The top 25 motorcycle riders throughout history

In the back of my grandfather’s garage was a partially dismantled Bultaco.

One day, I asked him why he didn’t use it, and he told me that motorcycles are only taken out to win and that anyone who takes it out to show it is a fake.

I questioned him further about why he didn’t use it, and he said that motorcycles are only taken out to win.

I will freely admit that my grandfather could be a bit of a bully at times, especially considering that I was only five years old when I first met him.

On the other hand, I picked up some helpful information, namely that some vehicles are built for glory.

Ultimately, I decided to purchase a motorcycle, which I used solely to ride into town with my girlfriend and get to work early in the morning.

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t prepared to shine, but I enjoyed watching motorcycle racing and all other types of racing and competitions.

And thanks to YouTube, I can view all of the documentaries and old videos that detail past achievements. Because, like old rockers, great bikers never die.

Now, in this article, we will present our list of the top 25 motorcycle racers in the history of the sport. Please come in and take pleasure in the names.

Who are the most accomplished bikers in all of motorcycle racing’s history?

The number twenty-five might appear capable of including riders of all calibers, even if it detracts from some of them by serving as a filler on such a list.

Do you know the hundreds of riders who compete every day in the world of motorcycling to make a name for themselves?

As a result, being admitted into the elite group of the top 25 motorcycle racers in the annals of cycling’s history is not a result of having won a few championships and a few more races here and there.

Every single one of the motorcycle racers whose results are listed below has burned through gallons of gas and put their lives in harm’s way countless times to compete at the highest possible level.

We are happy to have you join our group of 25.

1. Giacomo Agostini (1942)

It is generally agreed that the Italian was the best motorcycle speed racer in the sport’s entire history. Between 1966 and 1975, he amassed 15 world titles and 122 victories.

The fact that eight of these titles are in the 500cc category tells us something about the caliber of this beast with two wheels and a motor.

The remaining competitors competed in the 350cc class. He was the face of the MV Agusta brand, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

2. Hubert Auriol (1952-2021) (

Because he was born in the dry lands of Ethiopia, it was inevitable that he would grow up to be a rugged individual who could hold his own in the sands of the desert.

He was the first rider to win the Dakar Rally in both a car and a motorcycle, as he did it three times while driving a bike and once while driving a vehicle.

After he retired, he took over management of the race and remained in that role until 2004.

3. Max Biaggi (1971)

The Italian rider was known by the monikers “Roman Emperor” and “Mad Max” due to his exceptional talent on the bike and his unique personality, which caused him to have conflicting relationships with the media, his teammates, and his opponents.

Between 1994 and 1997, he was victorious in four consecutive 250cc World Championships and two Superbike World Championships (2010, 2012).

In MotoGP, he was on the verge of winning the championship before an injury derailed his chances.

4. Toni Bou (1986)

There are individuals whose names are forever etched into the annals of history for winning a World Championship. Because of his many victories, Toni Bou will go down in history.

Because this horror hailing from Piera in Catalonia and having been born in 1986, already has a total of… 28 victories at the world championship level!

Between 2007 and 2020, there will be a total of 28 world championships for trial, including outdoor and indoor competitions.

He has had undisputed dominance with his Repsol Montesa-HRC team and is not fussy while riding the bike. He is also fearless while riding the bike and in life, as he has declared.

5. Marc Coma (1976)

Who would have thought that a rider hailing from the Catalan village of Avià, known for its rolling hills and lush pastures, would go on to become a Dakar legend?

He got off to a good start in the world of enduro racing, and he was getting ready to pursue his dream.

In 2002, he participated for the first time in the Dakar Rally, and even though he did not finish the race, he decided to continue competing.

Five victories over a decade (2006, 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2015) provide insight into the rider’s personality.

In addition, he enlivened these victories by earning a total of six titles as the world champion of raids.

In 2015, he bowed out of the race and accepted a position as the sporting director for the Dakar rally.

6. Cyril Despres (1974)

The Frenchman has established himself as a leading figure in the world of the Dakar Rally.

He successfully won the mythical competition five times, in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, and 2013.

