The 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship:
The new Grand Prix season will see the usual mix of talented racers in the premier class, with various levels of experience and previous success. There are three new names, two of them moving up from the GP support classes, and one man is returning after two years off. Almost every rider has won at least a single Grand Prix race, and there are twelve world champions in the field. Here is a biographical rundown for all the contenders.

Loris Capirossi, Italy
age 35 · first GP 1990
GP entries: 285
GP wins: 29 (125cc, 250cc, 500cc, 990cc, 800cc)
World Champion: 125cc 1990, 1991 · 250cc 1998
best season in MotoGP: 3rd 2001, 2006

Loris is pictured above defending his first world title back in 1991

Sete Gibernau, Spain
age 36 · first GP 1992
GP entries: 174
GP wins: 9 (500cc, 990cc)
best season in MotoGP: 2nd 2003, 2004

Valentino Rossi, Italy
age 30 · first GP 1996
GP entries: 210
GP wins: 97 (125cc, 250cc, 500cc, 990cc, 800cc)
World Champion: 125cc 1997 · 250cc 1999 · 500cc 2001 · MotoGP 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008
National Champion*: Italian 125cc 1995

Marco Melandri, Italy
age 26 · first GP 1997
GP entries: 178
GP wins: 22 (125cc, 250cc, 990cc)
World Champion: 250cc 2002
best season in MotoGP: 2nd 2005
National Champion*: Italian 125cc 1997

Randy de Puniet, France
age 28 · first GP 1998
GP entries: 166
GP wins: 5 (250cc)
best MotoGP result: 2nd
best season in MotoGP: 11th 2007
best season in GPs: 3rd 2004 250cc
National Champion*: French 125cc 1998

Alex de Angelis, San Marino
age 25 · first GP 1999
GP entries: 148
GP wins: 1 (250cc)
best MotoGP result: 4th
best season in MotoGP: 14th 2008
best season in GPs: 2nd 2003 125cc

Toní Elías, Spain
age 26 · first GP 1999
GP entries: 147
GP wins: 10 (125cc, 250cc, 990cc)
best season in MotoGP: 9th= 2006
best season in GPs: 3rd 2001 125cc & 2003 250cc

Dani Pedrosa, Spain
age 23 · first GP 2001
GP entries: 132
GP wins: 29 (125cc, 250cc, 990cc, 800cc)
World Champion: 125cc 2003 · 250cc 2004, 2005
best season in MotoGP: 2nd 2007

Casey Stoner, Australia
age 23 · first GP 2001
GP entries: 118
GP wins: 23 (125cc, 250cc, 800cc)
World Champion: MotoGP 2007

Andrea Dovizioso, Italy
age 23 · first GP 2001
GP entries: 116
GP wins: 9 (125cc, 250cc)
best MotoGP result: 3rd
World Champion: 125cc 2004
best season in MotoGP: 5th 2008
European Champion: 125cc 2001

Mika Kallio, Finland
age 26 · first GP 2001
GP entries: 116
GP wins: 12 (125cc, 250cc)
best season in GPs: 2nd 2005, 2006 125cc

Yuki Takahashi, Japan
age 24 · first GP 2001
GP entries: 68
GP wins: 2 (250cc)
best season in GPs: 5th 2008 250cc
National Champion*: Japanese 250cc 2004

Jorge Lorenzo, Spain
age 21 · first GP 2002
GP entries: 112
GP wins: 22 (125cc, 250cc, 800cc)
World Champion: 250cc 2006, 2007
best season in MotoGP: 4th 2008

Colin Edwards, United States
age 35 · first GP 2003
GP entries: 102
best MotoGP result: 2nd
World Champion: Superbike 2000, 2002
best season in MotoGP: 4th 2005
National Champion*: AMA 250cc 1992

Nicky Hayden, United States
age 27 · first GP 2003
GP entries: 100
GP wins: 3 (990cc)
World Champion: MotoGP 2006
National Champion*: AMA Supersport 600cc 1999 · AMA Superbike 2002

Chris Vermeulen, Australia
age 26 · first GP 2005
GP entries: 55
GP wins: 1 (800cc)
World Champion: Supersport 2003
best season in MotoGP: 6th 2007

James Toseland, England
age 28 · first GP 2008
GP entries: 18
best MotoGP result: 6th
World Champion: Superbike 2004, 2007
best season in MotoGP: 11th 2008

Niccolò Canepa, Italy
age 20 · first GP -
GP entries: 0
best GP result: -
FIM Champion: Superstock 1000 Cup 2007

* Winner of a national championship title at the most senior level

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