Racing in sync: Five of MotoGP’s most memorable partnerships
- Isabel Jane Caporaso
- Sep 9, 2025
- 8 min read
Written by Isabel Jane Caporaso, Edited by Gabriel Tsui
In a sport like MotoGP, speed alone isn’t enough. The skills of the individual riders must meet the devotion to a team in order to aim for the stars. To stand beside one another through losses and wins means to share a dream. Through injuries, developments and successes, these are five of MotoGP’s most memorable alliances.
Valentino Rossi and Yamaha (2004-10, 2013-21)
Rossi’s collaboration with Yamaha began in 2004, when the Italian was already proclaimed as a three time world champion with Honda in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
His alliance with the Japanese manufacturer saw sparks fly from the very first seasons, when the rider secured a win in the first race of the year: the South African Grand Prix. “The Doctor’s” first success with Yamaha was the result of an emotional and thrilling battle with Biaggi. After a succession of astonishing overtakes, Rossi let out all of his emotions at the chequered flag where he collapsed in front of his Yamaha YZR-M1 in a cry of happy tears.
Eventually Valentino won his fourth and fifth title within two years of his joining, with his sixth and seventh arriving only a few seasons later.
Despite his pure dominance, the “Rossi Era” encountered a halt in 2010, when Valentino suffered a fractured right tibia following a crash in the fourth round of the season, his home race in Italy. His injury caused him to miss four rounds of the 2010 season.
After a complicated season, Rossi chose to part ways with his Yamaha family. He signed a two-year deal with Ducati in hopes to have a solid season rich with wins and podiums. Despite the fresh start, the lingering effects of his physical injury and the struggles encountered on his new Desmosedici GP11 and GP12 made it impossible for him to fulfill his goals within the two years.
Rossi soon recognised that there’s no place like home, and therefore made his return to Yamaha for the 2013 season. He ended the season with six podiums, one win and overall scoring fourth position in the championship with 237 points, marking his best result since 2010. A mind-blowing comeback, demonstrating how win-driven Rossi really was. The following seasons are remembered as some of the most iconic seasons in the Italians career. Years in which Rossi and Marquez entertained millions of motorsports fans by undertaking some of the most iconic and skillful battles ever seen in MotoGP.
After sixteen seasons with Yamaha, Valentino Rossi’s career saw the chequered flag on August 5th, 2021, when he announced his retirement from motorcycle Grand Prix racing at the age of 42. Despite his departure from motorbike racing competitions, Rossi and Yamaha joined forces, until 2024, to cooperate in the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp, a training program for motorcycle riders.
Valentino Rossi’s unmatched passion and loyalty to the team has made it so many incredible moments could be shared by millions. Their collaboration has secured one of the most glorious legacies in motoracing history which will be, with no doubt, fondly remembered for years to come.
Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha (2008-16)
Jorge Lorenzo’s alliance with Yamaha began in 2008, his rookie year in MotoGP.
After a rocky start to his career, due to multiple injuries, he swiftly picked up his stats ending second in his second year of premier class racing. He promptly demonstrated his skillfulness but more importantly his strive to win. One of those occasions was in 2010, when he missed most of pre-season testing due to two broken bones in his hand.
Despite not being fully fit, he still managed to battle then-teammate Valentino Rossi and put his Yamaha in second at the season opener in Qatar. Lorenzo went on to have a very impressive season, winning nine out of the eighteen rounds, eventually securing his first MotoGP title. The Spaniard's determination to win persisted the following years, when he acquired a great number of podiums and wins, but more importantly his second title in 2012.
Jorge’s career was full of memorable moments, but the most famous season was definitely that of 2015, where he battled for the championship with teammate Valentino Rossi. The season was met with an incredible critical acclaim as the championship battle between the two was further fueled by Márquez and Rossi’s rivalry. In the end Lorenzo came out as the title winner, putting on a dominant season, never finishing outside of the top 5 all season.
After nine years and three championship titles with Yamaha, Lorenzo announced his departure from the team early on in the 2016 season. His last year was saturated with bittersweet moments. The rider’s last achievement with Yamaha arrived at the last round of the 2016 season, when Lorenzo put his bike on pole position on the Saturday and went on to win his last ever race with the Japanese constructors on the following day.
Jorge Lorenzo is considered as one of the most precise and focused riders of all time. His impeccable consistency and attachment to the Yamaha team have written his name into motoracing immortality.
Marc Márquez and Honda (2013-24)
Márquez and Honda coupled in 2013, the same year as the rider’s first MotoGP season.
From the very first moment, Márquez demonstrated his determination to come out on top, winning the championship title in his rookie year and his second in the following season. It was a huge achievement for the Spaniard, who was recognised not only as the youngest race winner ever, but also as the first rider since 1978 to win the premier class in his debut season.
Marc’s incredible adaptability to different conditions, his fearless riding style and relentless competitiveness made it easy for him to swiftly push for glory. After the bottled season of 2015, he went on to win the title for four years in a row, prevailing all else.