In addition, he placed second four times and third twice. In other words, he crushed the opposition with an iron fist and completely dominated the competition.

In addition to that, he has experimented with cars and competed successfully in a variety of motorcycle competitions.

7. Michael Doohan (1965)

Between 1994 and 1998, his rivals did not even consider the possibility of beating him to win the 500cc world championship. Mick Doohan did not want to give the other group members any options.

Only Agostini managed to win more world championships than him throughout his career.

Because of a misfortune that befell him in 1992, which nearly resulted in the amputation of his right leg, his accomplishment is all the more admirable.

8. Geoff Duke (1923-2015)

Between 1951 and 1955, the British racer won two world championships in the 350cc class and four in the 500cc class.

Despite this, he was not only the most successful rider in the category during these years, but he also advocated for riders’ rights.

He was responsible for leading a strike to demand a financial increase for the riders, and as a result, he was suspended for six months.

9. Kiara Fontanesi (1994)

One of the most prominent references in motocross right now is the Italian.. 2011 was the first year that she participated in the Motocross World Cup, and since then, she has added six more World Cups nearly in a row (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2017, 2018).

In addition, she has won a couple of European women’s nationals and a couple of Italian women’s residents.

In 2019, just a few short months after becoming a parent, she triumphed at the Dutch Grand Prix.

10. Mike Hailwood (1940-1981)

Between 1961 and 1967, he won nine world speed championships, including three 250cc titles (1961, 1966, and 1967), two 350cc titles (1966 and 1967), and four 500cc titles.

His father was a millionaire car salesman (1962-1965).

Because of all these qualities, some people believe he was the best that ever lived. Mike also took part in Formula 1 competitions.

11. Dougie Lampkin (1976)

In competitions, people referred to him as a true beast.

He was victorious in 12 world championship competitions, including seven outdoor trials (held from 1997 to 2003) and five indoor trials (from 1997 to 2001).

His father was the first trial world champion, and he added to his stele by becoming the champion himself. In 2001, he was awarded the medal for Member of the British Empire (MBE).

12. Jorge Lorenzo (1987)

Jorge Lorenzo is widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats in Spain, even though Marc Marquez’s dominance over the sport has damaged his reputation, and couch potatoes have quickly criticized him.

He has won five world championships, including two in the 250cc category (2006 and 2007) and three in the MotoGP category (2010, 2012, and 2015).

Because of his cocky and aggressive demeanor, he has always been a fearsome competitor, and this was especially true when he was competing against Valentino Rossi.

He has always transmitted his character into his riding.

He won his most recent world championship in 2015; since then, his performance has declined.

13. Marc Márquez (1993)

When he was not even four years old, the Three Wise Men presented him with a motorcycle as one of their gifts.

At age ten, he took the Jerez circuit for the first time and won his first victory in the Spanish Speed Championship.

Already a 125cc champion at the age of 13, he won the 250cc title at the age of 15.

From this point on, he has added 6 MotoGP titles in 8 years, and if injuries respect him, he is on his way to becoming the best rider in the history of this category.

He has accomplished this by winning all of the races in this category.

14. Cyril Neveu (1956)

Yamaha allowed him to win two Dakar Rallies in 1979 and 1980, and Honda allowed him to win another two in 1982, 1986, and 1987.

The funny thing is that Dakar began in 1979, meaning he was the first king of the competition and a reference for all new riders.

This brings up an interesting point.

He used his experience to organize additional demonstrations and events, including the Tunisia Rally.

15. Ángel Nieto (1947)

It is generally agreed that he holds the title of the most outstanding Spanish motorcycle racer.

He exerted a lot of effort to acquire a motorcycle, and in 1969, after being accepted onto the Derbi-Zippo team, he won the 50cc World Championship for the first time.

After his retirement in 1986, he had already won 13 world championships: six in the 50cc category (1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1977) and seven in the 125cc class (1971, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984).

The most peculiar thing about him is that he had triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 13, and he always defended himself by saying he had won 12+1 world championships.

After he retired, he established a team called Team Ducados Angel Nieto.

16. Edi Orioli (1962)

This Italian rider triumphed at the Dakar Rally in the motorcycle category four times in a row.

