The MotoGP world championship has been in operation since 1949, with 30 riders in that time winning the premier class crown.

Britain’s Les Graham won the very first MotoGP title back in 1949 riding an AJS, forming part of an elite club of just 30 names to have etched themselves onto the championship trophy.

By contrast, there have been 34 drivers since 1950 who have won Formula 1 world championships.

John Surtees remains the only person in history to have done both, winning four MotoGP titles in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960, and then the F1 crown in 1964.

Read more: All-time MotoGP race winners’ list

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Of those 30 riders to have won the premier class championship, just 17 have done so more than once.

The rider with the most is Giacomo Agostini, who scored eight MotoGP titles and 15 championships in total when adding in his 350cc crowns.

Valentino Rossi is next on that list with seven in MotoGP and nine overall, with Marc Marquez as of the start of the 2025 season on six in the premier class and eight overall.

In the 21st Century, five riders have won more than one world title in MotoGP: Rossi, Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Pecco Bagnaia.

Just five riders have managed to win the premier class title with multiple manufacturers: Agostini, Rossi, Geoff Duke, Eddie Lawson and Stoner.

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Full list of MotoGP world champions from 1949 to present day              List of all 500cc/MotoGP world champions 1949-2024RiderTitlesYearsManufacturersGiacomo Agostini81966-1972, 1975MV Agusta, YamahaValentino Rossi72001-2005, 2008-2009Honda, YamahaMarc Marquez62013-2014, 2016-2019HondaMick Doohan51994-1998HondaGeoff Duke41951, 1953-1955Norton, GileraJohn Surtees41956, 1958-1960MV AgustaMike Hailwood41962-1965MV AgustaEddie Lawson41984, 1986, 1988-1989Yamaha, HondaKenny Roberts31978-1980YamahaWayne Rainey31990-1992YamahaJorge Lorenzo32010, 2012, 2015YamahaUmberto Masetti21950, 1952GileraPhil Read21973-1974MV AgustaBarry Sheene21976-1977SuzukiFreddie Spencer21983, 1985HondaCasey Stoner22007, 2011Ducati, HondaPecco Bagnaia22022-2023DucatiLes Graham11949AJSLibero Liberati11957GileraGary Hocking11961MV AgustaMarco Lucchinelli11981SuzukiFranco Uncini11982SuzukiWayne Gardner11987HondaKevin Schwantz11993SuzukiAlex Criville11999HondaKenny Roberts Jr.12000SuzukiNicky Hayden12006HondaJoan Mir12020SuzukiFabio Quartararo12021YamahaJorge Martin12024DucatiSubscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter