Gallery: the best rookies in the MotoGP era

Of the 20 riders, half (10) managed to get on the podium at some time in their debut year in MotoGP, but only five won at least one grand prix – the last Jorge Martín in Austria this season – and only one was proclaimed champion of the world –Marc Márquez in 2013–.

The Catalan, who of course heads the list with the most points, victories, podiums and pole positions, broke all records in his debut in the heavy bike category. The one who came closest to achieving something similar to #93 was Jorge Lorenzo in 2008, who despite winning a race did not go beyond fourth place overall in the championship, while Nicky Hayden (2003), Dani Pedrosa (2006) and Fabio Quartararo (2019) also slipped into the final top 5.

Although 13 of the 20 riders arrived after having been world champions in other categories, only Hayden and Márquez were able to repeat in MotoGP. Those who did not win the rookie , but were proclaimed champions in the queen category were Casey Stoner (2007 and 2011) and Joan Mir (2020).

Only three of the 20 rookies left MotoGP without ever having been on the podium –Mika Kallio, Sylvain Guintoli and Tito Rabat–, while eight did not open their win locker.

Finally, in this period Yamaha dominates Honda with eight rookies to seven. Ducati , three times, Suzuki and KTM with one each complete the list.

Best rookies in the MotoGP era

^{(Click on the images at the end of the article to enlarge them and press ‘Play’ to let them pass)}

2002 –Daijiro Kato

1/20 _

Foto de: Richard Sloop

2003 – Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team

2 / 20

Photo de: Repsol Media

2004 – Ruben Xaus

3/20

Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2005 – Tony Elias

4 / 20

Photo by: Gauloises Fortuna Racing

2006 – Dani Pedrosa

5 / 20

Photo by: Repsol Media

2007 – Sylvain Guintoli

6 / 20

Photo by: Yamaha Motor Racing

2008 – Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing

7/20 _

Photo de: Yamaha Motor Racing

2009 – Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing

8 / 20

Photo by: Pramac Racing

2010 – Ben Spies, Monster Yamaha Tech 3

9 / 20

Photo de: Bridgestone Corporation

2011 – Cal Crutchlow, Monster Yamaha Tech 3

10 / 20

Photo by: Tech 3

2012 – Stefan Bradl, LCR Honda MotoGP

11 / 20

Photo de: Hazrin Yeob Men Shah

2013 – Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

12 / 20

Photo by: Repsol Media

2014 – Pol Espargaro, Monster Yamaha Tech 3

13 / 20

Photo by: Bridgestone Corporation

2015 – Maverick Viñales, Team Suzuki MotoGP

14 / 20

Photo by: Suzuki MotoGP

2016 – Tito Rabat, Estrella Galicia 0.0 Marc VDS

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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2017 – Johann Zarco, Monster Yamaha Tech 3

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2018 – Franco Morbidelli, Estrella Galicia 0.0 Marc VDS

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Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2019 – Fabio Quartararo, Petronas Yamaha SRT

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Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2020 – Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

2021 – Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing

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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images