# 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.
This list only lists pole positions since 1974, when pole positions were first officially recorded. Marc Márquez holds the record for the most pole positions in the premier class with 68. Mick Doohan is second with 58 poles, and Valentino Rossi is third with 55 poles.

## By rider

    As of the 2025 Argentine Grand Prix
Key :
| * | MotoGP/500cc World Champion |
| † | Grand Prix World Champion |
| Bold | Rider has competed in the 2025 MotoGP season |
Grand Prix motorcycle racing polesitters :
| Rank | Country | Rider | Poles | Seasons active in MotoGP/500cc | First pole | Last pole |
| 1 | ESP | Marc Márquez* | 68 | 2013– | 2013 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas | 2025 Argentine Grand Prix |
| 2 | AUS | Mick Doohan* | 58 | 1989–1999 | 1990 500cc Spanish Grand Prix | 1998 500cc Argentine Grand Prix |
| 3 | ITA | Valentino Rossi* | 55 | 2000–2021 | 2001 500cc South African Grand Prix | 2018 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix |
| 4 | ESP | Jorge Lorenzo* | 43 | 2008–2019 | 2008 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix | 2018 MotoGP Aragon Grand Prix |
| 5 | AUS | Casey Stoner* | 39 | 2006–2012 | 2006 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix | 2012 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix |
| 6 | ESP | Dani Pedrosa† | 31 | 2006–2018 2021 2023–2024 | 2006 MotoGP Chinese Grand Prix | 2017 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix |
| 7 | USA | Kevin Schwantz* | 29 | 1986–1995 | 1989 500cc Australian Grand Prix | 1994 500cc Spanish Grand Prix |
| 8 | USA | Freddie Spencer* | 27 | 1980–1987 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 | 1998–2005 | 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 | 1974–1984 | 1975 500cc Dutch TT | 1982 500cc Yugoslavian Grand Prix |
| 12 | AUS | Wayne Gardner* | 19 | 1983–1992 | 1986 500cc British motorcycle Grand Prix | 1990 500cc British motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 14 | USA | Kenny Roberts* | 18 | 1978–1983 | 1978 500cc Spanish Grand Prix | 1983 500cc San Marino Grand Prix |
| 14 | USA | Eddie Lawson* | 18 | 1983–1992 | 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 | 1988–1993 | 1988 500cc United States Grand Prix | 1993 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix |
| 17 | ESP | Maverick Viñales† | 15 | 2015– | 2017 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix | 2024 MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas |
| 19 | ESP | Sete Gibernau | 13 | 1997–2006 2009 | 2000 500cc South African Grand Prix | 2006 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix |
| 19 | ITA | Loris Capirossi† | 13 | 1995–1996 2000–2011 | 2000 500cc Dutch TT | 2006 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix |
| 21 | VEN | Johnny Cecotto† | 12 | 1976–1980 | 1977 500cc Venezuelan Grand Prix | 1979 500cc Belgian Grand Prix |
| 22 | USA | Kenny Roberts Jr.* | 10 | 1996–2007 | 1999 500cc Japanese Grand Prix | 2004 MotoGP Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix |
| 23 | ITA | Marco Lucchinelli* | 9 | 1976–1986 | 1980 500cc Nations Grand Prix | 1981 500cc Finnish Grand Prix |
| 23 | USA | John Kocinski† | 9 | 1989 1991–1994 1998–1999 | 1991 500cc Vitesse du Mans Grand Prix | 1999 500cc Malaysian Grand Prix |
| 23 | ESP | Àlex Crivillé* | 9 | 1992–2001 | 1995 500cc Dutch TT | 1999 500cc Imola Grand Prix |
| 26 | ITA | Luca Cadalora† | 8 | 1989 1993–2000 | 1993 500cc Italian Grand Prix | 1995 500cc European Grand Prix |
| 26 | FRA | Johann Zarco† | 8 | 2017– | 2017 MotoGP Dutch TT | 2022 MotoGP British Grand Prix |
| 28 | FIN | Teuvo Länsivuori | 7 | 1974–1978 | 1974 500cc Dutch TT | 1976 500cc Czechoslovak Grand Prix |
| 28 | JPN | Tadayuki Okada | 7 | 1996–2000 2008 | 1996 500cc Malaysian Grand Prix | 1999 500cc South African Grand Prix |
| 28 | ITA | Andrea Dovizioso† | 7 | 2008–2022 | 2010 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix | 2018 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix |
