There were five classes when the championship started in 1949; 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc and sidecar (600cc). The 50cc class was introduced in 1962. Due to escalating costs that resulted in a number of manufacturers leaving the championship, the FIM limited the 50cc bikes to a single cylinder, the 125cc and 250cc bikes were limited to two cylinders and the 350cc and 500cc bikes were limited to four cylinders. The 350cc class was discontinued in 1982, two years later the 50cc class was replaced with an 80cc class, which was discontinued in 1989. The sidecar class left the series to form its own championship after 1996. In 2002, 990cc bikes replaced the 500c bikes and the class was renamed as MotoGP.[2] 660cc bikes replaced the 250cc bikes in 2010, with the class rebranded as Moto2.[3] Starting 2012, the Moto3 class (250cc one cylinder) replaced the 125cc class.
The 750 FIM Prize became a world championship from 1977 onwards after a favourable vote from the FIM general council.[4]
Sidecars had 600 cc engines in the first two years, after which they were replaced by 500cc engines. In 1979 the FIM created a prototype sidecar class named B2B, as opposed to the traditional B2A. Prototypes were banned in 1980, but from 1981 onwards prototypes were allowed again, this time without having a separate class.
The Riders' World Championship is awarded to the most successful rider over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results. The constructors listed in this table are the bike that the world champions rode during that winning season and are not necessarily the winner of the constructors' world championship in that season. For sidecar champions, the passenger name is in italics.
| Year | 500cc | 350cc | 250cc | 125cc | Sidecar |
|---|
| 1949 | United Kingdom}} Leslie Graham (AJS) | United Kingdom}} Freddie Frith (Velocette) | Italy}} Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) | Italy}} Nello Pagani (Mondial) | United Kingdom}} Eric Oliver
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Denis Jenkinson
(Norton) |
|---|
| 1950 | Italy}} Umberto Masetti (Gilera) | United Kingdom}} Bob Foster (Velocette) | Italy}} Dario Ambrosini (Benelli) | Italy}} Bruno Ruffo (Mondial) | United Kingdom}} Eric Oliver
{{flagicon|Italy}} Lorenzo Dobelli
(Norton) |
|---|
| 1951 | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Norton) | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Norton) | Italy}} Bruno Ruffo (Moto Guzzi) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (Mondial) | United Kingdom}} Eric Oliver
{{flagicon|Italy}} Lorenzo Dobelli
(Norton) |
|---|
| 1952 | Italy}} Umberto Masetti (Gilera) | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Norton) | Italy}} Enrico Lorenzetti (Moto Guzzi) | United Kingdom}} Cecil Sandford (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Cyril Smith
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Bob Clements
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Les Nutt
(Norton) |
|---|
| 1953 | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Gilera) | United Kingdom}} Fergus Anderson (Moto Guzzi) | West Germany}} Werner Haas (NSU) | West Germany}} Werner Haas (NSU) | United Kingdom}} Eric Oliver
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Stanley Dibben
(Norton) |
|---|
| 1954 | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Gilera) | United Kingdom}} Fergus Anderson (Moto Guzzi) | West Germany}} Werner Haas (NSU) | Austria}} Rupert Hollaus (NSU) | West Germany}} Wilhelm Noll
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Fritz Cron
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1955 | United Kingdom}} Geoff Duke (Gilera) | United Kingdom}} Bill Lomas (Moto Guzzi) | West Germany}} Hermann Paul Müller (NSU) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Willi Faust
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Karl Remmert
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1956 | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Bill Lomas (Moto Guzzi) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Wilhelm Noll
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Fritz Cron
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1957 | Italy}} Libero Liberati (Gilera) | Australia}} Keith Campbell (Moto Guzzi) | United Kingdom}} Cecil Sandford (Mondial) | Italy}} Tarquinio Provini (Mondial) | West Germany}} Fritz Hillebrand
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Manfred Grunwahl
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1958 | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Tarquinio Provini (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Walter Schneider
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Hans Strauß
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1959 | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Walter Schneider
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Hans Strauß
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1960 | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} John Surtees (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | Italy}} Carlo Ubbiali (MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Helmut Fath
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Alfred Wohlgemuth
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1961 | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Gary Hocking (MV Agusta) | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Gary Hocking (MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood (Honda) | Australia}} Tom Phillis (Honda) | West Germany}} Max Deubel
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Emil Hörner
(BMW) |
|---|
| Year | 500cc | 350cc | 250cc | 125cc | 50cc | Sidecar |
|---|
