Winning the MotoGP™ World Championship as an independent rider is a rare and difficult feat. In 2024, Jorge Martín (Aprilia Racing) became only the sixth driver in history to achieve this. Representative of Prima Pramac Racing on a Ducati, the “Martinator” made history by becoming the first rider in the MotoGP™ era to be crowned in the elite without being part of an official team, and the first since Valentino Rossi. Here's a look at the pioneers who defied the odds and showed that sometimes the underdog can reign supreme.
The pioneers: Roberts, Lucchinelli and Uncini
The first pilot to thwart the factories' plans was Kenny Roberts. In 1978, the American won the 500cc World Championship for Yamaha USA, an independent team from the Iwata factory. His four victories allowed him to dethrone Barry Sheene and prove that by putting everything together, an independent team can win everything. This is the start of a new era for MotoGP™.
A few years later, Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini followed suit with factory Suzukis. Marco Lucchinelli won the title in 1981 before being followed in 1982 by Franco Uncini, both on official motorcycles with independent settings. At the time, these titles reinforced the idea that independent teams could compete with factory teams.
The next level: Eddie Lawson and Valentino Rossi
In 1989, Eddie Lawson won the 500cc title with an independent Honda team just ahead of Wayne Rainey. The performance was good but Valentino Rossi would reach a new level in 2001. Riding a factory-specification Honda Nastro Azzurro, the “Doctor” dominated the season with 11 victories and beat Max Biaggi by no less than 106 points.
They passed very close: Gibernau, Melandri, Quartararo and Morbidelli
Throughout the 2000s, drivers like Sete Gibernau (2003) and Marco Melandri (2005) came close to success but came up against an unstoppable Valentino Rossi. Then, in 2020, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) launched into the fight for the crown but failed against an impressively consistent Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team). Despite the failure, the independent teams regain hope of claiming a MotoGP™ World Champion title.
Jorge Martín: the new independent Champion
Next comes Jorge Martín. The Spaniard began his adventure in MotoGP™ with a flamboyant rookie season before asserting himself further in the category in 2022. The following year, he embarked on his first title race, in which he claimed four victories. but misses the Grail in favor of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and the Ducati factory.
A year later, No. 89 takes its revenge on history. Once again removed from the factory handlebars, the Madrilenian reverses the situation and leaves Ducati with the number 1 plate. With a total of three race victories, 12 podiums and seven Tissot Sprint successes, Jorge Martín shines with his consistency. At the end of the suspense, he won his first MotoGP™ World Championship in Barcelona and became the first independent rider of the MotoGP™ era to achieve this (and the first since Valentino Rossi).
Today, the new World Champion is embarking on a new adventure. He joins Aprilia Racing in 2025, where he will attempt to emulate Valentino Rossi and Eddie Lawson, who are the only two riders to have retained their title on a different bike.
Related News :