No one has ever won a MotoGP championship at 27 years old: Jorge Martin could be the first to break the streak.
The numbers in MotoGP are clear: the 27-year-old barrier is real. Pecco Bagnaia was not the first to stumble in his career at exactly this age, and now Jorge Martin faces the same fate. Everything will depend on the Madrid-born rider’s ability to defend his world title.
In fact, in the modern MotoGP era (from 2002 onwards), no rider has ever won a championship at 27 years old. Pecco Bagnaia, after claiming two consecutive titles, was dethroned by Jorge Martin. The same fate befell Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez at the same age: both had four consecutive championships at the top of the standings, only to experience a significant halt in their dominance of the premier class.
In the 2024 season, Bagnaia came close to breaking the curse, but due to too many mistakes, he had to settle for second place, despite an impressive 11 victories. It was a bitter defeat for the Turin rider, whose efforts went unrewarded despite his undisputed dominance on Sundays.
However, redemption could be around the corner for Pecco: alongside his new teammate, he is the favorite to reclaim the title. But again, the numbers are clear: the older the rider, the harder it is to win a MotoGP championship, due to both physical and age-related factors. After 27, only Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo have managed to clinch the title.
Today, January 29, the reigning world champion Jorge Martin turns the seemingly insurmountable 27 years old. Will he finally break the curse and defend his title?
List of MotoGP World Champions and Their Ages (from 2002 onwards)
(Bold indicates riders who won after turning 27)
- 2002 – Valentino Rossi (23 years old)
- 2003 – Valentino Rossi (24 years old)
- 2004 – Valentino Rossi (25 years old)
- 2005 – Valentino Rossi (26 years old)
- 2006 – Nicky Hayden (25 years old)
- 2007 – Casey Stoner (22 years old)
- 2008 – Valentino Rossi (29 years old)
- 2009 – Valentino Rossi (30 years old)
- 2010 – Jorge Lorenzo (23 years old)
- 2011 – Casey Stoner (26 years old)
- 2012 – Jorge Lorenzo (25 years old)
- 2013 – Marc Marquez (20 years old)
- 2014 – Marc Marquez (21 years old)
- 2015 – Jorge Lorenzo (28 years old)
- 2016 – Marc Marquez (23 years old)
- 2017 – Marc Marquez (24 years old)
- 2018 – Marc Marquez (25 years old)
- 2019 – Marc Marquez (26 years old)
- 2020 – Joan Mir (23 years old)
- 2021 – Fabio Quartararo (22 years old)
- 2022 – Pecco Bagnaia (25 years old)
- 2023 – Pecco Bagnaia (26 years old)
- 2024 – Jorge Martin (26 years old)
Photo: Jorge Martin