| 1962 | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(MV Agusta) | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | Switzerland}} Luigi Taveri
(Honda) | West Germany}} Ernst Degner
(Suzuki) | West Germany}} Max Deubel
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Emil Hörner
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1963 | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(MV Agusta) | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | Rhodesia and Nyasaland}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | New Zealand}} Hugh Anderson
(Suzuki) | New Zealand}} Hugh Anderson
(Suzuki) | West Germany}} Max Deubel
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Emil Hörner
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1964 | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(MV Agusta) | Rhodesia|1964}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(Yamaha) | Switzerland}} Luigi Taveri
(Honda) | New Zealand}} Hugh Anderson
(Suzuki) | West Germany}} Max Deubel
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Emil Hörner
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1965 | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(MV Agusta) | Rhodesia|1964}} Jim Redman
(Honda) | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(Yamaha) | New Zealand}} Hugh Anderson
(Suzuki) | United Kingdom}} Ralph Bryans
(Honda) | Switzerland}} Fritz Scheidegger
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} John Robinson
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1966 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(Honda) | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(Honda) | Switzerland}} Luigi Taveri
(Honda) | West Germany}} Hans-Georg Anscheidt
(Suzuki) | Switzerland}} Fritz Scheidegger
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} John Robinson
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1967 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(Honda) | United Kingdom}} Mike Hailwood
(Honda) | United Kingdom}} Bill Ivy
(Yamaha) | West Germany}} Hans-Georg Anscheidt
(Suzuki) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1968 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(Yamaha) | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(Yamaha) | West Germany}} Hans-Georg Anscheidt
(Suzuki) | West Germany}} Helmut Fath
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Wolfgang Kalauch
(URS) |
|---|
| 1969 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Australia}} Kel Carruthers
(Benelli) | United Kingdom}} Dave Simmonds
(Kawasaki) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Derbi) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1970 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Rodney Gould
(Yamaha) | West Germany}} Dieter Braun
(Suzuki) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Derbi) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Wolfgang Kalauch
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1971 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(Yamaha) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Derbi) | Netherlands}} Jan de Vries
(Kreidler) | West Germany}} Horst Owesle
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Julius Kremer
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Peter Rutterford
(Münch-URS) |
|---|
| 1972 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | Finland}} Jarno Saarinen
(Yamaha) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Derbi) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Derbi) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1973 | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(MV Agusta) | West Germany}} Dieter Braun
(Yamaha) | Sweden}} Kent Andersson
(Yamaha) | Netherlands}} Jan de Vries
(Kreidler) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
(BMW) |
|---|
| 1974 | United Kingdom}} Phil Read
(MV Agusta) | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(Yamaha) | Italy}} Walter Villa
(Harley-Davidson) | Sweden}} Kent Andersson
(Yamaha) | Netherlands}} Henk van Kessel
(Kreidler-Van Veen) | West Germany}} Klaus Enders
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Ralf Engelhardt
(Busch-BMW) |
|---|
| 1975 | Italy}} Giacomo Agostini
(Yamaha) | Venezuela|1930}} Johnny Cecotto
(Yamaha) | Italy}} Walter Villa
(Harley-Davidson) | Italy}} Paolo Pileri
(Morbidelli) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Kreidler) | West Germany}} Rolf Steinhausen
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Josef Huber
(Busch-König) |
|---|
| 1976 | United Kingdom}} Barry Sheene
(Suzuki) | Italy}} Walter Villa
(Harley-Davidson) | Italy}} Walter Villa
(Harley-Davidson) | Italy}} Pier Paolo Bianchi
(Morbidelli) | Spain|1945}} Ángel Nieto
(Bultaco) | West Germany}} Rolf Steinhausen
{{flagicon|West Germany}} Josef Huber
(Busch-König) |
|---|
| Year | 500cc | 250cc | 125cc | 80cc | Sidecar |
|---|
| 1984 | United States}} Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) | France}} Christian Sarron (Yamaha) | Spain}} Ángel Nieto (Garelli) | Switzerland}} Stefan Dörflinger (Zündapp) | Netherlands}} Egbert Streuer
{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Bernie Schnieders
(LCR-Yamaha) |
|---|
| 1985 | United States}} Freddie Spencer (Honda) | United States}} Freddie Spencer (Honda) | Italy}} Fausto Gresini (Garelli) | Switzerland}} Stefan Dörflinger (Krauser) | Netherlands}} Egbert Streuer
{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Bernie Schnieders
(LCR-Yamaha) |
|---|
| 1986 | United States}} Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) | Venezuela|1930}} Carlos Lavado (Yamaha) | Italy}} Luca Cadalora (Garelli) | Spain}} Jorge Martínez (Derbi) | Netherlands}} Egbert Streuer
{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Bernie Schnieders