He was successful in both motorcycles and automobiles, but we’ll focus on his victories in our class: 1990, 1994, 1996, and 1998.

In addition, he was victorious at the Pharaoh’s Rally in 1982 and 1993. In the eyes of the public, he has never been one to make a big splash.

17. Stéphane Peterhansel (1965)

The Frenchman already had a record of six victories in the motorcycle category before he won the Dakar for the seventh time in the car category.

Many people are familiar with him because he won the Dakar seven times in the car category (1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998). Because of all of these things, people refer to him as “Monsieur Dakar.”

Additionally, he has achieved great success in enduro, capturing the world championship in 1997 and again in 2001.

18. Adam Raga (1982)

It’s too bad Toni Bou came along because he would be the most excellent trial rider in the sport’s history. Despite this, he won two world championships outside (in 2005 and 2006) and four world championships inside (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006). After 2006, he maintained his position among the best riders by accumulating several second-place finishes and establishing himself as an outstanding rider.

19. Phil Read (1939)

Because the Englishman is known as “The Prince of Speed,” we can get a sense of his excellent quality just from his nickname.

He fought Mike Hailwood in several legendary bouts and went on to win seven world titles: one in 125cc (1968), four in 250cc (1964, 1965, 1968, and 1971), and two in 500cc (1973, 1974).

Because he was the one who started doing it, he deserves credit for things that are now taken for granted, such as winning all three categories.

20. Jim Redman (1931)

He won the world championship six times and eventually became an MBE.

And the fact that he was forced to emigrate to Rhodesia in 1952 made his life much more difficult.

He won two championships in the 250cc class in 1962 and 1963 and four in the 350cc class (1962-1965). Additionally, in 1964, he was the first to win three different races on the same day.

Because of an injury, he had to give up riding motorcycles.

21. Valentino Rossi (1979)

Even though he is over 40 years old, he has not lost the will to battle and triumph in any of his endeavors. Respect is still garnered whenever the name Il Dottore is mentioned.

Valentino Rossi is a living legend who is a point of reference for riders of all ages, including the most successful riders, such as Marc Marquez.

He is the only person who has ever won the world championship in more than one category, having done so four times.

There was a total of one winner in 125cc (1997), one winner in 250cc (1999), one winner in 500cc (2001), and six winners in MotoGP (2002-2005, 2008-2009).

22. Laia Sanz (1985)

She learned to ride a bike when she was four years old, and when she was 5, she sneaked around on her brother’s bike and rode it.

At seven, she ran her first race and finished last. However, this did not discourage her, and she continued to train diligently. 1997 was the year that he took first place in a men’s championship race.

Since then, she has triumphed in 13 world trial competitions and five world enduro competitions, winning all of them.

Because it didn’t impact her much, she decided to compete in the most prestigious race of them all, the Dakar.

She won the women’s division each of the 11 times she entered, and she finished in the ninth position overall, which is the best finish ever achieved by a woman in this competition.

23. John Surtees was born in 1934 and passed away in 2017

He won seven motorcycle world championships (three in 350cc and four in 500cc between 1952 and 1960) and one Formula One title, proving that he excelled at everything he attempted (1964).

He is the only person who has ever accomplished such a feat, and it would appear that no one will ever be able to top his accomplishments.

1996 marked the year he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame.

24. Jordi Tarrés (1954)

The Catalan is a legendary trial rider who holds the record for most world championships in this discipline with seven victories. He ranks third all-time in terms of the number of titles won.

Since he was a young boy, he has always had a passion for trials, and he was able to leave behind an incredible legacy.

As if that weren’t enough, he did it all on a Gas-Gas motorcycle manufactured in his home country.

25. Carlo Ubbiali (1929-2020)

This Italian rider won the motorcycle world championship an incredible nine times. In the 1950s, no one could compete with him.

He won 6 125cc championships (1951, 1955, 1956, 1958–1960) and three 250cc titles (1956, 1959, 1960).

He called it quits at 30 and became an icon in Italy during his career. It should be no surprise that he is a member of the MotoGP Hall of Fame.

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