After the ranking of the Rookie of the year, year by year, that of the best riders of the satellite teams. Out of 21 only one (French) managed to become world champion: can switching from customer teams be a limitation?
January 19, 2023
After analyzing the situation of the winds Rookie of the year of MotoGP history, let’s move on to another analysis: that of first independent pilot, year by year. In 2022 it was Aeneas Bastianinithird in the general standings and first driver of the unofficial teams.
Scrolling through these names is to be done two questions.
The prima starts from one reflection: out of 21 drivers who were best independent only one he was world champion, that is Fabio Quartararo. So we ask you: who is really strong va directly in the official teams? Or who passes from the satellite teams risk not having the right chance?
The second question is related to the first: Marco Melandri, Cal Crutchlow e Johann Zarco Were they underrated? Could they have won more?
The Italian and the French won three times the title of best independent driverMelandri consecutively between 2005 and 2007, Zarco in 2017 (and was also Rookie of the year) 2018 and 2021, with two different bikes: Yamaha and Ducati. Crutchlow also won with two different bikes: Yamaha and Honda.
They deserved one chance in a factory team? Probably yes. Zarco actually had it, briefly, with Ktm and he arrived in MotoGP when he was already 27 years old.
In your opinion these three, or other riders in this ranking have been underestimated? In the meantime, what do you think about it at the bottom of the article we have indicated other curiosities emerged from this analysis.
The 21 best independent drivers, year by year
2022 – Aeneas Bastianini ITA (219 points, four wins, third overall) on Ducati
2021 – Johann Zarco FRA (173 points, four podiums, fifth) on Ducati
2020 – Franco Morbidelli ITA (142 points, three wins, second) on Yamaha
2019 – Fabio Quartararo FRA (192 points, 7 podiums, fifth) on Yamaha (also best Rookie)
2018 – Johann Zarco FRA (158 points, three podiums, sixth) on Yamaha
2017 – Johann Zarco FRA (174 points, 3 podiums, sixth) on Yamaha (also best Rookie)
2016 – Cal Crutchlow ENG (141 points, two wins, seventh) on Honda
2015 – Bradley Smith ENG (181 points, one podium, sixth) on Yamaha
2014 – Pol Espargaro SPA (136 points, sixth) on Yamaha (also best Rookie)
2013 – Cal Crutchlow ENG (188 points, four podiums, fifth) on Yamaha
2012 – Andrea Dovizioso ITA (218 points, six podiums, fourth) on Yamaha
2011 – Marco Simoncelli ITA (139 points, two podiums, sixth) on Honda
2010 – Ben Spies USA (176 points, two podiums, sixth) on Yamaha (also rookie of the year)
2009 – Colin Edwards USA (161 points, one podium, fifth) on Yamaha
2008 – Andrea Dovizioso ITA (174 points, one podium, fifth) on Honda
2007 – Marco Melandri ITA (187 points, three podiums, fifth) on Honda
2006 – Marco Melandri ITA (228 points, three wins, fourth) on Honda
2005 – Marco Melandri ITA (220 points, two wins, second) on Honda
2004 – Sete Gibernau SPA (257 points, four wins, second) on Honda
2003 – Sete Gibernau SPA (277 points, four wins, second) on Honda
2002 – Alex Barros BRA (204 points, two wins, fourth) on Honda
More curiosities
Multi-winners: Melandri and Zarco 3, Gibernau, Dovizioso and Crutchlow 2
Drivers both top independent and Roy: Spies, Zarco and Quartararo
Standing independent pilots of the year by nationality: Italy 8, France 4, Spain 3, England 3, USA 2, Brazil 1
Motorbike classification: 10 Yamaha, 9 Honda, 2 Ducati
Of the top 21 independents only 4 won races in the year as independents: Barros, Gibernau, Melandri, Crutchlow and Bastianini. None of them were even world champions (Bastianini is still in business).
Of the top 21 independents are 8 those who also raced in official teams.
