Every MotoGP rider to win Rookie of the Year as Fermin Aldeguer joins Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin

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Fermin Aldeguer has been named the 2025 MotoGP Rookie of the Year despite a post-Sprint race penalty in Malaysia.

The 20-year-old joined Gresini Racing at the start of the season, claiming his maiden MotoGP victory at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

Aldeguer revealed after the recent Sprint race at the Grand Prix of Malaysia that he had doubts about whether he was ready for the step up from Moto2, telling MotoGP.com: “To be honest, in February, in the first race, I thought that maybe I wasn’t ready to be a MotoGP rider because other rookies start better than me.”

The Spaniard finished the Malaysian Sprint race in third place behind his teammate Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, who took the victory. Despite a podium finish, Aldeguer was handed an eight second penalty for breaching tyre pressure rules, dropping him to seventh place.

Although the penalty was a disappointing result for the rider, it fortunately did not impact Aldeguer taking the MotoGP Rookie of the Year. He joins the likes of Marc Marquez and Jorge Martin who have previously taken the title since the award was created in 2002.

Speaking to MotoGP.com, Aldeguer said: “I am super happy, because this was one of our first goals and maybe our most important goal.”

The MotoGP Rookie of the Year award is given to the best-performing newcomer in the season. The achievement is handed to the rider who collects the most championship points in their maiden year in MotoGP.

Marc Marquez holds unique MotoGP Rookie of the Year record

Marc Marquez holds a unique record in MotoGP, taking both the Rookie of the Year award and the championship during his maiden season in 2013.

The Spaniard had signed with Repsol Honda for his first year in the premier class, claiming six wins and a further ten podiums from 18 races that year.

Marquez had been promoted from Moto2 after taking the 2012 title, before claiming back-to-back championships during his maiden MotoGP year.

When taking the 2013 title, Marquez became the youngest MotoGP champion at 20 years and 266 days old. He was also the first rookie since 1978 to take the title, after Kenny Roberts previously became world champion riding for Yamaha.

Fermin Aldeguer joins elite list of most successful Rookie of the Year riders

Fermin Aldeguer’s 2025 Rookie of the Year victory saw him become the first MotoGP rider to have taken a victory in his maiden season and take the title since Jorge Martin.

Only six Rookie of the Year riders have seen race victories in their maiden season, including Aldeguer, Martin, Brad Binder and Jorge Lorenzo, who all have one win in their debut year. Dani Pedrosa took two victories during his maiden season with Repsol Honda and Marquez leads the pack with an impressive six victories.