MotoGP Rookie of the Year

The Rookie of the Year Award has been given to the newcomer in the premier class – MotoGP (current top division of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing is known as MotoGP since 2002 when the four-stroke era began) who collects the most World Championship points during his first season of competition. Prior to that, the largest class was 500cc.

MotoGP Rookie of the Year winners

The following list compiling all the winners of the Rookie of the Year Award in the premier class - MotoGP from 2002[1] season to the present day.

Season No. Rider Rider standings Wins Team Bike Tyres
2002 74 Daijiro Kato 7 Gresini Racing Honda NSR500 (1–9)
Honda RC211V (10–16)
M
2003 69 Nicky Hayden 5 Repsol Honda Honda RC211V M
2004 11 Rubén Xaus 11 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP3 M
2005 24 Toni Elías 12 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 M
2006 26 Dani Pedrosa[2] 5 2 Repsol Honda Honda RC211V M
2007 50 Sylvain Guintoli* 16 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 D
2008 48 Jorge Lorenzo[3] 4 1 Yamaha Motor Racing Yamaha YZR-M1 M
2009 36 Mika Kallio 15 Pramac Racing 1–10, 14–17
Ducati Corse 11–13
Ducati Desmosedici GP9 B
2010 11 Ben Spies[4] 6 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 B
2011 35 Cal Crutchlow[5] 12 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 B
2012 6 Stefan Bradl[6] 8 LCR Team Honda RC213V B
2013 93 Marc Márquez[7] Champion 6 Repsol Honda Honda RC213V B
2014 44 Pol Espargaró 6 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 B
2015 25 Maverick Viñales[8] 12 Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSX-RR B
2016 53 Tito Rabat*[9] 21 Marc VDS Racing Team Honda RC213V M
2017 5 Johann Zarco[10] 6 Tech3 Yamaha YZR-M1 M
2018 21 Franco Morbidelli[11] 15 Marc VDS Racing Team Honda RC213V M
2019 20 Fabio Quartararo[12] 5 Sepang Racing Team Yamaha YZR-M1 M
2020 33 Brad Binder[13] 11 1 KTM Factory Racing KTM RC16 M
2021 89 Jorge Martín[14] 9 1 Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici GP21 M
2022 72 Marco Bezzecchi[15] 14 VR46 Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP21 M
2023 37 Augusto Fernández* 17 Tech3 KTM RC16 M
2024 31 Pedro Acosta* 6 Tech3 KTM RC16 M
  • Sylvain Guintoli, who finished 16th overall in 2007, Tito Rabat, who finished 21st in 2016, Augusto Fernández in 2023, and Pedro Acosta in 2024 were the only rookies in the MotoGP grid that year.

Moto2 Rookie of the Year winners

The following list compiling all the winners of the Rookie of the Year Award in Moto2 class from 2011 to the present day.

Season No. Rider Rider standings Wins Team Bike Tyres
2011 93 Marc Márquez Second 7 Emilio Alzamora Racing Suter MMXI Honda CBR600RR D
2012 5 Johann Zarco 10 Japan Italy Racing Motobi TSR6 Honda CBR600RR D
2013 81 Jordi Torres 10 1 Aspar Team Suter MMX2 Honda CBR600RR D
2014 40 Maverick Viñales Third 4 Pons Racing Kalex Moto2 Honda CBR600RR D
2015 40 Álex Rins Second 2 Pons Racing Kalex Moto2 Honda CBR600RR D
2016 97 Xavi Vierge 20 Tech3 Tech3 Mistral 610 Honda CBR600RR D
2017 42 Francesco Bagnaia 5 VR46 Racing Team Kalex Moto2 Honda CBR600RR D
2018 36 Joan Mir 6 Marc VDS Racing Team Kalex Moto2 Honda CBR600RR D
2019 21 Fabio Di Giannantonio 9 Speed Up Racing Speed Up SF19T Triumph 765cc D
2020 44 Arón Canet 14 Aspar Team Speed Up SF20T Triumph 765cc D
2021 25 Raúl Fernández Second 8 Ajo Motorsport Kalex Moto2 Triumph 765cc D
2022 51 Pedro Acosta 5 3 Ajo Motorsport Kalex Moto2 Triumph 765cc D
2023 11 Sergio García 15 Pons Racing Kalex Moto2 Triumph 765cc D

Moto3 Rookie of the Year winners

The following list compiling all the winners of the Rookie of the Year Award in Moto3 class from 2012 season to the present day.

