Who is the best MotoGP rider of all time?

MotoGP has been one of the most successful motor sports event that we have seen in our life time. With immensely talented riders an exciting races, the sport has been eventful, to say the least. MotoGP has seen a lot of impressive riders in its lifetime and therefore, picking the best of all times has to be a really difficult decision. But the two names that pop up amongst all of them are Giacomo Agostini, Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez.

Giacomo Agostini might have the most number of titles with 15 to his name but he was no where close to the level of dominance Valentino Rossi has had in his time as a MotoGP rider. The seven time MotoGP world champion has the most number of Grand Prix victories to his name. Rossi has 89 victories to his name with Giacomo Agostini in second with 68 victories. But the thing we need to get into consideration is the fact that how many fewer races were contested at that point in time.

Marc Marquez is another name that features in the list of the greats but it feels like he has a lot of work to do if he wants to be spoken in the same breath as Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. But that shouldn’t take away his incredible achievements and the kind of impact he has had in this modern era. It takes a lot of talent, grit and determination to become a six time world champion.

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MotoGP riders that stand out among the other greats are Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi

But both Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini changed the course of racing in their respective eras and therefore the duo should get more credit. It’s difficult to separate between the two but the stats favor the Doctor, Valentino Rossi.

1. “First in all time points with 3970 points, the only rider with Loris Capirossi to achieve more than 3000 points in the history of the continental circus.”

2. “The only rider to win World Championship titles in five different classes: 125 cc, 250 cc, 500 cc 990 cc & 800 cc.”

3. “The only rider to win championships with the 3 different engines used in MotoGP history, 500cc 2 stroke (2001), 990cc 4 stroke (2002/03/04/05) and 800cc 4stroke (2008),” as reported by bleacherreport.

On the basis of facts, Valentino Rossi might hold an advantage over the other two but it’s always a sin to compare riders from two different generation. All 3 of them were great and different people will have different perceptions regarding their greatness.

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