| 28 | ESP | Aleix Espargaró | 7 | 2009–2010 2012–2024 | 2014 MotoGP Dutch TT | 2024 MotoGP British Grand Prix |
| 32 | ITA | Giacomo Agostini* | 6 | 1965–1977 | 1974 500cc Austrian Grand Prix | 1976 500cc Finnish Grand Prix |
| 32 | FRA | Christian Sarron† | 6 | 1979 1981 1985–1990 | 1987 500cc French Grand Prix | 1988 500cc French Grand Prix |
| 34 | USA | Randy Mamola | 5 | 1979–1990 1992 | 1980 500cc Belgian Grand Prix | 1987 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 34 | BRA | Alex Barros | 5 | 1990–2005 2007 | 2000 500cc Italian Grand Prix | 2005 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 34 | USA | Nicky Hayden* | 5 | 2003–2016 | 2005 MotoGP United States Grand Prix | 2007 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 37 | UK | Phil Read* | 4 | 1961–1964 1971 1973–1976 | 1974 500cc French Grand Prix | 1974 500cc Czechoslovak Grand Prix |
| 37 | NZL | Graeme Crosby | 4 | 1980–1982 | 1981 500cc Austrian Grand Prix | 1982 500cc Austrian Grand Prix |
| 37 | UK | Cal Crutchlow | 4 | 2011–2024 | 2013 MotoGP Dutch TT | 2018 MotoGP Spanish Grand Prix |
| 37 | ITA | Marco Bezzecchi | 4 | 2022– | 2022 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix | 2023 MotoGP Indian Grand Prix |
| 41 | ESP | Carlos Checa | 3 | 1995–2007 2010 | 1998 500cc Spanish Grand Prix | 2004 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix |
| 41 | JPN | Makoto Tamada | 3 | 2003–2007 | 2004 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix | 2004 MotoGP Valencian Grand Prix |
| 41 | AUS | Chris Vermeulen | 3 | 2005–2009 2012 | 2006 MotoGP Turkish Grand Prix | 2007 MotoGP Dutch TT |
| 41 | USA | Colin Edwards | 3 | 2003–2014 | 2007 MotoGP French Grand Prix | 2008 MotoGP Chinese Grand Prix |
| 41 | ESP | Pol Espargaró | 3 | 2014–2024 | 2020 MotoGP Styrian Grand Prix | 2021 MotoGP British Grand Prix |
| 46 | NED | Jack Middelburg | 2 | 1977–1983 | 1980 500cc Dutch TT | 1982 500cc Belgian Grand Prix |
| 46 | FRA | Raymond Roche | 2 | 1977–1983 | 1984 500cc British Grand Prix | 1984 500cc San Marino Grand Prix |
| 46 | JPN | Tadahiko Taira | 2 | 1984–1985 1987–1991 | 1988 500cc Japanese Grand Prix | 1989 500cc Japanese Grand Prix |
| 46 | USA | Doug Chandler | 2 | 1991–1994 | 1992 500cc Hungarian Grand Prix | 1992 500cc French Grand Prix |
| 46 | FRA | Jean-Michel Bayle | 2 | 1996–1999 2002 | 1996 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix | 1998 500cc Imola Grand Prix |
| 46 | NED | Jurgen van den Goorbergh | 2 | 1997–2002 2005 | 1999 500cc Catalan Grand Prix | 1999 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix |
| 46 | UK | Jeremy McWilliams | 2 | 1993–1996 2000 2002–2005 2007 | 2000 500cc Australian motorcycle Grand Prix | 2002 MotoGP Australian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 46 | ITA | Marco Simoncelli† | 2 | 2010–2011 | 2011 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix | 2011 MotoGP Dutch TT |
| 46 | ITA | Andrea Iannone | 2 | 2013–2019 | 2015 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix | 2016 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix |
| 46 | ITA | Franco Morbidelli | 2 | 2018– | 2020 MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix | 2020 MotoGP Valencian Grand Prix |
| 46 | AUS | Jack Miller | 2 | 2015– | 2018 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix | 2022 MotoGP San Marino Republic Grand Prix |
| 46 | ITA | Luca Marini | 2 | 2021– | 2023 MotoGP Indonesian Grand Prix | 2023 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix |
| 46 | ITA | Enea Bastianini | 2 | 2021– | 2022 MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix | 2024 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 59 | AUS | Jack Findlay | 1 | 1958–1978 | 1974 500cc Isle of Man TT | 1974 500cc Isle of Man TT |
| 59 | UK | Tony Rutter | 1 | 1974–1975 | 1975 500cc Isle of Man TT | 1975 500cc Isle of Man TT |
| 59 | ITA | Gianfranco Bonera | 1 | 1973–1975 1977–1978 1980 | 1975 500cc Finnish Grand Prix | 1975 500cc Finnish Grand Prix |
| 59 | UK | John Williams | 1 | 1968–1978 | 1976 500cc Isle of Man TT | 1976 500cc Isle of Man TT |
