Final statistics for the 990cc MotoGP era

Raceline Photography
By Dan Moakes
November 19 2006

Nicky Hayden may be the new World Champion but, as the five year period of the 990cc four-stroke MotoGP formula comes to an end, only one rider can be considered the master. His name is Valentino Rossi.

Valentino Rossi had already won the 500cc Grand Prix title when the new four-stroke era kicked off in 2002. Despite switching to Yamaha after two years with the pace-setting Honda RC211V, Rossi emerged as the dominant rider over four years in a row. The 2006 Yamaha M1 gave the Italian more troubles than he’d had up to that point in the premier GP class, and yet he won more times than anyone else - and would likely have taken the title again with one less mechanical failure. After 82 races run, Valentino’s strike rate is up at almost 55%, and is well clear of the next man. There was no shortage of dramatic racing, but how close would this period have been without Rossi?

990cc Grand Prix victories:

rider	02	03	04	05	06	total
Valentino Rossi ITA	11	9	9	11	5	45
Sete Gibernau ESP		4	4			8
Loris Capirossi ITA		1		2	3	6
Max Biaggi ITA	2	2	1			5
Marco Melandri ITA				2	3	5
Alex Barros BRA	2			1		3
Nicky Hayden USA				1	2	3
Makoto Tamada JAP			2			2
Dani Pedrosa ESP					2	2
Tohru Ukawa JAP	1					1
Troy Bayliss AUS					1	1
Toní Elías ESP					1	1

bike	02	03	04	05	06	total
Honda*	14	15	7	4	8	48
Yamaha	2		9	11	5	27
Ducati		1		2	4	7

* includes Gresini Honda 14, Pons Honda 8

Podium finishes (rider):
Valentino Rossi 68; Max Biaggi 30; Sete Gibernau 24; Loris Capirossi 21; Nicky Hayden 20; Marco Melandri 16; Alex Barros 13; Tohru Ukawa 9; Dani Pedrosa 8; Carlos Checa 7; Colin Edwards 6; Troy Bayliss and Makoto Tamada 5; Kenny Roberts 4; Daijiro Kato and Shin’ya Nakano 2; Toní Elías, Olivier Jacque, Akira Ryo, Casey Stoner, Chris Vermeulen and Rubén Xaus 1

Podium finishes (bike):
Honda 153; Yamaha 57; Ducati 27; Suzuki 4; Kawasaki 3; Roberts 2