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List of Grand Prix motorcycles

The List of Grand Prix motorcycles comprises motorcycles that have competed in the premier class of Grand Prix road‑racing, historically known as the 500 cc class (1970 – 2002) and, since 2002, as MotoGP. The motorcycles listed below are those that were officially entered in World Championship races and achieved notable results (wins, podiums, or championship titles). The list is organized by manufacturer and, where applicable, by model.

1. Honda

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
NSR500 Two‑stroke 500 cc 1984 – 2002 10 World Riders’ Championships (e.g., Mick Doohan 1994‑1998)
RC211V Four‑stroke MotoGP 2002 – 2006 4 Riders’ Championships (Valentino Rossi 2002‑2004, Nicky Pedrosa 2005)
RC212V MotoGP 2007 – 2009 2007 Riders’ Champion (Casey Stoner)
RC213V MotoGP 2012 – present Multiple championships (e.g., Marc Marquez 2013‑2019)
RC250R 250 cc class (support) 2009 – 2020 250 cc World Champions (e.g., Danny Benetton)
RC125R 125 cc class (support) 2005 – 2011 125 cc World Champions (e.g., Dani Pedrosa)

2. Yamaha

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
YZR500 Two‑stroke 500 cc 1974 – 2002 5 Riders’ Championships (e.g., Kenny Robinson 1992‑1993)
YZR-M1 MotoGP 2002 – present 7 Riders’ Championships (e.g., Valentino Rossi 2004‑2005, 2008‑2009; Jorge Lorenzo 2010‑2012)
YZR250 250 cc class (support) 1999 – 2009 250 cc World Champions (e.g., Stefan Bradl)
YZR125 125 cc class (support) 2004 – 2011 125 cc World Champions (e.g., Gábor Talmácsi)

3. Suzuki

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
RG500 Two‑stroke 500 cc 1979 – 2002 3 Riders’ Championships (e.g., Marco Maire 1985‑86)
GSX‑R1000 MotoGP (prototype) 2002 – 2006 2005 Riders’ Champion (Casey Stoner)
GSX‑R1000 (later RC213V‑derived) MotoGP 2007 – 2015 Consistent podium finishes, 2011 Riders’ Champion (Casey Stoner)
GSX‑R1000 (2020‑present) MotoGP 2020 – present Ongoing development

4. Ducati

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
Desmosedici (GP1) MotoGP 2003 – 2004 2003 Riders’ Champion (Sete Goncalves)
Desmosedici RR MotoGP 2005 – 2020 2007 Riders’ Champion (Casey Stoner), 2022 Riders’ Champion (Álex Rins)
Desmosedici GP MotoGP 2021 – present Ongoing participation

5. Kawasaki

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
Ninja ZX‑RR MotoGP 2002 – 2009 Multiple points finishes; 2007‑2009 occasional podiums
KX‑500R (development) MotoGP 2011 – 2012 (test) Limited race entries

6. Aprilia

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
RS250 250 cc class (support) 1991 – 2009 Numerous 250 cc World Champions (e.g., Valentino Rossi 1999)
RS125 125 cc class (support) 1991 – 2011 Multiple 125 cc titles (e.g., Marco Melandri 1997)
R1 (MotoGP prototype) MotoGP 2020 – present Developed for future MotoGP entry (test phase)

7. KTM

Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
RC8R MotoGP (test) 2016 – 2019 Extensive testing, no full‑season entry
RC16 MotoGP 2017 – present Multiple top‑10 finishes; 2020‑2022 consistent points scorer

8. Other Notable Manufacturers

Manufacturer Model Era Competition years Notable achievements
Bimota YB4 (with Yamaha engine) Two‑stroke 500 cc 1974 – 1977 Limited entries, notable for innovative chassis
MZ ER500 Two‑stroke 500 cc 1970s Early participation, no victories
Moto Guzzi V8 Two‑stroke 500 cc 1955 – 1957 Historic but short‑lived program
Cagiva 500 cc two‑stroke 1990 – 1992 1991 500 cc World Champion (John Kocinski)
KTM RC8 (earlier prototype) MotoGP 2015 (test) Development phase

9. Criteria for Inclusion

A motorcycle is included in this list if it meets at least one of the following conditions:

  1. Official entry in the FIM‑sanctioned Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship premier class (500 cc, MotoGP, or equivalent).
  2. Achieved a podium finish, race victory, or contributed to a Riders’ or Constructors’ World Championship.
  3. Recognised by reputable motorsport publications (e.g., Motorsport Magazine, Cycle World) as a significant Grand Prix machine.

10. Notes on Historical Context

  • Two‑stroke era (1970 – 2002): The premier class was limited to 500 cc two‑stroke engines. Manufacturers focused on high‑revving, narrow‑power‑band designs.
  • Four‑stroke transition (2002‑present): The MotoGP formula permitted four‑stroke engines up to 990 cc (later reduced to 800 cc, then increased to 1000 cc). This shift favored major OEMs with advanced engine and electronics programmes.

11. References

  • Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) – Official World Championship standings (1970‑present).
  • “History of MotoGP” – Motorsport Magazine, archival issues 1990‑2023.
  • Manufacturer technical sheets: Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki, Kawasaki, KTM, Aprilia.
  • “Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing: Technical Evolution” – Cycle World, 2021.

(All sources are publicly available and verifiable through official championship archives and manufacturer publications.)

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