| 59 | ITA | Virginio Ferrari | 1 | 1976–1979 1982–1985 | 1976 500cc German Grand Prix | 1976 500cc German Grand Prix |
| 59 | USA | Steve Baker | 1 | 1977–1978 | 1977 500cc French Grand Prix | 1977 500cc French Grand Prix |
| 59 | SUI | Philippe Coulon | 1 | 1974 1976–1983 | 1977 500cc Belgian Grand Prix | 1977 500cc Belgian Grand Prix |
| 59 | FRA | Michel Rougerie | 1 | 1973–1980 | 1978 500cc British Grand Prix | 1978 500cc British Grand Prix |
| 59 | USA | Mike Baldwin | 1 | 1979 1981 1985–1988 | 1979 500cc Spanish Grand Prix | 1979 500cc Spanish Grand Prix |
| 59 | NED | Boet van Dulmen | 1 | 1975–1986 | 1979 500cc Finnish Grand Prix | 1979 500cc Finnish Grand Prix |
| 59 | NED | Graziano Rossi | 1 | 1977–1982 | 1980 500cc Finnish Grand Prix | 1980 500cc Finnish Grand Prix |
| 59 | FRA | Jean Lafond | 1 | 1982–1983 | 1982 500cc French Grand Prix | 1982 500cc French Grand Prix |
| 59 | ITA | Franco Uncini* | 1 | 1979–1985 | 1982 500cc Nations Grand Prix | 1982 500cc Nations Grand Prix |
| 59 | UK | Ron Haslam | 1 | 1977–1980 1982–1991 1993 2000 | 1984 500cc Swedish Grand Prix | 1984 500cc Swedish Grand Prix |
| 59 | UK | Niall Mackenzie | 1 | 1986–1994 | 1987 500cc Japanese Grand Prix | 1987 500cc Japanese Grand Prix |
| 59 | AUS | Kevin Magee | 1 | 1987–1991 1993 | 1988 500cc Spanish Grand Prix | 1988 500cc Spanish Grand Prix |
| 59 | JPN | Shinichi Ito | 1 | 1988–1996 1999 2002 2005 2007 2011 | 1993 500cc German Grand Prix | 1993 500cc German Grand Prix |
| 59 | NZL | Simon Crafar | 1 | 1993 1998–1999 | 1998 500cc British Grand Prix | 1998 500cc British Grand Prix |
| 59 | JPN | Tetsuya Harada† | 1 | 1999–2000 2002 | 1999 500cc Italian Grand Prix | 1999 500cc Italian Grand Prix |
| 59 | FRA | Régis Laconi | 1 | 1997–2000 2002 | 1999 500cc Valencian motorcycle Grand Prix | 1999 500cc Valencian motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 59 | AUS | Garry McCoy | 1 | 1998–2004 2006 | 2000 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix | 2000 500cc Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 59 | JPN | Tohru Ukawa | 1 | 2001–2005 | 2001 500cc Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix | 2001 500cc Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix |
| 59 | FRA | Olivier Jacque† | 1 | 2001–2005 2007 | 2002 MotoGP German Grand Prix | 2002 MotoGP German Grand Prix |
| 59 | JPN | Daijiro Kato† | 1 | 2002–2003 | 2002 MotoGP Pacific Grand Prix | 2002 MotoGP Pacific Grand Prix |
| 59 | UK | John Hopkins | 1 | 2002–2008 2011 | 2006 MotoGP Dutch TT | 2006 MotoGP Dutch TT |
| 59 | USA | Ben Spies | 1 | 2008–2013 | 2010 MotoGP Indianapolis Grand Prix | 2010 MotoGP Indianapolis Grand Prix |
| 59 | ESP | Álvaro Bautista† | 1 | 2010–2018 2023= | 2012 MotoGP British motorcycle Grand Prix | 2012 MotoGP British motorcycle Grand Prix |
| 59 | GER | Stefan Bradl† | 1 | 2012–2016 2018–2024 | 2013 MotoGP United States Grand Prix | 2013 MotoGP United States Grand Prix |
| 59 | JPN | Takaaki Nakagami | 1 | 2018–2024 | 2020 MotoGP Teruel Grand Prix | 2020 MotoGP Teruel Grand Prix |
| 59 | PRT | Miguel Oliveira | 1 | 2019– | 2020 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix | 2020 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix |
| 59 | ITA | Fabio Di Giannantonio | 1 | 2022– | 2022 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix | 2022 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix |
| 59 | ESP | Álex Márquez | 1 | 2020– | 2023 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix | 2023 MotoGP Argentine Grand Prix |
| 59 | ESP | Pedro Acosta | 1 | 2024– | 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix | 2024 MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix |

## By nationality

    As of the 2025 Argentine Grand Prix
| Rank | Country | Poles | Rider(s) |
| 1 | Spain | 215 | 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 |
| 11 | Brazil | 5 | 1 |
| 13 | Ireland | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | Switzerland | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Germany | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Portugal | 1 | 1 |