Although all seemed great, the 2020 season hit and marked one of the darkest moments in Márquez’s career. In the first few laps of the Spanish Grand Prix he had put on one of arguably his best performances, getting his Honda back on track after a miraculous save. What looked like a true resemblance of his incredible skills, soon turned out to be a full nightmare. In turn 3 Márquez lost control of his bike and broke his left humerus bone.
The multiple complications from additional injuries, setback Marc’s dream of winning again. He ended up missing all of the 2020 season, the first and last races of the 2021 season and eight rounds in 2022, after finally committing to a fourth surgery.
Despite being out for nine months in 2020, the Honda family never left Marc’s side and were thrilled for him when he made an emotional return at the 2021 Portuguese Grand Prix. The weekend was infused with excitement by the rider and the team, both enthusiastic to see track action by the Spaniard after so long. He placed his Honda 6th on the starting grid on Saturday and went on to have a solid Sunday race, ending in 7th position. His performance was celebrated as a big triumph, he battled the discomfort in his arm and put on a show that only a rider like Márquez could sustain.
His love story with Honda came to an end after the 2023 season, a year which saw Marc openly struggle with his machinery. Márquez signed a one-year contract with Gresini Racing alongside his younger brother Alex Márquez. After a solid season in Gresini, he signed a multi-year contract with Ducati.
As of 2025, Márquez is leading the driver standings by a wide margin and is the prospective 2025 world champion.
Márquez’s incredible memories shared with Honda have shaped his legacy. A story of true devotion and solidarity, in sickness and in health.
Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati (2013-20)
Andrea Dovizioso is an outstanding example of what faithfulness to the team means.
Dovizioso’s partnership with Ducati began in 2013, the same year Gigi Dall’Igna joined Ducati as general director. Andrea was a significant contributor to the supervision and development of the Desmosedici GP, which helped the Italian manufacturer become one of the prominent forces in MotoGP to this day.
His first four seasons with the team were difficult because of his complicated machinery. But thanks to the developments brought to the bike, Dovizioso soon had his time to shine. His career unfortunately never saw him crowned as the champion of MotoGP, but he took part in a very close fight for the title against Marc Márquez in 2017, a season in which he obtained as many wins as his opponent.
The most significant win was his home race in Mugello at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix. Starting third on the starting grid, Dovizioso managed to overtake Maverick Viñales on lap 14 and eventually win the race. The victory was a solid demonstration of Dovizioso’s fighting spirit as he had suffered with food poisoning earlier that weekend. But it mainly marked a milestone as it was his first home win.
From the 2017 season, for three years in a row, he arrived second in the standings, proving his unimpeachable precision whilst driving. In 2020 he clenched his last win with the Italian team at the Austrian Grand Prix, achieving the recognition of becoming the first MotoGP rider to win a race in three different decades (his first ever win being with Honda in 2009).
Ducati and Dovizioso parted ways in 2020. Subsequently, the driver went on to have a sabbatical year before returning to race in 2021 with Yamaha and then announce his retirement in 2022.
Although he never obtained the title, Andrea Dovizioso was an impeccable driver, whose talent spoke louder than any title could ever.
Pedro Acosta and KTM (2021- now)
After talking about some of the most iconic figures in the sport’s history, it’s only right to shine the spotlight on a new prospect for the future: Pedro Acosta.
Although he is young, Acosta already has a great streak of achievements in the minor categories. To this day, he is the youngest rider to have set a fastest lap (aged 19 years old and 289 days) and he is the youngest Moto 2 and Moto 3 world champion.
Pedro’s story with KTM started in 2021 when he signed with Aki Ajo’s Red Bull KTM Ajo team ahead of his Moto 3 debut. His incredible bond with the team was obvious from the beginning, since he managed to win the Moto 3 title in his rookie year, getting automatically promoted to Moto 2 the following season. Within two seasons he bagged the Moto 2 title as well, marking the start of his premier class journey.
In 2024 he debuted in MotoGP with his KTM RC16 which saw him gain 5 podiums and finish 6th in the overall standings. His ability to perform under pressure has made Acosta a rising star of the sport. In the 2025 season he has undergone some intense driving.
He relentlessly keeps demonstrating his impeccable talent and is sure to become a skillful rider. He finally secured his first Grand Prix podium of the 2025 season at the Czech Grand Prix, after a weekend which saw him stepping on the podium on the Saturday Sprint Race, behind Marc Márquez. The double podium highlighted the standout talent of this young driver.
As for his partnership with KTM, their story has just begun but its breakthrough potential is already visible to everyone. What will the next seasons have in store for the pair? Only time will tell.
Countless partnerships have shaped MotoGP into the sport it is today, many more will further intensify its history in the years to come. For a driver, securing the right team synergy is a crucial step. Talent can win you races, but only loyalty will make you a true champion.
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