(LCR-Yamaha) |
|---|
| 1987 | Australia}} Wayne Gardner (Honda) | Germany}} Anton Mang (Honda) | Italy}} Fausto Gresini (Garelli) | Spain}} Jorge Martínez (Derbi) | United Kingdom}} Steve Webster
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Tony Hewitt
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1988 | United States}} Eddie Lawson (Yamaha) | Spain}} Sito Pons (Honda) | Spain}} Jorge Martínez (Derbi) | Spain}} Jorge Martínez (Derbi) | United Kingdom}} Steve Webster
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Tony Hewitt
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Gavin Simmons
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1989 | United States}} Eddie Lawson (Honda) | Spain}} Sito Pons (Honda) | Spain}} Àlex Crivillé (JJ Cobas) | Spain}} Manuel Herreros (Derbi) | United Kingdom}} Steve Webster
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Tony Hewitt
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| Year | 500cc | 250cc | 125cc | Sidecar |
|---|
| 1990 | United States}} Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) | United States}} John Kocinski (Yamaha) | Italy}} Loris Capirossi (Honda) | France}} Alain Michel
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Simon Birchall
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1991 | United States}} Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) | Italy}} Luca Cadalora (Honda) | Italy}} Loris Capirossi (Honda) | United Kingdom}} Steve Webster
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Gavin Simmons
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1992 | United States}} Wayne Rainey (Yamaha) | Italy}} Luca Cadalora (Honda) | Italy}} Alessandro Gramigni (Aprilia) | Switzerland}} Rolf Biland
{{flagicon|Switzerland}} Kurt Waltisperg
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1993 | United States}} Kevin Schwantz (Suzuki) | Japan}} Tetsuya Harada (Yamaha) | Germany}} Dirk Raudies (Honda) | Switzerland}} Rolf Biland
{{flagicon|Switzerland}} Kurt Waltisperg
(LCR-Krauser) |
|---|
| 1994 | Australia}} Mick Doohan (Honda) | Italy}} Max Biaggi (Aprilia) | Japan}} Kazuto Sakata (Aprilia) | Switzerland}} Rolf Biland
{{flagicon|Switzerland}} Kurt Waltisperg
(LCR-Swissauto) |
|---|
| 1995 | Australia}} Mick Doohan (Honda) | Italy}} Max Biaggi (Aprilia) | Japan}} Haruchika Aoki (Honda) | United Kingdom}} Darren Dixon
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Andy Hetherington
(Windle-ADM) |
|---|
| 1996 | Australia}} Mick Doohan (Honda) | Italy}} Max Biaggi (Aprilia) | Japan}} Haruchika Aoki (Honda) | United Kingdom}} Darren Dixon
{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Andy Hetherington
(Windle-ADM) |
|---|
| Year | MotoGP | 250cc | 125cc | | 2002 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Honda) | Italy}} Marco Melandri (Aprilia) | France}} Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) |
|---|
| 2003 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Honda) | San Marino}} Manuel Poggiali (Aprilia) | Spain}} Dani Pedrosa (Honda) |
|---|
| 2004 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) | Spain}} Dani Pedrosa (Honda) | Italy}} Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) |
|---|
| 2005 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) | Spain}} Dani Pedrosa (Honda) | Switzerland}} Thomas Lüthi (Honda) |
|---|
| 2006 | United States}} Nicky Hayden (Honda) | Spain}} Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) | Spain}} Álvaro Bautista (Aprilia) |
|---|
| 2007 | Australia}} Casey Stoner (Ducati) | Spain}} Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) | Hungary}} Gábor Talmácsi (Aprilia) |
|---|
| 2008 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) | Italy}} Marco Simoncelli (Gilera) | France}} Mike di Meglio (Derbi) |
|---|
| 2009 | Italy}} Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) | Japan}} Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda) | Spain}} Julián Simón (Aprilia) |
|---|
| Year | MotoGP | Moto2 | Moto3 | | 2012 | Spain}} Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Suter) | Germany}} Sandro Cortese (KTM) |
|---|
| 2013 | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Honda) | Spain}} Pol Espargaró (Kalex) | Spain}} Maverick Viñales (KTM) |
|---|
| 2014 | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Honda) | Spain}} Esteve Rabat (Kalex) | Spain}} Alex Márquez (Honda) |
|---|
| 2015 | Spain}} Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) | France}} Johann Zarco (Kalex) | Great Britain}} Danny Kent (Honda) |
|---|
| 2016 | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Honda) | France}} Johann Zarco (Kalex) | South Africa}} Brad Binder (KTM) |
|---|
| 2017 | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Honda) | ITA}} Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) | SPA}} Joan Mir (Honda) |
|---|
| 2018 | Spain}} Marc Márquez (Honda) | ITA}} Francesco Bagnaia (Kalex) | Spain}} Jorge Martín (Honda) |
|---|
1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Basics |title=Basics |publisher=MotoGP |accessdate=26 July 2011 }}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/MotoGP+Basics/history |title=History |publisher=MotoGP |accessdate=6 September 2011 }}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/2010+Moto2+class+to+be+powered+by+Honda |title=2010 Moto2 class to be powered by Honda |publisher=MotoGP |date=2 May 2009 |accessdate=6 September 2011 }}
4. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/110th-fim-anniversary-flash-back-1976-1979/|title=FIM History Flash Back 1796-1979|work=FIM-live.com|accessdate=10 September 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218163229/http://www.fim-live.com/en/article/110th-fim-anniversary-flash-back-1976-1979/|archivedate=18 February 2017}}