List of 500cc/MotoGP polesitters

Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing, which has been divided into four classes since 2023: MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE. Classes that have been discontinued include 500cc (although 500cc statistics are combined with MotoGP officially), 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 80cc, 50cc and Sidecar. The Grand Prix Road-Racing World Championship was established in 1949 by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and is the oldest motorsport World Championship.[1]

Marc Márquez, who holds the record with 66 MotoGP pole positions during his career

This list only lists pole positions since 1974, when pole positions were first officially recorded.[2] Marc Márquez holds the record for the most pole positions in the premier class with 66. Mick Doohan is second with 58 poles, and Valentino Rossi is third with 55 poles.[3]

By rider

edit
As of the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix
Key
* MotoGP/500cc World Champion
Grand Prix World Champion
Bold Rider has competed in the 2024 MotoGP season
Grand Prix motorcycle racing polesitters
Rank Country Rider Poles Seasons active in MotoGP/500cc First pole Last pole
1   ESP Marc Márquez* 66 2013 2013 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas 2024 Aragon Grand Prix
2   AUS Mick Doohan* 58 19891999 1990 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1998 500cc Argentine Grand Prix
3   ITA Valentino Rossi* 55 20002021 2001 500cc South African Grand Prix 2018 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix
4   ESP Jorge Lorenzo* 43 20082019 2008 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2018 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix
5   AUS Casey Stoner* 39 20062012 2006 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2012 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix
6   ESP Dani Pedrosa 31 20062018
2021
2023
2006 MotoGP Chinese Grand Prix 2017 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix
7   USA Kevin Schwantz* 29 19861995 1989 500cc Australian Grand Prix 1994 500cc Spanish Grand Prix
8   USA Freddie Spencer* 27 19801987
1989
1993
1982 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1986 500cc Spanish Grand Prix
9   ITA Francesco Bagnaia* 24 2019 2021 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP Solidarity Grand Prix
10   ITA Max Biaggi 23 19982005 1998 500cc Japanese Grand Prix 2004 MotoGP German Grand Prix
11   ESP Jorge Martín* 20 2021 2021 MotoGP Doha Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix
12   UK Barry Sheene* 19 19741984 1975 500cc Dutch TT 1982 500cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix
  AUS Wayne Gardner* 19 19831992 1986 500cc British motorcycle Grand Prix 1990 500cc British motorcycle Grand Prix
14   USA Kenny Roberts* 18 19781983 1978 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1983 500cc San Marino Grand Prix
  USA Eddie Lawson* 18 19831992 1984 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1992 500cc British Grand Prix
16   FRA Fabio Quartararo* 16 2019 2019 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix 2022 MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix
17   USA Wayne Rainey* 15 19881993 1988 500cc United States Grand Prix 1993 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix
  ESP Maverick Viñales 15 2015 2017 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas
19   ESP Sete Gibernau 13 19972006
2009
2000 500cc South African Grand Prix 2006 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix
  ITA Loris Capirossi 13 19951996
20002011
2000 500cc Dutch TT 2006 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix
21   VEN Johnny Cecotto 12 19761980 1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix 1979 500cc Belgian Grand Prix
22   USA Kenny Roberts Jr.* 10 19962007 1999 500cc Japanese Grand Prix 2004 MotoGP Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix
23   ITA Marco Lucchinelli* 9 19761986 1980 500cc Nations Grand Prix 1981 500cc Finnish Grand Prix