Season No. Rider Rider standings Wins Team Bike Tyres
2012 42 Álex Rins 5 Emilio Alzamora Racing Suter MMX3 Honda NSF250RW D
2013 65 Philipp Öttl 18 Paddock Grand Prix Kalex KTM RC250GP D
2014 33 Enea Bastianini 9 Gresini Racing KTM RC250GP D
2015 09 Jorge Navarro 7 Emilio Alzamora Racing Honda NSF250RW D
2016 36 Joan Mir 5 1 Leopard Racing KTM RC250GP D
2017 71 Ayumu Sasaki 20 Sepang Racing Team Honda NSF250RW D
2018 5 Jaume Masiá 13 Bester Capital Dubai KTM RC250GP D
2019 13 Celestino Vietti 6 VR46 Racing Team KTM RC250GP D
2020 52 Jeremy Alcoba 11 Gresini Racing Honda NSF250RW D
2021 37 Pedro Acosta Champion 6 Ajo Motorsport KTM RC250GP D
2022 10 Diogo Moreira 8 MT Helmets - MSi KTM RC250GP D
2023 80 David Alonso Third 4 Aspar Team Gas Gas RC250GP D
2024 36 Ángel Piqueras 8 1 Leopard Racing Honda NSF250RW P

500cc Rookie of the Year riders

The following list compiling the rookie riders in the 500cc class who collects the most World Championship points during their first season of competition from 1976 to the 2001 season.

Season No. Rider Rider standings Wins Team Bike Tyres
1976 Pat Hennen Third 1 Colemans Racing Suzuki RG 500
1977 32 Steve Baker Second Yamaha International Yamaha YZR500 D
1978 80 Kenny Roberts Champion 4 Yamaha USA Yamaha YZR500 G
1979 Franco Uncini 5 Franco Uncini Racing Zago Suzuki RG 500 M
1980 Graeme Crosby 8 Suzuki GB Heron Suzuki RG 500
1981 Marc Fontan 9 Sonauto Sonauto Yamaha YZR500
1982 40 Freddie Spencer Third 2 Honda Racing Honda NS500 M
1983 27 Eddie Lawson 4 Yamaha Motor Racing Yamaha YZR500 D
1984 Wayne Gardner 7 Honda Britain Racing Honda NS500 D
1985 Pierre-Etienne Samin 12 Honda Benelux Honda RS500 M
1986 Pierfrancesco Chili 10 Roberto Gallina Racing Suzuki RG 500 M
1987 18 Kenny Irons 14 Heron Suzuki GB Suzuki RGV500 M
1988 14 Patrick Igoa 14 Sonauto Yamaha YZR500 M
1989 27 Mick Doohan 9 Honda Racing Honda NSR500 M
1990 14 Jean-Philippe Ruggia 8 Sonauto Yamaha YZR500 D
1991 19 John Kocinski 4 1 Team Roberts Yamaha YZR500 D
1992 28 Àlex Crivillé 8 1 Pons Racing Honda NSR500 M
1993 7 Luca Cadalora 5 2 Team Roberts Yamaha YZR500 D
1994 17 Alberto Puig 5 Pons Racing Honda NSR500 M
1995 65 Loris Capirossi 6 Team Pileri Honda NSR500 M
1996 11 Scott Russell 6 Suzuki MotGP Suzuki RGV500 M
1997 18 Nobuatsu Aoki Third Technical Sports Racing Honda NSR500 M
1998 6 Max Biaggi Second 2 Team Kanemoto Honda NSR500 M
1999 31 Tetsuya Harada 10 Aprilia Racing Aprilia RSW-2 500 D
2000 46 Valentino Rossi Second 2 Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500 M
2001 56 Shinya Nakano 5 Tech3 Yamaha YZR500 M

125cc Rookie of the Year riders

The following list compiling the rookie riders who collects the most World Championship points during their first season of competition in the 125cc class from 1990 to the 2011 season.

