MotoGP is the only Grand Prix class that does not have a combined minimum weight for motorcycle and rider. While such rules exist in Moto2 and Moto3 (and even the World Superbike Championship) to compensate for the disadvantages faced by taller, heavier riders, no such rules apply at the top level of motorcycle racing.
In Moto3, the combined minimum weight of bike and rider is 152 kg, while in Moto2 it is 217 kg.
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WSBK is a special case as it applies a rider weight correction factor in addition to the minimum bike weight of 168kg.
The championship set the benchmark at 80 kg, including rider equipment. For lighter riders, 50% of the difference is added to the bike in the form of ballast.
If a Superbike rider weighs 68kg including equipment, the difference from the reference 80kg is 12kg, meaning six kilograms of ballast needs to be fitted to the bike.
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There is no such reward system in MotoGP. The minimum weight for a MotoGP prototype is 157kg and the differences between heavier and lighter riders are not balanced. As a result, weight control remains a key consideration for all riders.
“We are the elite of motorsport and we work on every detail,” emphasized the 2024 world champion. Jorge Martin. “And one of those things is weight. We're all very, very skinny and we're trying to be strong and have good endurance, but with less weight.”
Alex Marquez is 11 cm taller than his brother Marc Marquez.
Alex Marquez is 11 cm taller than his brother Marc Marquez.
The Spaniard speaks directly about the consequences: “Finding this balance is always difficult. And yes, a guy who weighs more than 70 kilograms, in principle, has problems.”
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With a weight of 63 kg and a height of 168 cm, Martin is among the lightest riders in the MotoGP standings.
Luca Marini calls for minimum weight rule
At the opposite end of the scale is Luca Mariniwho, at 184 cm, was the tallest driver on the grid in 2025. Despite his height, Dorna's figures show the Italian's bare weight is just 69kg.
“I weigh 70 kilograms,” Marini says. “But it was always the same: the lighter you are, the faster you go and the less you use the tires – e.g. [Dani] Pedrosa. In my opinion, there should be a minimum weight rule, just like in any other sport.
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“At the end of the day, that's the only thing missing in MotoGP. For lighter riders, it's always easier to gain weight. You just train more or eat more. For heavier riders, at a certain point it becomes impossible to go below a certain weight.”
Four riders last season were taller than 180 cm: Marini (184 cm), Joan Mir (181 cm), Fermin Aldeguer (181 cm) and Alex Marquez (180 cm).
Alex Marquez, who finished second in the championship last year, stressed that height is not a significant disadvantage.
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“When you have to change direction frequently, being tall can help because you have more strength and can shift your weight to the side at the right time,” he said.
For this reason, racer Gresini believes that the advantages and disadvantages of taller and shorter riders largely balance each other out.
“It's true that the weight of all MotoGP riders is more or less the same now,” he said. “We all weigh between 65 and 70 kilograms. So you don't really feel those five kilograms, and I don't think height will be a problem for me.”
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No rider weighed more than 70 kg last season. In 2026, another tall rider will join the MotoGP grid. Toprak Razgatlioglu moving from WSBK to join Pramac. Yamaha lists his height as 182 cm and weight as 72 kg.
Read also:
Marc Márquez is just one win shy of 100 and three short of Valentino Rossi's MotoGP record.
How concessions narrowed Ducati's advantage in MotoGP
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