  USA John Kocinski 9 1989
19911994
19981999
1991 500cc Vitesse du Mans Grand Prix 1999 500cc Malaysian Grand Prix
  ESP Àlex Crivillé* 9 19922001 1995 500cc Dutch TT 1999 500cc Imola Grand Prix
26   ITA Luca Cadalora 8 1989
19932000
1993 500cc Italian Grand Prix 1995 500cc European Grand Prix
  FRA Johann Zarco 8 2017 2017 MotoGP Dutch TT 2022 MotoGP British Grand Prix
28   FIN Teuvo Länsivuori 7 19741978 1974 500cc Dutch TT 1976 500cc Czechoslovak Grand Prix
  JPN Tadayuki Okada 7 19962000
2008
1996 500cc Malaysian Grand Prix 1999 500cc South African Grand Prix
  ITA Andrea Dovizioso 7 20082022 2010 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix 2018 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix
  ESP Aleix Espargaró 7 20092010
2012
2014 MotoGP Dutch TT 2024 MotoGP British Grand Prix
32   ITA Giacomo Agostini* 6 19651977 1974 500cc Austrian Grand Prix 1976 500cc Finnish Grand Prix
  FRA Christian Sarron 6 1979
1981
19851990
1987 500cc French Grand Prix 1988 500cc French Grand Prix
34   USA Randy Mamola 5 19791990
1992
1980 500cc Belgian Grand Prix 1987 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix
  BRA Alex Barros 5 19902005
2007
2000 500cc Italian Grand Prix 2005 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix
  USA Nicky Hayden* 5 20032016 2005 MotoGP United States Grand Prix 2007 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix
37   UK Phil Read* 4 19611964
1971
19731976
1974 500cc French Grand Prix 1974 500cc Czechoslovak Grand Prix
  NZL Graeme Crosby 4 19801982 1981 500cc Austrian Grand Prix 1982 500cc Austrian Grand Prix
  UK Cal Crutchlow 4 2011 2013 MotoGP Dutch TT 2018 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix
  ITA Marco Bezzecchi 4 2022 2022 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix 2023 MotoGP Indian Grand Prix
41   ESP Carlos Checa 3 19952007
2010
1998 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 2004 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
  JPN Makoto Tamada 3 20032007 2004 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix 2004 MotoGP Valencian Grand Prix
  AUS Chris Vermeulen 3 20052009
2012
2006 MotoGP Turkish Grand Prix 2007 MotoGP Dutch TT
  USA Colin Edwards 3 20032014 2007 MotoGP French Grand Prix 2008 MotoGP Chinese Grand Prix
  ESP Pol Espargaró 3 2014 2020 MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix 2021 MotoGP British Grand Prix
46   NED Jack Middelburg 2 19771983 1980 500cc Dutch TT 1982 500cc Belgian Grand Prix
  FRA Raymond Roche 2 19771983 1984 500cc British Grand Prix 1984 500cc San Marino Grand Prix
  JPN Tadahiko Taira 2 19841985
19871991
1988 500cc Japanese Grand Prix 1989 500cc Japanese Grand Prix
  USA Doug Chandler 2 19911994 1992 500cc Hungarian Grand Prix 1992 500cc French Grand Prix
  FRA Jean-Michel Bayle 2 19961999
2002
1996 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix 1998 500cc Imola Grand Prix
  NED Jurgen van den Goorbergh 2 19972002
2005
1999 500cc Catalan Grand Prix 1999 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix
  UK Jeremy McWilliams 2 19931996
2000
20022005
2007
2000 500cc Australian motorcycle Grand Prix 2002 MotoGP Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
  ITA Marco Simoncelli 2 20102011 2011 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix 2011 MotoGP Dutch TT
  ITA Andrea Iannone 2 20132019 2015 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix 2016 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix
  ITA Franco Morbidelli 2 2018 2020 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix 2020 MotoGP Valencian Grand Prix
  AUS Jack Miller 2 2015 2018 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix 2022 MotoGP San Marino Republic Grand Prix
  ITA Luca Marini 2 2021 2023 MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix 2023 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix
  ITA Enea Bastianini 2 2021 2022 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix
59   AUS Jack Findlay 1 19581978 1974 500cc Isle of Man TT 1974 500cc Isle of Man TT
