (Yamaha) Ángel Nieto (Garelli) Stefan Dörflinger (Krauser) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(LCR-Yamaha) Year500cc250cc125cc80ccSidecar 1984 Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) Christian Sarron (Yamaha) Ángel Nieto (Garelli) Stefan Dörflinger (Zündapp) Egbert Streuer Bernie Schnieders(LCR-Yamaha) 1985 Freddie Spencer (Honda) Freddie Spencer (Honda) Fausto Gresini (Garelli) Stefan Dörflinger (Krauser) Egbert Streuer Bernie Schnieders(LCR-Yamaha) 1986 Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) Carlos Lavado (Yamaha) Luca Cadalora (Garelli) Jorge Martínez (Derbi) Egbert Streuer Bernie Schnieders(LCR-Yamaha) 1987 Wayne Gardner (Honda) Anton Mang (Honda) Fausto Gresini (Garelli) Jorge Martínez (Derbi) Steve Webster Tony Hewitt(LCR-Krauser) 1988 Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) Sito Pons (Honda) Jorge Martínez (Derbi) Jorge Martínez (Derbi) Steve Webster Tony Hewitt Gavin Simmons(LCR-Krauser) 1989 Eddie Lawson (Honda) Sito Pons (Honda) Àlex Crivillé (JJ Cobas) Manuel Herreros (Derbi) Steve Webster Tony Hewitt(LCR-Krauser) Year500cc250cc125ccSidecar 1990 Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) John Kocinski (Yamaha) Loris Capirossi (Honda) Alain Michel Simon Birchall(LCR-Krauser) 1991 Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) Luca Cadalora (Honda) Loris Capirossi (Honda) Steve Webster Gavin Simmons(LCR-Krauser) 1992 Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) Luca Cadalora (Honda) Alessandro Gramigni (Aprilia) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(LCR-Krauser) 1993 Kevin Schwantz (Suzuki) Tetsuya Harada (Yamaha) Dirk Raudies (Honda) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(LCR-Krauser) 1994 Mick Doohan (Honda) Max Biaggi (Aprilia) Kazuto Sakata (Aprilia) Rolf Biland Kurt Waltisperg(LCR-Swissauto) 1995 Mick Doohan (Honda) Max Biaggi (Aprilia) Haruchika Aoki (Honda) Darren Dixon Andy Hetherington(Windle-ADM) 1996 Mick Doohan (Honda) Max Biaggi (Aprilia) Haruchika Aoki (Honda) Darren Dixon Andy Hetherington(Windle-ADM) Year500cc250cc125cc 1997 Mick Doohan (Honda) Max Biaggi (Honda) Valentino Rossi (Aprilia) 1998 Mick Doohan (Honda) Loris Capirossi (Aprilia) Kazuto Sakata (Aprilia) 1999 Àlex Crivillé (Honda) Valentino Rossi (Aprilia) Emilio Alzamora (Honda) 2000 Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suzuki) Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) 2001 Valentino Rossi (Honda) Daijiro Kato (Honda) Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) YearMotoGP250cc125cc 2002 Valentino Rossi (Honda) Marco Melandri (Aprilia) Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) 2003 Valentino Rossi (Honda) Manuel Poggiali (Aprilia) Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 2004 Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) Dani Pedrosa (Honda) Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 2005 Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) Dani Pedrosa (Honda) Thomas Lüthi (Honda) 2006 Nicky Hayden (Honda) Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) Álvaro Bautista (Aprilia) 2007 Casey Stoner (Ducati) Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) Gábor Talmácsi (Aprilia) 2008 Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) Mike Di Meglio (Derbi) 2009 Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) Julián Simón (Aprilia) YearMotoGPMoto2125cc 2010 Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) Toni Elías (Moriwaki) Marc Márquez (Derbi) 2011 Casey Stoner (Honda) Stefan Bradl (Kalex) Nicolás Terol (Aprilia) YearMotoGPMoto2Moto3 2012 Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) Marc Márquez (Suter) Sandro Cortese (KTM) 2013 Marc Márquez (Honda) Pol Espargaró (Kalex) Maverick Viñales (KTM) 2014 Marc Márquez (Honda) Tito Rabat (Kalex) Álex Márquez (Honda) 2015 Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) Johann Zarco (Kalex) Danny Kent (Honda) 2016 Marc Márquez (Honda) Johann Zarco (Kalex) Brad Binder (KTM) 2017 Marc Márquez (Honda) Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) Joan Mir (Honda) 2018 Marc Márquez (Honda) Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) Jorge Martín (Honda) 2019 Marc Márquez (Honda) Álex Márquez (Kalex) Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Honda) 2020 Joan Mir (Suzuki) Enea Bastianini (Kalex) Albert Arenas (KTM) 2021 Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) Remy Gardner (Kalex) Pedro Acosta (KTM) 2022 Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) Augusto Fernández (Kalex) Izan Guevara (GasGas)