Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP has seen a number of young riders debut in the premier class since the 2002 rebrand, including Marc Marquez, but only one star has ever graced the grid aged 18.
Marquez made his MotoGP debut with the factory Honda squad in the 2013 season. Honda brought the Spaniard into the premier class on the back of winning the 2012 Moto2 title, as the Japanese manufacturer swooped to replace Casey Stoner following his decision to retire.
Cervera native Marquez was just 49 days past his 20th birthday when he debuted for Honda in the 2013 Qatar Grand Prix. The Lusail International Circuit has seen a host of the youngest riders in MotoGP history get their debuts and was even where Marquez got his first podium.
Marquez joined Yamaha icons Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi on the podium in the 2013 Qatar GP. The Honda hero rose from P6 on the grid to finish 6.201 seconds from the lead, as he also became one of the youngest riders to get a podium finish in MotoGP history to date.
Give us your MotoGP Mount Rushmore
John Hopkins is the youngest MotoGP era rider after debuting aged 18
A raft of riders have since made their MotoGP debuts at a younger age than Marquez was in 2013. Yet no rider has ever enjoyed their debut at a younger age than John Hopkins, who hit the grid for the 2002 season-opening Japanese Grand Prix aged 18 years and 320 days old.
READ MORE: Every rider to win MotoGP’s Rookie of the Year award
| RANK | NAME | TEAM | AGE | RACE |
| 6 | Marc Marquez | Honda | 20 years, 49 days | 2013 Qatar GP |
| 5 | Fabio Quartararo | Petronas SRT | 19 years, 324 days | 2019 Qatar GP |
| 4 | Fermin Aldeguer | Gresini | 19 years, 335 days | 2025 Thai GP |
| 3 | Pedro Acosta | Tech3 | 19 years, 290 days | 2024 Qatar GP |
| 2 | Michel Fabrizio | WCM | 19 years, 214 days | 2004 South African GP |
| 1 | John Hopkins | WCM | 18 years, 320 days | 2002 Japanese GP |
Hopkins started the MotoGP era, following the championship’s rebrand from the 500cc era, by setting a record that remains intact. No other rider has yet hit the grid before turning 19, which Hopkins did not turn until he had started two Grands Prix for Red Bull Yamaha WCM.
WCM saw Hopkins finish P12 on debut in the 2002 Japanese GP at Suzuka, albeit as the last rider running at the chequered flag. The American even finished the race a massive five laps down as Rossi won for the factory Honda team – no other rider was lapped more than once.
Who is the youngest rider on the 2026 MotoGP grid?
Fermin Aldeguer became one of the youngest riders to debut in the MotoGP era during the 2025 season, after Ducati placed the Spaniard at Gresini in a two-year loan move. Aldeguer debuted in MotoGP shortly before his 20th birthday and finished P13 in the Thai Grand Prix.
The Murcian went on to win the 2025 MotoGP Rookie of the Year award, as well, and he will remain the youngest rider on the grid in 2026. Aldeguer will begin the 2026 MotoGP season as the only rider on the grid aged 20, with rookie Diogo Moreira plus Pedro Acosta both 21.
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