  UK Tony Rutter 1 19741975 1975 500cc Isle of Man TT 1975 500cc Isle of Man TT
  ITA Gianfranco Bonera 1 19731975
19771978
1980
1975 500cc Finnish Grand Prix 1975 500cc Finnish Grand Prix
  UK John Williams 1 19681978 1976 500cc Isle of Man TT 1976 500cc Isle of Man TT
  ITA Virginio Ferrari 1 19761979
19821985
1976 500cc German Grand Prix 1976 500cc German Grand Prix
  USA Steve Baker 1 19771978 1977 500cc French Grand Prix 1977 500cc French Grand Prix
   SUI Philippe Coulon 1 1974
19761983
1977 500cc Belgian Grand Prix 1977 500cc Belgian Grand Prix
  FRA Michel Rougerie 1 19731980 1978 500cc British Grand Prix 1978 500cc British Grand Prix
  USA Mike Baldwin 1 1979
1981
19851988
1979 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1979 500cc Spanish Grand Prix
  NED Boet van Dulmen 1 19751986 1979 500cc Finnish Grand Prix 1979 500cc Finnish Grand Prix
  NED Graziano Rossi 1 19771982 1980 500cc Finnish Grand Prix 1980 500cc Finnish Grand Prix
  FRA Jean Lafond 1 19821983 1982 500cc French Grand Prix 1982 500cc French Grand Prix
  ITA Franco Uncini* 1 19791985 1982 500cc Nations Grand Prix 1982 500cc Nations Grand Prix
  UK Ron Haslam 1 19771980
19821991
1993
2000
1984 500cc Swedish Grand Prix 1984 500cc Swedish Grand Prix
  UK Niall Mackenzie 1 19861994 1987 500cc Japanese Grand Prix 1987 500cc Japanese Grand Prix
  AUS Kevin Magee 1 19871991
1993
1988 500cc Spanish Grand Prix 1988 500cc Spanish Grand Prix
  JPN Shinichi Ito 1 19881996
1999
2002
2005
2007
2011
1993 500cc German Grand Prix 1993 500cc German Grand Prix
  NZL Simon Crafar 1 1993
19981999
1998 500cc British Grand Prix 1998 500cc British Grand Prix
  JPN Tetsuya Harada 1 19992000
2002
1999 500cc Italian Grand Prix 1999 500cc Italian Grand Prix
  FRA Régis Laconi 1 19972000
2002
1999 500cc Valencian motorcycle Grand Prix 1999 500cc Valencian motorcycle Grand Prix
  AUS Garry McCoy 1 19982004
2006
2000 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix 2000 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix
  JPN Tohru Ukawa 1 20012005 2001 500cc Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix 2001 500cc Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix
  FRA Olivier Jacque 1 20012005
2007
2002 MotoGP German Grand Prix 2002 MotoGP German Grand Prix
  JPN Daijiro Kato 1 20022003 2002 MotoGP Pacific Grand Prix 2002 MotoGP Pacific Grand Prix
  UK John Hopkins 1 20022008
2011
2006 MotoGP Dutch TT 2006 MotoGP Dutch TT
  USA Ben Spies 1 20082013 2010 MotoGP Indianapolis Grand Prix 2010 MotoGP Indianapolis Grand Prix
  ESP Álvaro Bautista 1 20102018
2023
2012 MotoGP British motorcycle Grand Prix 2012 MotoGP British motorcycle Grand Prix
  GER Stefan Bradl 1 20122016
2018
2013 MotoGP United States Grand Prix 2013 MotoGP United States Grand Prix
  JPN Takaaki Nakagami 1 2018 2020 MotoGP Teruel Grand Prix 2020 MotoGP Teruel Grand Prix
  PRT Miguel Oliveira 1 2019 2020 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix 2020 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix
  ITA Fabio Di Giannantonio 1 2022 2022 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix 2022 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix
  ESP Álex Márquez 1 2020 2023 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix 2023 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix
  ESP Pedro Acosta 1 2024 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix

By nationality

edit
As of the 2024 Solidarity Grand Prix
Rank Country Poles Rider(s)
1   Spain 213 13
2   Italy 163 18
3   United States 144 14
4   Australia 124 8
5   France 38 9
6   United Kingdom 34 10
7   Japan 17 8
8   Venezuela 12 1
9   Finland 7 1
10   Netherlands 6 4
11   New Zealand 5 2
  Brazil 5 1
13   Ireland 2 1
14   Switzerland 1 1
  Germany 1 1
  Portugal 1 1

References

edit
  1. ^ "Basics". MotoGP. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  2. ^ Sports, Dorna. "The first Independent Team 1-2-3-4 in qualifying since 2002". www.motogp.com.
  3. ^ "MotoGP Statistics". MotoGP.