Season No. Rider Rider standings Wins Team Bike Tyres
1990 65 Loris Capirossi Champion 3 Polini Racing Honda RS125 D
1991 56 Noboru Ueda 5 2 Hero Sports TS Honda RS125 B
1992 31 Carlos Giro Jr. 12 Carlos Giró Team Aprilia RS125R D
1993 36 Takeshi Tsujimura Third 1 F.C.C. Technical Sports Honda RS125R B
1994 32 Stefano Perugini 7 Ipa Corse FMI Aprilia Aprilia RS125R D
1995 20 Tomomi Manako 8 FCC Technical Sports Honda RS125R B
1996 46 Valentino Rossi 9 1 Scuderia AGV Aprilia RS125R D
1997 15 Roberto Locatelli 8 Team Axo Inoxmacel Honda RS125R D
1998 13 Marco Melandri Third 2 Matteoni Racing Honda RS125R D
1999 16 Simone Sanna 8 Polini Racing Honda RS125R D
2000 15 Alex De Angelis 18 Matteoni Racing Honda RS125R D
2001 26 Dani Pedrosa 8 Honda Racing Honda RS125R D
2002 36 Mika Kallio 11 Ajo Motorsport Honda RS125R D
2003 27 Casey Stoner 8 1 LCR Team Aprilia RS125R D
2004 54 Mattia Pasini 15 LCR Team Aprilia RS125R D
2005 71 Tomoyoshi Koyama 8 Ajo Motorsport Honda RS125R D
2006 38 Bradley Smith 19 Honda Racing Honda RS125R D
2007 44 Pol Espargaró 9 Campetella Racing Aprilia RS125R D
2008 45 Scott Redding 11 1 Esponsorama Racing Aprilia RS125R D
2009 94 Jonas Folger 12 Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia RS125R D
2010 39 Luis Salom 12 Lambretta (1–2),
Molenaar Racing (3–17)
Lambretta 125 (1–2),
Aprilia RSA 125 (3–17)
D
2011 25 Maverick Viñales Third 4 Esponsorama Racing Aprilia RSA 125 D

References

  1. ^ "Successful rookies: The MotoGP Rookies-of-the-Year". www.speedweek.com.
  2. ^ "Marquez to join Pedrosa at Honda". BBC Sport. 12 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Lorenzo wins a 2008 title". Crash. October 26, 2008.
  4. ^ "Spies named as top Rookie of 2010". Visordown. October 18, 2010.
  5. ^ Suddaby, Louis (November 7, 2011). "Crutchlow "Thrilled" With Rookie Of The Year Title". The Checkered Flag.
  6. ^ "Stefan Bradl Wins MotoGP Rookie Of The Year | ChapMoto.com".
  7. ^ Welch, William M. "Marc Marquez first rookie to win MotoGP race at Laguna Seca". USA TODAY.
  8. ^ Lieback, Ron (November 5, 2015). "2015 MotoGP Rookie of the Year - Maverick Vinales". Ultimate Motorcycling.
  9. ^ Fathoni W, Kris. "Tentang Tito Rabat, Satu-satunya Rookie MotoGP 2016". detiksport.
  10. ^ "Johann Zarco le "Rookie of the Year" de la saison Moto GP 2017". November 8, 2017.
  11. ^ "Franco Morbidelli crowned MotoGP Rookie of the Year in 2018". November 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Motegi masterclass makes Quartararo Rookie of the Year". www.yamaha-racing.com.
  13. ^ "SA's Brad Binder crowned MotoGP's 2020 Rookie of the Year". Life.
  14. ^ Cappelli, Federico (November 14, 2021). "Valencia GP - Jorge Martin's podium in Valencia earns him MotoGP 2021 Rookie of the year. Johann Zarco ends the season in fourth place overall".
  15. ^ "Bezzecchi rookie dell'anno: 'Rossi mi ha mandato un messaggio'". sport.sky.it. October 16, 2022.